Joseph Dandurand is shortlisted for the 2026 Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize
The Al Purdy A-frame Association has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize, recognizing a range of distinguished voices in contemporary Canadian poetry and celebrating the enduring legacy of one of Canada’s most iconic poets. Among the shortlisted titles is I Would Like to Say Thank You by Joseph Dandurand.
Building on his legacy as a skilled storyteller, Dandurand continues to write about trauma, love, grief and forgiveness in I Would Like to Say Thank You. These poems are about the streets, the East Side, self-pity, spirits and Dandurand’s people, the Kwantlen. As the jury of the 2022 Latner Writers’ Trust Award wrote, “his quotidian reflections read like parables, with startling economy.”
Established in 2024 by Eurithe Purdy, the $10,000 Al and Eurithe Purdy Poetry Prize honours the most outstanding new poetry book published by an established Canadian poet who has published five or more collections. The award aims to highlight literary excellence while showcasing the continued strength and diversity of Canadian poetry.
The winner to be revealed on April 21, 2026, marking the 26th anniversary of Al Purdy’s passing.