Liz Howard

Liz Howard is an Adjunct Professor and lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, where she contributes to the academic community through teaching and creative work. She serves on the editorial board for Buckrider Books, an imprint of Wolsak & Wynn, connecting her academic role with broader literary publishing.

Howard received an Honours Bachelor of Science with High Distinction from the University of Toronto followed by an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Her educational journey reflects a unique interdisciplinary path that informs her distinctive poetic voice, blending scientific precision with creative expression.

As a poet of mixed settler and Anishinaabe heritage, Howard's work explores complex intersections of identity, landscape, memory, and Indigenous perspectives. Born and raised on Treaty 9 territory in Northern Ontario, her connection to place deeply informs her creative practice. Her poetry often employs experimental forms while engaging with contemporary issues, creating work that bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary literary forms. The Judges' Citation for her work notes her 'penetrating intelligence and playful musicality' and how she keeps readers 'delightfully off-balance with its mix of lyricism and experiment, allusion and invention.'

Howard's publications reveal a consistent engagement with Canadian identity, Indigenous perspectives, and experimental poetic forms. Her work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of both traditional and contemporary techniques, often blending scientific and lyrical language to create distinctive literary landscapes that explore themes of cosmic phenomena, personal grief, and cultural memory.

• Winner of the 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize for Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent
• Shortlisted for the 2015 Governor General's Award for poetry
• National Magazine Award finalist
• Shortlisted for the 2022 Griffin Poetry Prize for Letters in a Bruised Cosmos

While specific details about formal student advising aren't provided, Howard has completed creative writing and Indigenous arts residencies at McGill University, University of Calgary, UBC Okanagan, Douglas College, Sheridan College, and The Capilano Review, suggesting an active engagement with emerging writers across Canada. Her work has appeared in Canadian Literature, Literary Review of Canada, Room Magazine and Best Canadian Poetry 2021.

Howard's creative practice extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through her editorial work with Buckrider Books and participation in various writing residencies, connecting her scholarship with broader literary communities and contributing to the Canadian literary ecosystem.