The Ontario Poetry Society
~ The Ellen S. Jaffe Humanist Award for Poetry 2026 ~
~ The Ellen S. Jaffe Humanist Award for Poetry 2026 ~
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The Ontario Poetry Society Presents:
The Ellen S. Jaffe Humanist Award for Poetry 2026
Open to Everyone in Canada and the U.S.A.
Awards
$300 CAD 1st Prize, $200 CAD 2nd Prize, $100 CAD 3rd Prize, plus up to 5 Honourable Mention Awards . The top 3 winning suites will be published together in a single Chapbook publication. All 3 three top winners receive 10 copies each & an Award Certificate. Hon. Mention winners receive an Award Certificate. All prize winners receive signed copies of Ellen's Book, Skinny-Dipping with the Muse, Guernica Editions, 2014. All winners to read their series at our Ellen S. Jaffe Tribute Reading.
Subject Guidelines:
Accepting a suite of 10 poems: no fewer, no more on the humanist themes of family, community, traditions and customs, social issues, peace and the effects of war, climate change, ecological issues or the healing power of poetry. No lewdness, foul language or heavy slant on religion. Free verse preferred. Poems must be unpublished and not sent elsewhere.
Submission Rules:
Poems must be no longer than 32 lines. Stanza spaces count as lines, titles do not. Line width should be up to 55 characters, including spaces between words. Submissions to be printed on one side of 8.5 x 11" white paper using Arial 12 font. Do not attach pictures, artwork, or bio.
Blind Judging:
No author ID to be anywhere on the poem pages.
Include a cover page with Author name, mailing address, telephone #, e-mail, and poem titles.
Deadline, Entry Fee:
$20 CAD for the first submission, $10 CAD for each additional submission. There is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant. Manuscripts are not returned unless a larger envelope is enclosed with sufficient postage.
Include a #10 s.a.s.e. for winners list and $2 in coupons to spend on another contest.
Entries to be postmarked on/or before March 15, 2026 with payment to The Ontario Poetry Society. Mail to The Ontario Poetry Society #710 - 65 Spring Garden Ave., Toronto, Ontario M2N 6H9
Contest Judge is Keith Garebian
The Ellen S. Jaffe Humanist Award for Poetry 2026
Open to Everyone in Canada and the U.S.A.
Awards
$300 CAD 1st Prize, $200 CAD 2nd Prize, $100 CAD 3rd Prize, plus up to 5 Honourable Mention Awards . The top 3 winning suites will be published together in a single Chapbook publication. All 3 three top winners receive 10 copies each & an Award Certificate. Hon. Mention winners receive an Award Certificate. All prize winners receive signed copies of Ellen's Book, Skinny-Dipping with the Muse, Guernica Editions, 2014. All winners to read their series at our Ellen S. Jaffe Tribute Reading.
Subject Guidelines:
Accepting a suite of 10 poems: no fewer, no more on the humanist themes of family, community, traditions and customs, social issues, peace and the effects of war, climate change, ecological issues or the healing power of poetry. No lewdness, foul language or heavy slant on religion. Free verse preferred. Poems must be unpublished and not sent elsewhere.
Submission Rules:
Poems must be no longer than 32 lines. Stanza spaces count as lines, titles do not. Line width should be up to 55 characters, including spaces between words. Submissions to be printed on one side of 8.5 x 11" white paper using Arial 12 font. Do not attach pictures, artwork, or bio.
Blind Judging:
No author ID to be anywhere on the poem pages.
Include a cover page with Author name, mailing address, telephone #, e-mail, and poem titles.
Deadline, Entry Fee:
$20 CAD for the first submission, $10 CAD for each additional submission. There is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant. Manuscripts are not returned unless a larger envelope is enclosed with sufficient postage.
Include a #10 s.a.s.e. for winners list and $2 in coupons to spend on another contest.
Entries to be postmarked on/or before March 15, 2026 with payment to The Ontario Poetry Society. Mail to The Ontario Poetry Society #710 - 65 Spring Garden Ave., Toronto, Ontario M2N 6H9
Contest Judge is Keith Garebian