2008 Alberta Literary Awards Winners

The Writers Guild of Alberta revealed the winners of the 2008 Alberta Literary Awards at the Alberta Literary Awards Gala in Edmonton on June 7, 2008.

The Writers Guild of Alberta also presented three special honorary awards. Myrna Kostash was given the Writers Guild of Alberta’s Golden Pen Award, acknowledging the lifetime achievements of an outstanding Alberta writer. This honour has only been awarded three times previously: W.O Mitchell in 1994, Dr. Grant MacEwan in 2000, and Ruby Wiebe in 2007. A Lifetime Membership Award was presented to Mary (Lyn) Thompson , and an Honorary Membership Award was presented to William T. (Bill) Trofimuk.

Highlights of the evening included:
Edmonton children’s writer Katherine Holubitsky received the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature for The Big Snapper.
After immigrating to Canada from Hong Kong in 2006, Nina Newington’s debut novel, Where Bones Dance received the Georges Bugnet Award for Novel
Tim Bowling was the recipient of the Wilfred Eggleston Award for Non-Fiction for his popular book The Lost Coast: Salmon, Memory and the Death of Wild Culture
Calgary novelist, poet, and creative-writing instructor Roberta Rees took home the Howard O’Hagan Award for Short Fiction for Long After Fathers.
The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion by Calgary playwright Stephen Massicotte was honoured with the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama.
Bert Almon, who previously received this year’s City of Edmonton Book Prize, took home the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry for A Ghost in Waterloo Station.

This celebration marked the 26th anniversary of the Alberta Literary Awards and brought writers from across Alberta as well as members of the Edmonton community. The event was emceed by CKUA’s Ken Davis and featured a keynote address by award-winning Alberta author Fred Stenson.

The Alberta Literary Awards recognize and celebrate the highest standards of literary excellence from Alberta authors. This year, jurors deliberated over 120 submissions to select 20 finalists in seven categories.

For more information, please contact the Writers Guild of Alberta at (780) 422-8174 or visit www.writersguild.ab.ca

Golden Pen Award for Lifetime Achievement
· Myrna Kostash (Edmonton)

WGA Lifetime Membership Award
· Mary (Lyn) Thompson (Calgary)

WGA Honourary Membership Award
· William T. (Bill) Trofimuk (Edmonton)

R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature
(Sponsored by Western Financial Group’s West Magazine)
· Katherine Holubitsky (Edmonton)—The Big Snapper, Orca Book Publishers

Georges Bugnet Award for Novel (Sponsored by Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association)
· Nina Newington (Edmonton)—Where Bones Dance, The University of Wisconsin Press

Wilfred Eggleston Award for Non-Fiction (Sponsored by The Banff Centre)
· Tim Bowling (Edmonton)—The Lost Coast: Salmon, Memory and the Death of Wild
Culture, Nightwood Editions

Howard O’Hagan Award for Short Fiction (Sponsored by John Ballem)
· Roberta Rees (Calgary)—Long After Fathers, Coteau Books

Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama (Sponsored by Alberta Views)
· Stephen Massicotte (Calgary)—The Oxford Roof Climber’s Rebellion, Playwrights Canada
Press

Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry (Sponsored by Stephan V. Benediktson)
· Bert Almon (Edmonton)—A Ghost in Waterloo Station, Brindle & Glass

Jon Whyte Memorial Essay Prize
(Co-Sponsored by Vanna Tessier and Guy Tessier, and Lafarge)
· Carmen Pearson (Bragg Creek)—“Re-stepping the Worn Trail”