2024 Poetry Contest
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) exists in Ontario. It’s happening in our homes, our neighbourhoods and across our country. 60% of those trafficked in Canada are trafficked in Ontario. Three departments at the Ontario Divisional Headquarters are collaborating for this contest, to bring greater awareness to MSHT during the month of January 2024. The Ascent Men’s Ministries, Women’s Ministries, and MSHT Response coordinators are grateful for your interest in this contest.
This poetry contest offers an opportunity to give voice to issues that are often silenced. We encourage you to talk about, think about, and get informed about MSHT, and write poetry that reflects a heart for those impacted by MSHT today. For current information about MSHT in Canada go to www.salvationist.ca/humantrafficking.
This contest is open to people of all ages and genders. Submissions will be reviewed by a small team (See below) and a winner will be chosen in each category. Entries will not necessarily be given feedback, but acknowledgment of receipt will be offered. Winners will be announced by mid February 2024 and may be featured in Salvationist Magazine. A compilation of poetry from this contest may be published by Paddler Press if the numbers and quality of writings would positively contribute to awareness of MSHT. Therefore submissions will become the property of The Salvation Army.
Poetry Review Team Members
Mackenzie Griffin
Mackenzie Griffin is a Cree-Saulteaux woman from Sunchild First Nations in Alberta, Canada. She grew up off-reserve, in a small hamlet called Fort Assiniboine, an hour and half north of Edmonton, Alberta. Currently, she lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, where she completed her undergrad in Creative Writing and Cultural Studies. Now she is studying at NAIITS – An Indigenous Learning Community taking her Masters of Theology where she is working on her thesis surrounding Indigenous concepts of harmony and wholeness and the harmful language around sin within the Western church for marginalized peoples. Mackenzie is a poet and author and has published articles and chapbooks with the University of British Columbia and Faith Today.
Constance Knighton
Connie resides in Bracebridge, Ontario. Her poetry has been inspiring people throughout her life of ministry. She has an MTS from Queens University and is a published author and psychotherapist. Her apt story telling can be seen in Dawsonwood Diaries (2006).
Deryck N. Robertson
Deryck lives and creates in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, Ontario, where he is an elementary educator. Work has appeared with The Minison Project, Orchard Lea Press, Loft Books, and forthcoming with Vital Minutiae Quarterly. His first chapbook, All We Remember, was released by Alien Buddha Press in 2021. He is the EIC of Paddler Press and has a couple of songs on Spotify. When not writing, he can usually be found drinking maple roast coffee around a campfire or in the stern of his canoe in Algonquin Park. You can find him online @Canoe_Ideas, @PaddlerPress, and deryck.ca.
Col. Eleanor Shepherd
Eleanor Shepherd has received several awards for her contribution of more than 100 articles written for Christian publications, including magazine articles and book collections like the Hot Apple Cider series. Her book on sharing faith by listening, More Questions than Answers also merited an Award. She ministered for over 40 years as a Salvation Army officer.
