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
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!
june
Member Event - In Person
Reading Night
Tuesday, June 10, 7PM
Share your Words, Share your Voice
Join us for a cozy evening of storytelling, poetry, and creative connection at our upcoming Reading Night!
This is a chance for members to share their writing—finished or in progress—in a supportive, welcoming space. Whether you’re looking to test out a new piece, get inspired, or simply enjoy the talent in our community, we’d love to see you there!
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Bring your voice. Bring your words. And bring your ears—because great stories are meant to be hear
Details are emailed to OIW members
Member Exclusive
Writers Retreat
June 27 to June 29
Step Away and Write
Escape the noise of daily life and immerse yourself in what matters most—your writing. Our two-day retreat offers dedicated, distraction-free time to focus on your projects, surrounded by inspiring landscapes and a creative community.
Expect quiet writing sessions, optional prompts to get your creativity flowing, and plenty of space to reflect, recharge, and connect
Details are emailed to OIW members
Member Exclusive
Short Story Competition
Deadline September 1, 2025
A Page. A Pen. A Winner.
Sharpen your pencils and fire up your imagination!
OIW is thrilled to announce the launch of the Summer Short Story Competition—and even more excited to welcome Tim Wynne-Jones as our guest judge. A two-time Governor General’s Award winner and acclaimed storyteller, Tim brings a keen eye and deep literary insight to this year’s contest.
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All writers are welcome.
Whether you're just starting out or already well on your writing journey, this is your chance to craft something remarkable and gain recognition.
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Submissions open June 1 and close September 1—you have all summer to write, revise, and polish your piece.
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Stay tuned for full details, including competition theme, word limits, guidelines, and prizes.
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A page. A pen. A winner.
Let your story be the one that stands out.
Details are emailed to OIW members
poetry page
April was National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month is over and this year's beautifully varied poems by OIW Members are now up on our Poetry webpage.
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Inspired by the theme of Family, each one captures an intimate facet of memory, love, loss, and connection.
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A huge thank you to all our contributing writers. You can find them in the "Poetry" tab on the website or by clicking on the button.
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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.
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.