Aspiring poets and songwriters were invited to enter the Dorothy Shoemaker Awards in December 2021.

We are pleased to announce the 2021 Dorothy Shoemaker Award winners!

Poetry Contest Winners     Songwriting Contest Winners

About the Dorothy Shoemaker Awards

The Awards began in 1967 as a Centennial project, created by Dorothy Shoemaker, Kitchener Public Library's Chief Librarian from 1944 to 1971.

In 1996, when government funding for the awards was eliminated, Ms. Shoemaker made a significant personal donation to ensure the awards would continue. In 2000, Ms. Shoemaker passed away at the age of 94; however, her legacy of support for aspiring writers continues today through her ongoing endowment.

Kitchener Public Library thanks the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation for their ongoing financial support of this long-running contest.