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On a recent brief trip to the beautiful little city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, I spent some time in the well-stocked children’s book section of the local Chapters Bookstore, where a helpful clerk gave me a quick tour of local favorites, starting with a local resident David Bouchard. Saskatchewan-born, Bouchard has written a couple dozen-plus books for kids, including many award winners and many that reflect his own Metis (the Canadian term for mixed European and Native) origins.

Nokum Is My Teacher, available in English or French with Cree alongside, was the Ânskohk Aboriginal Children’s Book of the Year for 2007. Buddha in the Garden, with illustrations by painter Zhong-Yang Huang, recalled to mind Philip Gershator’s Skysweeper, a story with a similar theme. Click here for information on Bouchard’s upcoming books.

I also took time for a delightful few minutes with Vancouverite Nan Gregory’s Pink, unquestionably a book for the top of the list of every little pink-loving girl (and perhaps her parents as well, with their gender-associated color questions!)

On the shelf with other Canadian favorites was one I recalled from my pre-multicultural southern U.S. childhood, Robert Service’s wonderful poem The Cremation of Sam McGee, in a 2006 re-issue of the 1986 edition with illustrations by painter Ted Harrison. Back in the warm-drowsy long-ago afternoons of my musty Virginia schoolroom, it seemed cautionary tale on complaining about the heat; I wondered at how differently a 21st century Canadian child takes in the story today!

US print journal Dislocate invites entires for their first Dislocated Poetry Contest. Theme: Dislocation. First prize: US$500 and publication in Issue #4. All entrants considered for publication. Length: 5 pages max. Entry fee: US$10 (includes one copy). Deadline: January 31, 2008. More details...

The Write Helper (US) invites memoir, essay, articles, and prose entries for their Dead of Winter Nonfiction Contest. First prize: US$70; additional prizes available. Length:2000 words max. Entry fee: US$5 (include additional $5 for thorough critique). Deadline: January 31, 2008. More details...

The Vancouver Public Library seeks applicants for their fourth writer-in-residence. Term: August 11-December 12, 2008. Open to Canadian citizens with at least one critically well-received title published professionally (complete work of fiction, short stories, poetry, drama or literary non-fiction). Remuneration: -$4000/month (contract position). Deadline: January 18, 2008. For full details, contact Barbara Edwards at [email protected].

Hamline University (US) publication Water~Stone Review invites entries of fiction and creative nonfiction for the 2008 Brenda Ueland Prose Prize. Maximum length: 5,000 words. Entry fee: US$10 (includes a one-year subscription). Deadline: January 5, 2008. More details...

Columbia (US) invites submissions for their annual 2008 Poetry, Fiction and Non-Fiction contest. First prize in each category: US$500. Fiction and nonfiction: up to 20 double-spaced pages. Poetry: up to five poems.Entry fee: US$12. Deadline: January 15, 2007. More details...

Paper Cuts Magazine seeks all forms of creative writing for their next issue. Theme: taboo; topic: lies. Email submissions (n Word 97 – 2003, .pdf or .rtf) or questions to [email protected]. (via Saskatchewan Writers Guild newsletter)

Crannog Magazine (Ireland) seeks sharp contemporary fiction and poetry for their Spring issue. Deadline: January 1, 2008. More details...

PRISM international, the journal of contemporary literature from Canada and around the world (BC) invites entries to its short fiction contest. Grand prize: $2000; 3 runner-up prizes of $200. Entry fee: $28 (includes 1-year subscription); $7 per additional story. Deadline: January 31, 2008. More details...

Craigleigh Press (ON) invites entries for its 2008 Poetry Contest. First prize: $100; additional prizes available. Submit poems 40 lines max. Entry fee: $5 per poem or $10 for three. Deadline: January 31, 2008. More details...

Inscribed, an international literary magazine based in Canada, seeks traditional to experimental poetry, fiction, essays and artwork submissions, Leniency toward the interesting and the bizarre. Deadline: January 25, 2008. More details...

The Chocolate River Poetry Association invites entries for the FlatSigned annual poetry competition. First, second, and third prize amounts dependent upon quantity of submissions. Winners posted online and potentially in a paperback anthology in 2008. Entry fee: $25 for one to five poems. Deadline: January 30, 2008. More details...

Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Transgendered...The Search for Spirituality (US) will be a collection of stories from people from different faiths and cultures who have been successful in finding a connection with spirituality. Seeks uplifting, inspiring, healing and comforting stories1500-2000 words. Open to international writers. Payment for selected pieces:1% of royalties to a max. of US$300. Deadline: January 31, 2008. Send submission with complete contact information and author bio (two or three sentences) to [email protected].

All Rights Reserved seeks poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, as well as literary stories told through visual art/photography from publishes works from emerging and established writers. Themes: Heroes & Villains (deadline: January 21, 2008) and Undone (deadline: July 2008). Six poems one story (2500 words) per submission. Payment: free copy. More details...

The League of Canadian Poets youngpoets.ca invites entries from Canadian youth to participate in its 2008 Poetic Licence Contest. Two age categories: junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12). First prize in each category: $200; additional prizes available. All winning poems will be published in the League of Canadian Poets’ e-zine. No entry fee. Deadline: January 31, 2008. More details...

The National Magazine Awards Best Student Writer is awarded each year to a full-time student whose non-fiction or journalistic work in a Canadian consumer magazine or university/college magazine shows the highest degree of craft and promise. First prize: $1000 and tickets to the Toronto awards gala. Open to full-time post-secondary students. Entry fee: $25. Deadline: January 11, 2008. More details...