Saskatchewan Book Awards winners announced
- EFN Staff | May 02, 2016
Over three hundred people, including the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan and MP Ralph Goodale, gathered at the 23rd Saskatchewan Book Awards Ceremony on the evening of Saturday, April 30th .
“It was a wonderful evening,” says SBA Executive Director Courtney Bates-Hardy. “Saskatchewan is so supportive of their authors and publishers, and it’s extremely gratifying to watch everyone come together to celebrate the work they put into their books. We are just grateful to play a part in their successes.”
Many shortlisted authors and publishers snagged awards in multiple categories this year.
Connie Gault went home with the prestigious University of Regina Book of the Year Award and the Muslims for Peace and Justice Fiction Award for A Beauty. Regina poet Cassidy McFadzean was awarded both the O’Reilly Insurance and The Co-operators First Book Award and the City of Regina Book Award for her debut book of poetry, Hacker Packer. University of Regina Press won both the Ministry of Parks, Culture, and Sport Publishing Award and the University of Regina Faculty of Education and Campion College Award for Publishing in Education for Charlie Angus’ Children of the Broken Treaty.
The Rasmussen, Rasmussen, & Charowksy Aboriginal Peoples’ Writing Award was bestowed upon Rita Bouvier for her beautiful collection of poetry, nakamowin’sa for the seasons. Elizabeth Philips was shortlisted in two categories and ultimately went home with the City of Saskatoon and Public Library Saskatoon Book Award for her novel The Afterlife of Birds. Shortlisted for both writing and publishing awards, Shaunavon author Mareike Neuhaus’ The Decolonizing Poetics of Indigenous Literatures triumphed in the University of Regina Arts and Luther College Award for Scholarly Writing.
Other esteemed award winners include:
- Ken Coates’ #Idlenomore and the Remaking of Canada: University of Saskatchewan Non-Fiction Award
- Jeanette Lynes’ Bedlam Cowslip: Saskatchewan Arts Board Poetry Award
- Leah Marie Dorion’s My First Metis Lobstick: SaskEnergy Children’s Literature Award
- Purich Publishing for Sylvia McAdam’s Nationhood Interrupted: Regina Public Library Aboriginal Peoples’ Publishing Award
Established in 1993, the Saskatchewan Book Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence and diversity in Saskatchewan writing and publishing. It is a principal ambassador for the province's literary community, promoting greater awareness of Saskatchewan books, authors, and publishers through its awards, public reading events, and other promotional initiatives.