Griffin Poetry Prize 2011 winners announced

Thu, 06/02/2011 - 8:49am by sernabad

Two women poets, both born in 1953, have won the Griffin Poetry Prizes for 2011.

The Griffins, founded in 2000 as a Canadian initiative, "...raise public awareness of the crucial role poetry must play in society’s cultural life."

The prize recognizing Canadian poets went to Dionne Brand, an immigrant from Trinidad, for Ossuaries (2010). She teaches at the University of Guelph.

The International Prize went to Gjertrud Schnackenberg who was born in Tacoma, WA and has lectured all over the world. She won for Heavenly Questions, 2010.

Each award-winning poet received $75,000 last night at a gala event at The Fermenting Cellar in Toronto.