- All participants must be a Haldimand County resident.
- All poems must be submitted with its own entry form.
- All poems must be original works in English that have not been previously published.
- The poet's name or other identifying information must not appear anywhere on the submitted work.
- The title of the poem must be included at the top of the page.
- Poems must be typed or neatly printed on standard 8.5x11 paper size - submissions in cursive handwriting will not be accepted.
- All pages must be numbered if the poem is more than one page.
- Entries cannot be more than 100 lines.
- Submitted entries will not be returned - be sure to make copies of the poem.
- Entrants are required to permit the Library to publish their poem within the library, in local newspapers or other digital venues - credit will be given to the poet's name listed with the submission.
- Winning entries may be edited for spelling and grammar before publication without the author's prior approval.
- Winners are determined by a panel of judges and all decisions are final.
April Poetry Contest
The Haldimand County Public Library invites residents of all ages to get creative and participate in its annual April Poetry Contest.
The 2026 April Poetry Contest opens on April 1.
2026 contest information
The theme for this year's contest is "Spirituality."
Spirituality is a feeling of connection or belonging to oneself, to others, to nature or to the wider world around us. Spirituality can be associated with religion but it does not have to be.
Participants are encouraged to write poems that explore the theme of spirituality, what that means to them, or the impact it has had on their lives.
Each poem will be entered to win a cash prize in one of the following categories:
• Primary – Kindergarten to Gr. 3
• Junior – Gr. 4 to Gr. 6
• Intermediate – Gr. 7 to Gr. 10
• Senior – Gr. 11 to 12
• Adult – age 18+
How to submit
Poems can be submitted online or in person at a library branch from April 1st to April 30th.
If you are submitting more than one poem, you must submit a separate entry form for each poem.
In Person
- Submissions can be made in person at any Haldimand County Public Library Branch during regular operating hours. You must submit an entry form with each poem submission. Entry forms and a list of contest rules can be found at the front desk of every library branch starting April 1st.
Online
- Submit your poem through our online submission form. The online submission form will be available starting April 1st on this page.
Faxed or emailed submissions will not be accepted.
Judging and prizes
Judging will take place at the beginning of May by a library-chosen panel. First, second and third-place prizes will be awarded in each category.
- 1st prize: $50
- 2nd prize: $35
- 3rd prize: $20
Winners will be announced by mid-May with an awards ceremony to follow.
This years prizes have been generously sponsored by The Friends of the Dunnville Library, The Friends of the Caledonia Library, and The Hagersville Lions Club.
Awards Ceremony
An awards ceremony will be held at the end of May. The exact date, time and location will be announced at the beginning of May and will be open to all members of the public.
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