World Poetry is excited to report a wonderful and inspiring festival with poetry exhibits, talented International and National poets, speakers and dancers. The World Poetry Youth Team with interim leader, Kimberly Tsan hosted an interactive  panel which was praised by all.  275 gift poems were given out at the exhibitions and as gifts to the public. At the New Westminster Public Library on May 23rd, 46-53 people welcomed the poets with a lovely cake, book launches and readings.

The main event was at the Richmond Cultural Centre, May 25-26 with the three themes of Inspire, Achieve and Celebrate!

A World Poetry Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Doiron and the Empowerment Series Awards to the International poets visiting from Japan, India and other countries. Over 152 people attended during the two day festivities.

In addition, there were two Poetic Necklace Exhibits, one from May 4-28 at the University Of British Columbia Library, Vancouver, BC and one at the Richmond Cultural Centre, Richmond, Canada, May 25-26th.

World Poetry would like to thank the World Poetry Directors who co-hosted with World Poetry Reading Series Society President, Ariadne  Sawyer, the wonderful World Poetry volunteers and the help of committed partners and sponsors. A special thanks to the City of Richmond for their help and to UBC for the Poetic Necklace display. Also, great thanks to Roberta Price who did the First Nations welcome and so many who joined together to make the festival the best ever! Heidi Mueller, our empowered webmaster also received an award.

So many poets and supporters from around the world wrote notes of good wishes, support and love. There was such an outpouring of kindness and love that a number of attendees said that they had never experienced such a feeling of bonding and support.

World Poetry in-kind Sponsors and Partners: Exclusive Media Sponsor: CTV.TAN-The Afro News. Partners: Signature partner: Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, The Vancouver Tagore Society, Jasmine Dance Group, Canada Council for the Arts, The Writer’s Union, Rice Paper Magazine, The Asian Canadian Writer’s Workshop, The Airport Quality Inn Hotel, Aboriginal Writer’s Collective West Coast. Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC Library) World Poetry gratefully acknowledges the support from the City of Richmond.

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World Poetry Canada International Peace Festival is Proud to Present the 2012 Award Winners!

World Poetry Father of Visual Poetry, 2012, Doc PenPen.
World Poetry Empowered Award, 2012, Roberta Price.
World Poetry Empowered Webmaster 2012, Heidi Mueller.
World Poetry Empowered Poet 2012. Betty Scott.
World Poetry Empowered Poet 2012. Yoshifumi Sakura.
World Poetry Empowered poet 2021, Zayra Yves.
World Poetry Empowered Peace Poet 2012, Dr. Stephan Gill
World Poetry Empowered Youth Poet 2012, Sajia Alaha Ahrar.
World Poetry Empowered Poet 2012, Attila F. Balázs.
World Poetry Youth Poet, 2012, Samarendra Patra.
World Poetry Best Poetry (Dari, Farsi) Khowaja Abadullah Ahrar.
Special empowered awards and medallions:
World Poetry Empowered poet and artist. Jaypee Belarmino.
Empowered musician Rene Hugo Sanchez
World Poetry Arts Ambassador, Koyali Burman.
World Poetry Emowered Speaker Ashok Bhargava.
World Poetry Empowered Artist Amelia Barney.
World Poetry Empowered Volunteer Sharon Rowe.
World Poetry Empowered Volunteer Coordinator Jemma Downes.
World Poetry Empowered Volunteer Coordinator Selene Bertelsen.
World Poetry Empowed Voice of Afghan Husna S. Ahrar.
World Poetry Empowered Afghan Filmmaker Neamat Haidari.

 Awards to partners and sponsors:  CTV Exclusive TV Sponsor, TAN The Afro News, Alan Hill and the City of Richmond, Jasmine Dance Club, The Vancouver Tagore Society.  Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society and the UBC Library, Simon Barber Centre.