april is
national poetry month
Celebrate National Poetry Month with OIW!
April is National Poetry Month—a time to honour poetry and its vital role in our culture. Established in 1998 by the League of Canadian Poets, this celebration aims to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry, encourage reading, and support poets across the country.
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The theme for National Poetry Month 2025 is “FAMILY”.
OIW invites all members to submit a poem inspired by this year’s theme. Selected poems will be featured on the OIW website, showcasing the incredible talent within our amazing multi-talented group!
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We can’t wait to read your work—happy writing!
​​Submissions will be accepted throughout the month of April and posted in May.
Not a member yet?
Visit our Membership Page to learn all about the benefits of being an OIW member, including the opportunity to get published!
more events in april
Guest Speaker - via zoom
Antonio Michael Downing
Tuesday, April 15
Let the Truth Ring its Own Bell
In a powerful and deeply entertaining session, Antonio Michael Downing led OIW members through an exploration of memory, identity, and storytelling in creative nonfiction. Drawing from his acclaimed memoir Saga Boy, Antonio shared insights into writing personal truth, navigating cultural identity, and the legacy of generational narratives. The evening was made even more memorable when Antonio—also known for his musical persona John Orpheus—treated attendees to a surprise performance, blending music and storytelling in a way only he can. With heart, humour, and undeniable presence, Antonio reminded us all that writing is not just about telling stories—it’s about reclaiming them.
Details are emailed to OIW members
OIW Workshop In-person
Silvia Fiorita-Smith
Sunday, April 27, 1 PM
Poetry for Everyone:
A Creative Workshop
Unlock the power of poetry in this engaging workshop presented by Ottawa's own award-winning poet and OIW member, Silvia Fiorita-Smith. Sylvia has designed this workshop for writers of all skill levels. Whether you're new to verse or looking to refine your craft, this session will explore techniques to enhance imagery, rhythm, and emotional depth in your writing. Through guided exercises, discussion, and feedback, you'll experiment with language, form, and personal expression in a supportive, creative space. Come ready to write, share, and be inspired!
Details are emailed to OIW members
May
Guest Speaker - via zoom
Ben Ladouceur
Tuesday, May 20th, 7 PM
Penning Verses, Crafting Chapters:
The Craft of Poetry vs. Novel Writing
Join us for an illuminating session with award-winning poet BEN LADOUCEUR who navigates the worlds of both poetry and prose with remarkable dexterity. In this engaging talk, explore the nuanced landscapes of writing a book of poetry versus crafting a novel. Ben Ladouceur is an author living on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation (Ottawa). His first book, Otter, was selected as a best book of 2015 by the National Post, nominated for a Lambda Literary Award, and awarded the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award; his second book, Mad Long Emotion, was awarded the Archibald Lampman Prize. He is the recipient of the Writers’ Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for emerging LGBT+ writers, and a National Magazine Award for Poetry. His short fiction has been featured in the Journey Prize Anthology and awarded the Thomas Morton Prize.
Details are emailed to OIW members
OUR MEETINGS
MONTHLY MEETINGS
OIW holds nine monthly program meetings from September to June each year on a wide variety of writing related topics, normally with a speaker and plenty of opportunity for questions.
CURRENT MEETINGS
OIW gathers every third Tuesday of the month with presentations starting at 7 pm, lasting until 8:30 pm. The meetings currently take place on the Zoom virtual platform.
Visit our membership page to sign-up now!
OUR MEMBERS
Meet a few of our writers
Mike Young
Kirk's Landing
Mike was born and raised in Kirkland Lake, a small northern mining town with a nearby First Nations reserve. He grew up with a love of the north, even in the midst of winter, exploring the surrounding woods with his friends, and his grandfather. Kirk's Landing, a crime novel, was his first book. In 2016, he published a sequel, Return to Kirk's Landing.
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Patricia McCarthy
The Crimson Man
Author of the wildly imaginative Crimson vampire series, currently consisting of (6) novels: The Crimson Man, The Crimson Boy, The Crimson Woman, The Crimson Time, The Crimson Crimes, and her latest in the series The Crimson Dream. The Crimson vampire series takes place in Ottawa, Canada.
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Craig Munro
Bones of the Past
Craig has spent his life traveling and moving from one field of work to another. A voracious fan of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, it was only a matter of time before he turned his mind to creating a world of his own. The Bones of the Past is the first installment in the epic fantasy series - The Books of Dust and Bone.
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Melissa Yuan-Innes
Human Remains
Melissa Yuan-Innes (Melissa Yi) is an emergency room physician. Her newest Hope Sze crime novel is HUMAN REMAINS. THE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME, a previous Hope Sze novel, was selected by CBC Radio as a best crime novel of the season.