THUNDER BAY -- After two days of discussions, workshops, readings, and gala celebrations, the Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop wrapped up the 2018 Write NOWW LitFest by honouring two influential members of the literary community in the region.
During the LitFest Awards Gala on Saturday, Ruby Slipperjack was named as the recipient of The Kouhi Award and Elinor Barr received the Philips Award.
Slipperjack is the author of nine books, seven for young people. Her first novel, Honour the Sun, about a young girl growing up in a tiny Ojibway community is widely used in schools, and established Slipperjack as a pioneer in the field of Indigenous literature.
In 2017, she was awarded the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People in recognition for her body of work.
As part of their citation, the Vicky Metcalf jury noted “Slipperjack is exceptional in portraying the quandaries, joys and struggles of her young protagonists with compassion and humour, and at the same time, gently teaching traditional ways in the context of contemporary Indigenous life.”
Slipperjack was unable to attend the awards gala to accept her award but in a written speech she said she was honoured to receive the Kouhi Award and is encouraged to see so many more First Nations writers emerging in the region.
“My characters still speak in Ojibwe in my head first and then the translation into English happens as pen hits the paper or computer keyboard to my screen,” Slipperjack’s speech read. “I find that this process helps keep my First Nations characters true to cultural action/reaction and dialogue.”
Elinor Barr was honoured with the Philips Award, which recognizes an individual or group who has made outstanding contributions to publishing, promoting, or supporting literature in Northwestern Ontario.
In 1984, Barr founded Singing Shield Productions as a way to promote and distribute books by Northwestern Ontario authors to regional booksellers. An avid book reviewer for publications across the region, Barr helped arrange book launches and readings for local authors and helped promote and distribute the Squatchberry Journal.
“I am honoured to nominate Elinor Barr, a literary icon, long-time supporter and builder of the writing community in Northwestern Ontario,” the nomination for Barr read.
LitFest, held on Friday and Saturday, included a workshop lead by best-selling author, Angie Abdou. She also participated in a discussion with Indigenous speaker and advocate, Sandi Boucher, as well as providing the keynote address during the Awards Gala.
The Awards Gala also honoured the winners of the 2018 NOWW Annual Writing Contest. More than 140 writers from across the country and the world entered the five categories in this year’s contest.
2018 NOWW Annual Writing Contest Winners:
Poetry, judged by George Elliott Clarke
First place: Holly Haggarty for Poems from the Season of Paradise.
Second place: Siobhan Farrell for Snow on Cedars.
Third place: Shannon Anderson for Angry Young Woman.
Short Fiction, judged by Heather O’Neill
First place: Kirsti Salmi for Fifty Fifty.
Second place: Tbnewswatch reporter Doug Diaczuk for I want to tell you about Danny.
Third place: Jacob McEachern for The Meat King.
Historical Fiction, judged by Ross King
First place: Tbnewswatch reporter Doug Diaczuk for The Snap of a Bird’s Wings.
Second place: Jane Crossman for Golden Lotus.
Third place: Joan M. Baril for The Northern Lights.
Creative Nonfiction, judged by Helen Humphreys
First place: Brenda Fisk for The Right Thing.
Second place: Susan Rogers for The Locker Room.
Third place: Sue Blott for The Penpal: A Memoir.
Bill MacDonald Prize for Prose (Nonfiction), judged by Michael Christie
First place: Joan M. Baril forCurrents.
Second place: E. B. Page for Morning Musings on a Road Well Travelled.
Third place: Michael Ward for Where the Highway Ends.
NOWW would like to thank everyone who submitted to this year’s annual writing contest and for all the continued support from the community and the region. For more information about NOWW and how to become involved, visit www.nowwwriters.ca.
