For Black History Month we once again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, historical resources, and artists.  With the reelection of Donald Trump there was an additional focus last year on black media/journalism, organizations serving historically underserved communities, and support for black voices in the arts. This remains … Continued

Nominations for recipients of the 2026 Zaccheus Jackson Nyce Memorial Award are now open. We encourage you to nominate someone who fits the criteria for the award (below), with particular consideration for a person who doesn’t ask for, or receive much recognition or praise, but deserves it. We recognize the … Continued

  The Vancouver Poetry House Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 24, 3pm, at 111 W Hastings St #210. A virtual option will be available. LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING Agenda (reports will be added to agenda) Everyone is welcome to the AGM but only … Continued

Vancouver Poetry Slam FINALS are tomorrow night!! Come find out who’ll be crowned the 2025 Van Slam champion and represent Vancouver in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam. MONDAY, APR 7 @ Shamshiri Caveman (139 Keefer St) and Online Doors: 7:00 PM  |  Show: 8:00 PM $8 Advance  |  $10-$15 sliding … Continued

We’re thrilled to announce the full schedule for the 15th annual Verses Festival of Words!!! The festival theme is “Amplify,” focusing on uplifting artists with a long history of community building and raising awareness of social issues. As always, we look forward to presenting 10 days of incredible spoken word, including … Continued

Register as a Storm Poet for the 2025 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam!! CIPS takes place from April 16 to April 19, 2025. All competing poets must be available for CIPS Orientation on the morning of April 16th, as well as evening competitions (beginning at 7 PM PST) on April 16, … Continued

In partnership with Historic Joy Kogawa House, we’re excited to present the Amplify: Spoken Word Intensive! This intensive will bring a cohort of poets together to be mentored by a world class faculty from March 19 to 22, 2025. Members of the intensive cohort will spend time developing work and … Continued

Due to a Covid exposure at Historic Joy Kogawa House, we’re moving this Thursday’s Poetry Jam #1 event to ONLINE ONLY. But we’re still looking forward to hosting you for this first event! To join, register HERE.

  For Black History Month we once again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, historical resources, and artists.  With the reelection of Donald Trump, who has already taken aim at federal diversity initiatives and also dissolved the President’s Committee on The Arts and Humanities, there is additional focus this … Continued

We’re excited to be announce that we’ll be launching a new hybrid event series in partnership with Historic Joy Kogawa House: POETRY JAM! Starting on February 20th, we’ll be hosting the first ever Poetry Jam! We’ll be hosting this event in-person and online on the 3rd Thursday of every month! … Continued

Organizer a slam series in Canada and want to register a rep to compete in the 2025 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam?? Registration for slam series is open exclusively to series from now until February 28, 2025! To register your series, complete this form. Are you an individual poet hoping to storm … Continued

Nominations for recipients of the 2025 Zaccheus Jackson Nyce Memorial Award are now open. We encourage you to nominate someone who fits the criteria for the award (below), with particular consideration for a person who doesn’t ask for, or receive much recognition or praise, but deserves it. We recognize the … Continued

  The Vancouver Poetry House Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 17, 3pm, at the Historic Joy Kogawa House (1450 West 64th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6P 2N4). A virtual option is available using Zoom. Let us Know You’re attending: Please Register to Attend AGM Here Everyone is welcome … Continued

For Black History Month we once again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, historical resources, and artists. The list of black-led nonprofits contains links to websites and/or donation information. If you want to expand your poetry reading list, we include an extensive (and growing) list of recommendations. We have … Continued

Nurturing as a medicine is the focus of this year’s festival. We celebrate the power of the spoken word with the 2023 theme, Gathering Found Family Back Around The Table. Spoken word and page poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters and improvisers will join us at the festival, including: Sheri-D Wilson, Louise B. … Continued

Gratitude, honouring peers, and recognizing excellence are vital parts of building community. Verses Festival of Words | Vancouver Poetry House is pleased to continue the tradition of stewarding the Zaccheus Jackson Nyce Memorial Award that is now open for submissions until April 10, 2023 @ 11:59 PM PST. Via online submission: https://forms.gle/9zqvXiU9ojCKhVDY7 … Continued

For Black History Month we want to again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, history books, and artists. The list of black-led nonprofits contains links to websites and/or donation information. If you want to expand your poetry reading list, we’ve again included an extensive (and growing) list of recommendations. … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on May 13, 2022 Description The Artistic Director (AD) has overarching artistic control over all of Vancouver Poetry House’s programs and initiatives. The Artistic Director develops new artist directions, nurtures and coordinates the growth of VPH’s artistic vision, and … Continued

Britta B. is a Toronto based award-winning artist, poet, voice actor, and educator. Her work has appeared in print, in sound, and onstage in notable spheres such as The Walrus Talks, TEDx, as well as international literature festivals, most recently being LitFest Bergen. She facilitates leadership and artist training, poetry … Continued

This month Joseph Dandurand, Artistic Director at Vancouver Poetry House, will be stepping down from his position.  Joseph has been a calming, kind, and generous presence with Vancouver Poetry House for over two years. He has always approached every meeting, event, and task with a good mind and good heart. … Continued

There are many options for supporting and honouring National Truth & Reconciliation Day on September 30. Some of these include: Xweýene:msta:m ?əkwəsqwel, seýeḿ (translation: call to witness/listen to respected one). This is a performance to honour Orange Shirt Day on Thursday, September 30, 2021, presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery.  … Continued

Monday, September 27, 8pm PST Featuring Charlie Petch https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/vancouver-poetry-house… Come share your words & magic and as a bonus, compete for cash prizes. Also compete for a chance to battle a Slam legend head to head live (details on this coming soon) If you’re like me you’ve missed this gathering … Continued

Vancouver Poetry House is proud to announce the publication of Cotyledon, a collection of spoken word poems newly emerged into the world, still seeking their place. These gently crafted poems started as a whisper, a brave thought, or an inkling; poems that dream the world into a future we want … Continued

The Vancouver Poetry House Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2pm, using BlueJeans Please register to attend the meeting using eventbrite. Everyone is welcome to the AGM but only members will be able to vote.  Become a Member or Renew Please consider renewing or becoming a … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 16, 2021. Description The Slam Coordinator oversees VanSlam, a Vancouver Poetry House weekly open mic and spoken word event at Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. The Slam Coordinator has strong interpersonal skills, coordinates … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications onJuly 6, 2021. Description The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for generating and maintaining a body of volunteers for multiple events throughout the year. These include, but are not limited to, VanSlam, Verses and workshops. The roles volunteers take are … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 6, 2021. Description The Education Coordinator works as part of a collaborative team helping Vancouver Poetry House Society maintain and grow our WordPlay program and expand our teaching relationships with external partners. This position could be suitable … Continued

The discovery of 215 unmarked graves on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School has laid bare to the world the stark and painful realities of Canada’s colonial legacy. This National Indigenous History Month please consider donating to the following Indigenous-led organizations: The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is … Continued

Communication can be challenging right now. To keep everyone informed we have put together a brief overview of work happening behind the scenes at VPH from the volunteer board.   Obviously, this year has been a struggle. Our goal is to offer as much virtual programming as possible and by … Continued