Over 60 entries in the 2016 Inner City Poetry Contest were received and subject to a blind judging process. The winners were revealed at an event at Zocalo on April 17 as part of the Edmonton Poetry Festival. Several current and former Poet Laureates read their work, a short workshop on poetry and percussion was held, and the winning poems of the contest were read.

This year’s winners are:

First place – Paula Kirman
Second place – Patricia Whiting
Third place – Keri Breckenridge
Fourth place – Karen Peterson

Honourable mention – Christopher Leclair

This year’s theme was Inner City Drum Beats. The winning poems, as well as other selections from the entries received, will be published in a chapbook in the fall.