Writers' Trust of Canada

Acclaimed Indigenous author Lee Maracle on decolonizing literature and the issues with books schools choose to iconize. Maracle looks retrospectively at her own writing life, contemporaries, and community, and asks why Indigenous women continuously come last in Canada.

The Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize annually celebrates a Canadian poet’s entire body of work with a $25,000 prize. Listen to the 2020 prizewinner Armand Garnet Ruffo talk about his life, his development as a writer through five poetry collections, and the strong influence of his Ojibwe heritage on his work. Ruffo is interviewed by poet Kaie Kellough, one of the prize jurors. Their conversation was part of the 2020 Writers’ Trust Awards: Career Honours Edition.

The Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People is given annually to the author of an exceptional body of work in children's literature. The winner is selected by a three-member, independent judging panel.

Listen to 2020 prizewinner Marianne Dubuc, a french-lanugage author and illustrator, discuss her use of fairy tales, how she finds time to work after having children, and how music helps her switch between different projects. Dubuc is interviewed by writer Susan Perren, one of the prize jurors. Their conversation was part of the 2020 Writers’ Trust Awards: Career Honours Edition.

The Writers' Trust Engel Findley Award is given to a mid-career writer in recognition of a remarkable body of work, and in anticipation of future contributions to Canadian literature.

Listen to 2020 prizewinner Kerri Sakamoto discuss her early start to writing, how she went about including painful family memories in her stories about Japanese internment camps, and what the future may hold for her books. Sakamoto is interviewed by writer Timothy Taylor, one of the prize jurors. Their conversation was part of the 2020 Writers’ Trust Awards: Career Honours Edition.

The Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life annually celebrates a senior Canadian poet’s with a $25,000 prize in recognition of literary excellence and lifelong devotion to writing. Listen to the 2020 prizewinner Dennis Lee discuss his lifelong fascination with ‘polyphony,’ which he illustrates by reading from his children’s and adult poetry. Lee is interviewed by publisher Patsy Aldana, one of the prize jurors. Their conversation was part of the 2020 Writers’ Trust Awards: Career Honours Edition.

The Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction is given for the year’s best work of Canadian nonfiction and spotlights books with a distinctive voice, as well as a persuasive and compelling command of tone, narrative, style, and technique. The eventual winner receives $60,000. The 2020 finalists were selected by a jury composed of writers Helen Knott, Sandra Martin, and Richard Wright. Listen to them discuss what it’s like to be on a literary prize jury, the tricks and techniques they used to wade through 100+ books, and what was remarkable about the finalists they chose.

Join the Writers’ Trust of Canada in celebrating the rising stars of Canadian literature. The country’s next generation of literary talent took the stage at the unveiling of a multi-faceted career development program that advances their careers and highlights their work with an endorsement from a proven, influential author. Five notable Canadian writers have each chosen one writer who is poised to produce exceptional and enduring creative work.

Hear from program participants David Chariandy, Charlotte Gray, and Taras Grescoe, and meet the up-and-coming talents of Canadian literature: Melissa J. Gismondi, El Jones, Chelene Knight, Dana Mills, and Deborah Ostrovsky.

The event was recorded on June 5, 2019, at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Jamaican Canadian writer Olive Senior shares observations and insights from her writing life in the Margaret Laurence Lecture. She details her upbringing in Jamaica and the influence of the island’s culture and its peoples on her development as a writer, as well as her education and eventual migration to Canada. The lecture was recorded in Halifax’s Central Public Library during the 2019 OnWords Conference and was presented by the Writers’ Trust of Canada.

The $50,000 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize recognizes the best Canadian novel or short story collection. Listen to 4 of the shortlisted authors for this prestigious award—Craig Davidson, Rawi Hage, Jen Neale and Kathy Page --in conversation at the Toronto International Festival of Authors on October 24, 2018. Hosted and moderated by Becky Toyne.

1:43 – Kathy Page

13:24 – Rawi Hage

24:47 – Jen Neale

34:04 – Craig Davidson

46:44 - Group discussion

Canadian playwright, novelist, and composer Tomson Highway shares observations and insights from his writing life in the Margaret Laurence Lecture. He details his introduction and appreciation to Canadian literature, the emergence of Indigenous authors in Canadian publishing during the last 40 years, and the differences between languages, particularly between English, one of his adopted language, and Cree, his first language. The lecture was recorded in Toronto’s Fleck Dance Theatre during the 2018 Canadian Writers’ Summit.