On the occasion of the BCSPCA’s 125th anniversary, Nanaimo’s youth poet laureate and the Nanaimo BCSPCA are partnering to present a youth poetry contest.
Young poets from 11 to 18 years old have until March 30 to submit their work to the Be Kind to All Kinds competition. The poems must be on the topic of personal or SPCA rescue stories, habitat loss or endangered animals.
The Top 20 submissions will be collected into an anthology scheduled to be unveiled at the Nanaimo BCSPCA on April 23. The first-place poet will receive a $100 cash prize, while second- and third-place finishers get $50 each. The book will be provided to the Nanaimo BCSPCA to raise money for its operations.
“This contest is a fabulous opportunity,” said Valina Zanetti, Nanaimo youth poet laureate, in a press release. “Not only will you be aiding in raising funds for animals in need, but you will also be able to express your poetic talent. I, myself, have loved animals for as long as I can remember, and have found that poetry has become very important to me as well.”
Nanaimo BCSPCA regional humane educator Blaire Sigson said she’s excited to be partnering with Zanetti to “combine helping animals with youth creativity.”
“Only by including our youth, can we have a chance at creating a positive and hopeful future for animals,” she said in the release.
Poets may submit up to three poems in PDF form to callingallpoets@nanaimo.ca with “BCSPCA Poetry” in the subject line. For more information and full contest guidelines, click here.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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