Griffin Poetry Prize

June 3, 2009
The Stone Distillery at
The Distillery Historic District
55 Mill Street, Toronto

The Griffin Poetry Prize awards venue is always sheer poetry itself – this year, it took on vibrant Mexican-themed hues.
The poet banners always take center stage, whatever the decor.
Everyone's amazing Griffin awards evening starts with a warm and gracious greeting from Scott and Krystyne Griffin. (At right) Designer Sinclair Russell is always as vivid as the venues he adorns.
Jess Atwood Gibson, Margaret Atwood and Ros Porter pause before heading eagerly into the party. (At right) 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize judge Saskia Hamilton arrives ready to celebrate, her judging tasks completed.
2009 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize nominee Jeramy Dodds arrives, grinning expectantly.	Jeramy Dodds and Brecken Hancock are greeted by 2009 judge Michael Redhill, from whom they will receive no answers.
2009 International Griffin Poetry Prize nominee Derek Mahon and Griffin trustee Carolyn Forché welcome Lifetime Recognition award recipient Hans Magnus Enzensberger and his family to the festivities. (At right) Krystyne Griffin congratulates Derek Mahon on his wonderful nominated work, Life on Earth.
Krystyne Griffin shares Hans Magnus Enzensberger's delight at the setting for the wonderful evening ahead. (At right) Viva Krystyne! - always capturing exquisitely the mood and tone of every Griffin event.
The attentive servers reflect the festive theme, too.	Award-winning author Austin Clarke savours the poetic atmosphere and the Mexican-themed refreshments.
Booksellers Ben McNally and Lynn Thomson are long-time and avid Griffin Poetry Prize supporters.	Krystyne Griffin delightedly greets writers Sophie McCall and David Chariandy.
	Paul Dempsey and photographer Joy von Tiedemann commend Krystyne on another poetically choreographed Griffin occasion. (At left) Authors Austin Clarke and David Chariandy appreciate that the Griffin awards event is a gathering for all artists to celebrate.
Griffin trustees David Young and Margaret Atwood catch up with Ben McNally and Lynn Thomson. (At right) Tessa Griffin and Peter LaMantia positively glow in the warm party atmosphere.
Krystyne and Scott Griffin welcome long-time friends writer Leon Rooke, publisher Patrick Crean and writer Susan Swan.	Lynn Thomson and Ben McNally introduce themselves to Michael Wiegers of Copper Canyon Press and 2009 International Griffin Poetry Prize nominee C.D. Wright.
2009 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize nominee Kevin Connolly relaxes with Toronto Star publishing reporter Vit Wagner and partner and fellow writer Gil Adamson.	Rupert Field-Marsham, Sophie McCall, Sandy Stevenson, Alastair Griffin and other party-goers all have different ideas as to whose names will be announced as the Griffin Poetry Prize winners.
(Left to right) Royal Ontario Museum head William Thorsell, CBC Radio broadcaster Michael Enright and Book City owners Fran and Gini Donker trade snippets of their favourite Griffin shortlisted works.	Sarah MacLachlan (left) and Lynn Henry (right) of House of Anansi Press chat with Leslie Lester of Soulpepper.
Scott Griffin welcomes publisher Louise Dennys and social marketing expert Ric Young. (At right) Michael Holmes and Amy Logan Holmes enjoy the festivities swirling around them.
Writers Erika de Vasconcelos and Nino Ricci enjoy all aspects of the Griffin celebrations, but most look forward to the dancing.	CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi and his friend marvel at how lively a poetry gathering can be.
Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch, Judy Clarke and a fellow celebrant raise a toast to the Griffin Poetry Prize. (At right) Krystyne Griffin welcomes writer Michael Winter.
	The colourful crowd in its equally colourful setting assembled expectantly. (At left) Scott and Krystyne Griffin happily survey the culmination of another exciting and successful award season.
Writers Michael Winter and Christine Pountney and another guest offer congratulations to 2009 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize nominee A.F. Moritz (second from left). (At right) Soulpepper colleagues Albert Schultz and Leslie Lester can empathize with the jitters the shortlisted poets must be feeling.
Ben McNally, IFOA Festival Director Geoffrey Taylor and writer, poet and professor Christopher Dewdney take it all in.	Ken Babstock, shortlisted for the Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize in 2007, offers Jeramy Dodds some sage words of advice on enjoying the evening to the fullest.
Lynn Henry, Laura Repas, Anna Luengo and Claudia Dey toast the incredible work of the 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize judges.	Michael Redhill, journalist Sandra Martin and Austin Clarke have an animated discussion.
Hans Magnus Enzensberger thanks the Griffin Trust for his Lifetime Recognition distinction with selections from his extensive body of work.	Literary critic and novelist James Wood delights the crowd with his application for the position of the Oxford Professorship of Poetry. Click here for the text and audio/video clips of James Wood's speech.
	C.D. Wright listens, almost disbelievingly … (At left) Judge Michael Redhill approaches the podium, the bearer of good tidings.
Scott Griffin guides a flabbergasted C.D. Wright to the podium.	Wright pauses as the good news sinks in …
C.D. Wright accepts the 2009 International Griffin Poetry Prize with a heartfelt speech.	Saskia Hamilton and Dennis O'Driscoll take to the podium next, bearing more good tidings.
	A.F. Moritz offers his sincere thanks for the 2009 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize. (At left) Saskia Hamilton excitedly makes the announcement …
Scott Griffin proudly presents the 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize winners, A.F. Moritz and C.D. Wright.
Funk ensemble LMT Connection gets all the poetry lovers out on the dance floor, led by Scott Griffin.
	Griffin Trust manager Ruth Smith and Rick Rowe of Daniel et Daniel can finally kick up their heels after orchestrating another successful Griffin event. (At left) Ginny Griffin and John Craig poetically trip the light fantastic.
	Happy poetry celebrants have plenty of congratulations to go around for everyone.
Tim and Nalini Stewart compare notes with Geoffrey Taylor. (At right) Griffin trustees Robin Robertson and Michael Ondaatje are pleased that the Griffin Poetry Prize still keeps getting better and better every year.
More happy guests, including Christopher Dewdney, start randomly reciting verse.
Linda Spalding and publishers Ellen Seligman and Jim Polk sway poetically on the edge of the dance floor. (At right) Scott Griffin shows off his legendary dance floor form with Sandra Martin.
	Ashley Madden, Daniel Smith, Leslie Greentree and Blaine Newton wind down after a lively evening. (At left) Coach House Books founder Stan Bevington (right) shares a chuckle with another reveler.
Scott Griffin, Margaret Atwood, Dionne Brand and Michael Ondaatje don't think they can dance … they know they can dance!
Ralph Walker, Leslie Greentree and Blaine Newton bask in the glow of the mighty Poetry icon. (At right) Leon Rooke and Linda Spalding intend to dance until they drop.
Hans Magnus Enzensberger and Krystyne Griffin establish an oasis of waltz in the midst of the dance floor mayhem. (At right) Publisher Joseph Bednarik and writer Christopher Doda agree that it was very fine evening indeed.
Krystyne Griffin tangos with Griffin event photographer Tom Sandler.	Jeramy Dodds and Kevin Connolly plot their return to future Griffin Poetry Prize shortlists.
	Scott and Tessa Griffin and Michael Ondaatje bring down the curtain on another brilliant Griffin Poetry Prize celebration.

Photo credits: Tom Sandler and Aline Sandler