Writers' Trust of Canada 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.