Canadian Poetry Association

The Canadian Poetry Association began as a grass-roots organization dedicated to promoting the reading, writing, publishing and preservation of poetry in Canada through the individual efforts of members; promoting communication among poets, publishers and the general public; encouraging leadership and participation from members and to encourage the formation and development of local chapters. It began in Toronto, Ontario, as a collective on 16 January 1985 with its first Board of Directors: Shaunt Basmajian, James Deahl, Wayne Ray, Beverley Daurio, Chris Faiers, & Ted Plantos [1], and after 20 years has reformed its aims and objectives and is headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The CPA published POEMATA, a quarterly journal for its members and the general public, filled with poetry, articles news and literary contests. The CPA sponsored the Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook Award and several other poetry and chapbook contests open to both members and the general public.

CPA Anthologies

• 1995An Invisible Accordion Broken Jaw Press Jennifer Footman, editor. ISBN 0-921411-38-3
• 1997Strong Winds Broken Jaw Press Sheila Hyland, editor. ISBN 0-921411-60-X
• 2006Harvesting Treasures CPA 20th Participating Members Anthology, River Bones Press ISBN 0-9738671-0-8. Editor Trish Shields and forward by John B. Lee.

The Canadian Poetry Association's Signature Series

• 1997black and white I. B. Iskov CPA Poetry Series #3 ISBN 1-896367-16-X
• 2001SIX Voices: Roger Bell, Jennifer Footman Richard Grove, Joan Latchford, John B. Lee Bernice Lever Editor: Richard Grove Hidden Brook Press ISBN 1-894553-26-8
• 2002Windfall: A Canadian Poetry Association Member's Anthology Editor: Leda Lubynskyj Hidden Brook Press ISBN 1-894553-36-5
• 2002Oval Victory: A Canadian Poetry Association Anthology Editor: Linda Rogers Hidden Brook Press ISBN 1-894553-35-7
• 2003Handprints on the Future: A Canadian Poetry Association Anthology Editor: Gordon Gilhuly Hidden Brook Press ISBN 1-894553-48-9

CPA Poetry Chapbook Series

includes CPA BookClub Booklits 1991–1995

• 1991Horticultural Influences in the Founding of HMS Press Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-26-9
• 1991Creative Plagiarism Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-27-7
• 1991Vacationland and other Stories Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-29-3
• 1991In Memoriam: Milton Acorn James Deahl ISBN 0-919957-31-5
• 1991Beatrice Dickerskin Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-32-3
• 1991Shashin-kaku Haiku Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-40-4
• 1993Twin Peaks: an essay Wayne Ray ISBN 0-919957-86-2
• 1993The Beauty That Endures James Deahl ISBN 0-919957-89-7
• 1993Canada or True North James Deahl ISBN 0-919957-90-0
• 1995The Future of Poetry James Deahl ISBN 0-919957-39-0
• 2011 PARTICIPOET! Essays & Reviews:an early look at HMS Press & CPA: London publishing 1982-2006. ISBN 1-55253-070-1 PDF ISBN 1-55253-068-X paper

Basmajian Chapbook Award Winners

• Final year 2008
• 1997 Winner
  • Roger Bell Luke and the Wolf ISBN 0-9694127-3-8,
• 1998 Winner
  • Alice Major Scenes from the Sugar Bowl Café ISBN 0-9694127-4-6
• 1997 Winner
  • Liz Zetlin The Gourd Poems ISBN 0-9686018-0-4
• 2000Winner
  • Linda Rogers Grief Sits Down ISBN 0-9686018-2-0
• 2001Winner
  • Sue Chenette The Time Between Us
• 2002Winner
  • K. V. Skene Only a Dragon. ISBN 0-9686018-6-3
• 2003Winner
  • Louise Murphy Pilgrimage ISBN 0-9686018-9-8
• 2004Winner
  • K. V. Skene Calendar of Rain ISBN 0-9734609-1-1
• 2005Winners
  • kevin mcpherson eckhoff signs of divorce concrete poetry ISBN 1-55253-062-0
  • Cornelia Hoogland Second Marriage ISBN 1-55253-061-2
• 2006Winner
  • Kate Marshall Flaherty, Unfathom ISBN 978-1-55253-065-8
• 2007Winner
  • Vicki Goodfellow Duke, The Year We Quit Believing ISBN 978-55253-053-5
• 2008Winner
  • J. J. Steinfeld, Where War Finds You ISBN 978-1-55253-069-6

Famous Canadian Poets 5 CD Collection

• 1976 Original audio tape / 2001 CD publication, 2 – thirty minute readings per CD

• Irving Layton ISBN 1-55253-029-9 (CD#1)
• Earle Birney ISBN 1-55253-029-9 (CD#1)
• Dorothy Livesay ISBN 1-55253-031-0 (CD#2)
• Eli Mandel ISBN 1-55253-031-0 (CD#2)
• Gwendolyn MacEwen ISBN 1-55253-032-9 (CD#3)
• Raymond Souster ISBN 1-55253-032-9 (CD#3)
• F. R. Scott ISBN 1-55253-022-1 (CD#4)
• James Reaney ISBN 1-55253-022-1 (CD#4)
• Milton Acorn ISBN 0-919957-42-0 1986 audio cassette (later on CD)

• Celebration! ISBN 1-55253-035-3 samples of 9 Poets On CD (includes Milton Acorn)

• Prisoner of Women's Dreams by Wayne Ray 50 minutes poetry plays and prose ISBN 1-55253-042-6

External links

• [2] Canadian Poetry Association Official Website & Facebook Portal]