Springtastic Haikus! Announcing our 2026 poetry contest winners

Our two winners! Chantelle Abma in the forested mountains and Alice MacGillivray at RRU.

March 21 marks World Poetry Day, a global celebration of one of our most enduring and illuminating forms of expression. 

This year, the Royal Roads community was invited to toss off a Haiku for our 2026 Springtastic Poetry Contest.

We are pleased to announce this year’s two winners, selected by President Philip Steenkamp.


Chantelle Abma in the forested mountains, taking a selfie and grinning with a cool ball cap on.

Chantelle Abma 

Student, Master of Science in Environmental Practice 

 

Completing My Master's

Eight years of study

finalized with one small click

alone at 4am.

Alice MacGillivray

Assoc. Faculty Member & RRU Alum

 

Road Trip

Lightning in Rockies

Boost the radio volume

for static and squeals.

 

Selected from a strong and thoughtful set of submissions, these haiku stood out for their clarity, imagery, and that turn of perception captured in just a few lines. Winners each receive an RRU writer's prize pack.

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their work. Your words offered brief and bright glimpses of the world as you see it. 

See you for next year's competition!