The LCP Book Awards announced their 18-title shortlists on May 7, 2025.

The League of Canadian Poets has announced the 18 titles shortlisted for its three annual book awards. Each award carries a $2,000 prize.

Five poets — Faith Arkorful, Manahil Bandukwala, Zehra Naqvi, Chimwemwe Undi, and Barbara Tran — have each been shortlisted for two awards. 

The 12-title longlists for each of the three prizes were announced last month. The winners will be named on May 14, with an online reading planned for May 13 to celebrate the shortlisted poets.

Gerald Lampert Memorial Award (Best new debut book of poetry)

• The Seventh Town of Ghosts by Faith Arkorful (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada)
• Blood Belies by Ellen Chang-Richardson (Wolsak & Wynn)
• Aqueous by Nathanael Jones (The Porcupine’s Quill)
• Dayo by Marc Perez (Brick Books)
• Precedented Parroting by Barbara Tran (Palimpsest Press)
• Scientific Marvel by Chimwemwe Undi (House of Anansi Press)

Pat Lowther Memorial Award (Best new book of poetry by a woman)

• The Seventh Town of Ghosts by Faith Arkorful (McClelland & Stewart/PRHC)
• Heliotropia by Manahil Bandukwala (Brick Books)
• Oh Witness Dey! by Shani Mootoo (Book*hug Press)
• The Knot of My Tongue by Zehra Naqvi (McClelland & Stewart/PRHC)
• The Work by Bren Simmers (Gaspereau Press)
• Precedented Parroting by Barbara Tran (Palimpsest Press)

Raymond Souster Award (Best new book of poetry by a League member)

• Heliotropia by Manahil Bandukwala (Brick Books)
• The Knot of My Tongue by Zehra Naqvi (McClelland & Stewart/PRHC)
• echolalia echolalia by Jane Shi (Brick Books)
• Weather by Rob Taylor (Gaspereau Press)
• Scientific Marvel by Chimwemwe Undi (House of Anansi Press)
• shima by shō yamagushiku (McClelland & Stewart/PRHC)