League of Canadian Poets

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The League of Canadian Poets (LCP), a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and spoken word poets in Canada. Its purpose is to enhance the status of poets and nurture a professional poetic community to facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education and to develop the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance and recognition of Canadian poetry nationally and internationally.

As well as providing members and the public with many benefits and services, the LCP speaks for poets on many issues such as freedom of expression, Public Lending Right, Access Copyright, contract advice and grievance. We are actively involved with other arts and literary organizations in discussion with government bodies on matters that affect writers. Through our monthly newsletter, we keep members informed of matters both political and professional and provide a common voice for collective response to important issues.

Founded in 1966 by a group of five poets, the LCP now serves over 600 members whose work reflects the regional and cultural diversity of this country. The League also had an Associates Category which was active in Toronto in the mid 1980's. This is significant as it was the last Toronto Associates group and was disbanded by majority vote in 1985. Subsequently many of the members formed the Canadian Poetry Association soon after.


 * List of members of the League of Canadian Poets: Associates (Toronto)
 * August 26th 1985


 * Shaunt Basmajian
 * Ella Bobrow
 * Abbe Edelson
 * Harold Gutzin
 * Susan Ioannou
 * Bernice Lever
 * Dale Loucareous
 * Anne Michaels
 * Ben Phillips
 * Nancy Prassa
 * Bud-Ray
 * Wayne Ray
 * Jeff Seffinga
 * Sam Simcovich
 * Jim Smith
 * Rick Smith
 * James Deahl
 * Cecile Cloutier
 * Maureen Harris
 * (dan) Jones
 * Justin Lewis
 * Kateri Lanthier
 * Joe Maviglia
 * Donia Clenman