Bywords John Newlove Poetry Awards

Plus the Lampman Award presentation

Hosted by Amanda Earl

Special Presentation In Person Music Poetry

General Admission

Free

Reserve Tickets

Thursday

Oct

6:30pm

Eastern

Saw Gallery

67 Nicholas St. • Ottawa

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Ness Susanne Fletcher

"This crisp yet poignant two-stanza poem is a sustained decrescendo perfect for its subject matter."

Tolu Oluruntoba, 2026 John Newlove Poetry Award judge

Join us for an unforgettable evening of poetry and music.

Amanda Earl hosts the 2026 Bywords.ca John Newlove Poetry Award with music by Ness and the launch of Susanne Fletcher’s chapbook, Cultivating Light. We will also hear readings by this year’s award recipient and honourable mentions. This year’s judge was Tolu Oloruntoba.

ARC Magazine's Lampman Award presentation will follow the John Newlove Poetry Awards.

This year's Lampman finalists are:

The Great Wake by Nina Berkhout,

Several Small Animals Enclosed in a Benedictine Monastery by Vera Hadzic,

and the book of sentences by rob mclennan.

The Authors

Ness

Ness is an indie folk singer-songwriter based in Ottawa. She has been playing music since childhood and has more recently been developing her career as an artist in the local music scene. With a melancholic style and heartfelt lyrics, Ness's music tells vivid personal stories her audiences can deeply relate to.

Susanne Fletcher

Susanne Fletcher lives in Ottawa’s south end near sickly Sawmill Creek, four car dealerships and two graveyards, and thinks this location offers a a perfect metaphor for 21st century urban life. She writes stories in what she hopes are accessible poems, short fiction, and non-fiction. In 2025 she was awarded the John Newlove Poetry prize and is proud to launch her first chapbook at the 2026 Ottawa International Writers’ Festival.