Dawn Macdonald

Whitehorse-based poet Dawn Macdonald has been awarded the Griffin Poetry Prize Canadian First Book Prize for her debut collection of poetry, Northerny (University of Alberta Press).

In their citation, the judges said “Dawn Macdonald’s Northerny is a blast of crisp Yukon air. Funny and fresh, unexpected and daring, it understands ‘the personal is heretical,’ and glories in that fact. It’s a rush, a relief, and remakes with impishness the notion of what a poem can be.”

The Canadian First Book Prize is awarded annually to a Canadian poet for a debut collection of poetry. The winning poet receives $10,000 (CDN) in prize money along with a six-week residency in Italy, in partnership with the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.

Dawn Macdonald will participate in the 2025 Griffin Poetry Prize Readings at Koerner Hall on Wednesday, June 4, to read from her winning book. The winner of the $150,000 Griffin Poetry Prize will also be announced at the event.