Three writers with ties to Vancouver Island make longlist for CBC literary prize

Three writers with Vancouver Island connections were named Wednesday to the longlist for the 2021 CBC Poetry Prize.

Alison Watt, who lives on Protection Island, near Nanaimo, is in the running for Addendum —“Flora of a Small Island in the Salish Sea,” while multi-disciplinarian Katie Martí of Victoria drew a nod for hydrodynamics. Lise Gaston of Vancouver, who spent part of her youth in Victoria (her father, author Bill Gaston, taught at the University of Victoria) earned her spot on a nomination for James.

The CBC Books initiative is co-sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In addition to receiving a cash prize of $6,000, the grand prize winner also receives a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, with their work to be published on the CBC Books website.

Four other finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and will also be published on CBC Books.

mdevlin@timescolonist.com