Four of five finalists for CBC Poetry Prize hail from B.C.

Vancouver has long been a Canadian centre for poetry.

Renowned U.S. poet Allen Ginsberg spent time here in 1963. He inspired George Bowering, who later helped put SFU on the international map for its poetry program.

So it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that three writers with deep Vancouver roots are among the five finalists for this year's English-language CBC Poetry Prize.

Anna Swanson, was born and raised in Vancouver and studied creative writing at the University of Victoria. Now a resident of St. John's, she's nominated for The Garbage Poems.

A second nominee, Emily Nilsen, was also born and raised in Vancouver and later obtained fine-arts degrees from UVic and UBC. The Nelson resident was nominated for Meanwhile.

Michelle Elrick, who now lives in Halifax, is nominated for crow (v). Her hometown is Abbotsford and she attended the Writers' Studio at SFU's Vancouver campus.

A fourth finalist has B.C. roots. Jordan Mounteer, who lives in Winlaw, was nominated for Pareidolia. He has ties to UVic's writing department.

The fifth nomination went to Mark Wagenaar for String Theory. He's a resident of Denton, Texas and is originally from Grimbsby, Ontario.

The winner will be named on November 24 and have their work published in enRoute Magazine. He or she will win a $6,000 cash prize from the Canada Council for the Arts and a 10-day residency at the Banff Centre.

Runners-up will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts.