Kevin Irie
BIO
Biography

Kevin Irie is a third generation Japanese-Canadian who was born and raised in Toronto where he received his M.A. from the University of Toronto. His work has appeared both here and abroad in the U.K., the States, Germany, and Australia and has also been translated into Spanish, French, and Japanese. His book, Viewing Tom Thomson: A Minority Report (2012) was a finalist for the Acorn-Plantos People’s Poetry Award and the Toronto Book Award. The Tantramar Re-Vision was picked by the CBC as one of the Spring Poetry Books for 2021. In 2024, he won first prize in Grain Magazine’s poetry contest, second prize in Prairie Fire’s poetry contest, third prize in The New Quarterly’s poetry contest and honourable mention in Grain Magazine’s experimental writing contest. He is anthologized in The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration (2025) and Best Canadian Poetry 2026. His next book is Evacuations, forthcoming in Spring 2026.

ADDRESS
City: Toronto, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
GENRE
Poetry
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Burning the Dead
Publisher
(Wolsak and Wynn) ISBN: 0-919897-30-4.
Year
 1992
Title
The Colour of Eden (Owl's Head Press, 1996) ISBN 0-920635-10-5.
Publisher
 Owl's Head Press, ISBN 0-920635-10-5.
Year
 1996
Title
Dinner at Madonna's
Publisher
(Frontenac House) ISBN 0-973280-0-3.
Year
2003
Title
Angel Blood: The Tess Poems
Publisher
(Frontenac House, 2004) ISBN 0-9732380-4-6.
Year
2004
Title
Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report
Publisher
(Frontenac House, 2012) ISBN 978-1-897181-63-8
Year
2012
Title
 The Tantramar Re-Vision
Publisher
(McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2021) ISBN 978-0-2280-0637-4
Year
2021
AWARDS
Awards
Name
City of Toronto Book Award, Finalist
Publication
The Colour of Eden (Owl's Head Press, 1996) ISBN 0-920635-10-5.
Year
1997
Name
Rice Paper Magazine Poetry Contest, Winner
Publication
"Tashme"
Year
2000
Name
ReLit Poetry Award, Longlist
Publication
 "Angel Blood: The Tess Poems" (Frontenac House, 2004) ISBN 0-9732380-4-6.
Year
2005
Name
CBC Literary Award for Poetry, Shortlist
Publication
"Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report"
Year
2008
Name
ARC Poetry Magazine Poem of the Year, Finalist
Publication
"Snow Is Violence"
Year
2009
Name
Toronto Book Award, Finalist
Publication
"Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report" (Frontenac House, 2012) ISBN 978-1-897181-63-8
Year
2013
Name
Acorn-Plantos Award People's Poetry Award, Finalist
Publication
"Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report" (Frontenac House, 2012) ISBN 978-1-897181-63-8
Year
2013
Name
CBC Poetry Prize, Longlist
Publication
"The Tantramar Re-Vision"
Year
2017
Name
Honourable Mention, The Robin Blaser Poetry Contest, The Capilano Review
Publication
"Outing Whitman"
Year
2021
Name
Shortlist, The Malahat Review Open Seasons Award
Publication
Creative Nonfiction
Year
2023
Name
First Prize, Award of Awesomeness, May 2023
Publication
Arc Poetry Magazine
Year
2023
Name
Second Runner-Up, Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest
Publication
The New Quarterly
Year
2024
Name
First Prize for Poetry, Short Grain Contest
Publication
Grain Magazine
Year
2024
Name
Honourable Mention, MRB Poetry Award
Publication
Prairie Fire
Year
2024
Name
Honourable Mention, Hybrid Grain Contest for Experimental Writing
Publication
Grain Magazine
Year
2024
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
No
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No