Michael Ondaatje is among the five shortlisted authors for the 2025 Al & Eurithe Poetry Prize.
The $10,000 prize, now in its second year, recognizes the best new book from a Canadian poet who has published five or more poetry books.
Ondaatje is nominated for his book A Year of Last Things, his long-awaited return to poetry. Drawing on his personal experiences, this collection goes back in time to all the borders that he’s crossed with imagery at once witty, moving and wise.
Ondaatje is a Canadian literary icon. His novels and poetry have earned international acclaim, and he was the first Canadian ever to win the Booker Prize — in 1992, for the wartime story The English Patient. Born in Sri Lanka and educated in England, Ondaatje moved to Canada when he was 18 to attend university.
Ondaatje began his writing career in 1967 as a poet, winning two Governor General’s Literary Awards for poetry before turning to fiction. Over his career, he’s also won the Giller Prize and France’s prestigious Prix Medicis.
The other writers nominated are Brian Bartlett for The Astonishing Room, Tim Bowling for In the Capital City of Autumn, A.F. Moritz for Great Silent Ballad and Harold Rhenisch for The Salmon Shanties.
The jury, composed of writers Laisha Rosnau, Sam Solecki and Sid Marty, last year’s winner, selected the shortlist.
The prize was founded in honour of poet Al Purdy and the winner will be announced on April 21, 2025, the 25th anniversary of his death.
Purdy published over 30 poetry collections, a novel, two memoirs and four books of letters over his 50-year career. Known as Canada’s unofficial poet laureate, he received two Governor General’s Literary Awards for poetry for The Cariboo Horses and The Collected Poems of Al Purdy.
He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1982 and won the League of Canadian Poets’ Voice of the Land Award, recognizing his contributions to Canadian poetry.
At the age of 81, poet Al Purdy dies of cancer. Aired April 25, 2000 on CBC’s The National Magazine.
If you are interested in poetry prizes, the 2025 CBC Poetry Prize is open April 1-June 1. You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.
