Contemporary Verse 2 (“CV2”) is a Canadian magazine which focuses on the art of poetry as well as Contemporary poets and the issues. CV2 also publishes essays, interviews, articles and reviews regarding various poetic works. The magazine tries to stimulate discussion, encourages people to try out their writing skills in various contests (See Contests) and to enjoy poetry. Although the magazine is in English, CV2 also accepts French poetry. Published quarterly, Contemporary Verse 2 aims to: “Advance the understanding and appreciation of contemporary poetry through the publication of Contemporary Verse 2: The Canadian Journal of Poetry and Critical Writing and related activities.” (CV2)
Contents
History
Founded by Dorothy Livesay in 1975, CVII, as it was then called, continued where another poetry magazine (Contemporary Verse) had left off in the early 1950s. Livesay, who was also the editor at the time, found that there were not enough magazines that discussed Canadian poetry and for this reason designed the new CVII magazine to continue the discussion on modern poets and poetry. Later, the Roman numeral would be replaced by a 2 and the magazine would include an even wider range of discussion material. However, to this day the Contemporary Verse 2 magazine still discusses Canadian poetry.
Website
Readers can read excerpts from the current issue as well as back issues as far as Summer 2000 on the magazine's official website. Readers also have access to CV2’s online subscription page, and can learn how to submit their work to the magazine. The magazine’s contest site, the history of CV2, resources, the Lina Chartrand Award webpage, and a T-shirt store are the kinds of features readers can access on the CV2 website. There is also a special webpage dedicated to CV2’s 35th anniversary celebration that happened in 2010. Features on the webpage include a contest, a word from CV2’s writers on how the magazine has poetically changed them, how to purchase a 35th anniversary special edition of the magazine (double issue), and videos from CV2’s Coast to Coast anniversary tour stop in Toronto. Website Coordinator for contemporaryverse2.ca is Melody Morrissette.
Contests
The magazine CV2 is dedicated to broadening the poetic community and publishing new poets. CV2 contests aim to get the readers of the magazine involved in the poetic community by submitting original work. The cost of an entry fee depends on the contest and may also include a one year subscription to the magazine. The poems are then blindly read and judged by the staff at CV2. The winner(s) of a CV2 magazine contest can expect to have their submission published in an upcoming issue of CV2 magazine as well as a cash prize depending on the contest. Honourable mentions are also awarded and receive publications in upcoming issues. To find specifics on contest fees, prizes and more visit www.contemporaryverse2.ca
CV2 offers an annual 2-day poem contest, where poets register online to receive ten words chosen by CV2 magazine. They then must compose one poem in a time frame of two days and contain the ten chosen words. First, second and third prizes are awarded as well as two honourable mentions.
The magazine also offers contests for special events such as CV2’s 35th anniversary contest. Sponsored contests such as the “Show Me the Book” contest is funded by the muses’ company: poetry imprint of J. Gordon Shillingford publishing that offers a book publishing contract with the company.
Lina Chartrand Award
The Lina Chartrand Award has been administered since 1994. The award was developed by Chartrand's family and friends after her death from complications of liver disease. The Award was made to honour Lina and her commitment to working on behalf of others. The Award recognizes an emerging female poet who was published in CV2 the previous year. The winner gets $500 and a copy of "We Make the Air: The Collected Poetry of Lina Chartrand".
Previous winners
1995 - Lynn Davies
1996 - Anna Synenko
1997 - Anne Simpson
1998 - Janet McCowan
1999 - Donna Kane
2000 - Susan Briscoe
2001 - Kim Dawn
2002 - Souvankham Thammavongsa
2007 (after a five-year hiatus) - a tie between Aldona Dzieziejko and Elisabeth de Mariaffi
2008 - Anna Swanson
Supporters
by the Department of Canadian Heritage
Magazines Fund toward their mailing and project costs.
Manitoba Magazine Publishers' Association through group magazine activities in the Province of Manitoba.
Staff
Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the CV2 team consists of six staff members. An editor, circulation coordinator, production and design coordinator, submissions coordinator and two poetry readers. The staff has a broad range of work and though CV2 magazine is a registered charity the amount of work to get the magazine printed requires staff. There is also a board of directors that is currently accepting new members to help contribute to the magazine. Lastly a website coordinator is responsible for the website ads, news, contests and updated information.