Cassandra Myers and Lisa Shen (photo courtesy League of Canadian Poets)

Poets Cassandra Myers (My’z) and Lisa Shen have been named the inaugural winners of the Lillian Allen Prize and the Lillian Allen Emerging Artist Prize.

The prizes are worth $2,000 each and are awarded annually to spoken word artists working in English or French. They were  launched earlier this year by the League of Canadian Poets in partnership with the Ontario Arts Council, and are named after the internationally recognized Canadian poet, spoken word artist, educator, and activist Lillian Allen.

Toronto-based poet, dancer, and performer Myers was cited by the jurors for their “rare ability to put the unnamable into words. The way they build whole worlds on stage is arresting and leaves a lasting impression on their audience long after the performance is over.”

Mississauga, Ontario-based writer and spoken-word artist Shen was lauded by jurors as “witty, insightful” and “an emerging poet to watch and to witness.”

The pair were celebrated at a reading with Allen, who is currently Toronto’s poet laureate, on October 30.