Five books – most of them from independent presses – have been shortlisted for the 2025 Al & Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize.

The $10,000 prize honours the most outstanding new poetry book published in Canada by an established poet with five or more traditionally published poetry books. It was established in 2024 by Eurithe Purdy, Al Purdy’s widow.

Sid Marty, the inaugural winner of the prize, is on the 2025 prize jury, alongside Laisha Rosnau and Sam Solecki.

A shortlist of five books was announced on March 31, chosen from a 10-book longlist announced earlier in the month.

The shortlisted titles are:

• The Astonishing Room by Brian Bartlett (Frontenac House)
• In the Capital City of Autumn by Tim Bowling (Wolsak & Wynn)
• Great Silent Ballad by A.F. Moritz (House of Anansi Press)
• A Year of Last Things by Michael Ondaatje (McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada)
• The Salmon Shanties: A Cascadian Song Cycle by Harold Rhenisch (University of Regina Press)

The winner will be announced on April 21, the 25th anniversary of the poet’s death.