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WBRL: Word in Motion

Calling poets of all ages to participate in Words in Motion, a community-based program that encourages literacy and appreciation for poetry. Participants are encouraged to write their best poetry and submit them to wordsinmotion@wbrl.ca by January 31st, 2023.

An external panel of community judges will select the poems to be displayed in the Wood Buffalo Regional Library. Authors of the selected poems will be invited to participate in a celebration event on the first floor of the Wood Buffalo Regional Library on April 19th, 2023 from 7:00-8:00 PM.

  • Poem submissions must be in Microsoft Word and sent via email to wordsinmotion@wbrl.ca with the title of the poem, the writer’s full name, number, and email address. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate that in your submission. 
  • Maximum of three entries per person.
  • Previously published poems will not be accepted.
  • Poems can be of any theme, form or language.
  • Class poems (i.e poems collectively created by a classroom with guidance from the teacher) are allowed. However, class assignments with teachers setting up a ‘formula’ for students to fill in will be disqualified.
  • Students who do not wish to have their poems selected by their teacher can participate through the Public category, however, please do not submit the same poem through multiple categories.
  • Poem selection will be judged based on originality, appropriateness, poetic techniques, organization and flow, emotion, image, and imagination.

There are three categories for submissions: 

  • Public: Anyone who resides in the Wood Buffalo Region.
  • High School Grades 7-12
    •  Submit your poems to your class teacher. We request that classroom teachers submit 5-10 poems from their class that best fit the program. In each submission, include the:
  • Student’s name
  • Email address
  • Contact number
  • School name
  • Grade level 
  • Elementary School Grades 1-6
    • Submit your poems to your class teacher. We request that classroom teachers submit 5-10 poems from their class that best fit the program. In each submission, include the:
  • Student’s name
  • Email address (parents)
  • Contact number (parents)
  • School name
  • Grade level