Concordia grads excel
Four graduates of Concordia’s MA program in English and Creative Writing were recently honoured by the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) and a fifth graduate, Endre Farkas, was recognized for his outstanding contribution to Quebec’s English-language literary scene.
The QWF literary awards honour excellence in English writing published by Quebec authors in the past year.
The November 22 gala featured the presentation of the inaugural Concordia University First Book Prize. During the evening host Kaie Kellough read excerpts from each of the prize’s finalists: Gabe Foreman for A Complete Encyclopedia of Different Types of People (Coach House Books), Ed Macdonald for Spat the Dummy (Anvil Press) and Ann Scowcroft for The Truth of Houses (Brick Books).
The Concordia University Book Prize was awarded to Scowcroft for her collection of poems. Her husband accepted the award on her behalf. Scowcroft is currently doing humanitarian work in Nairobi; however, in a letter to the QWF, she expressed her sincere thanks.
The prize was a validation of her work, helping her feel that the time she spends writing poetry is worthwhile, wrote Scowcroft. It has also encouraged her to focus on a new writing project.
“By the time I took to the stage to present our prize, we had already seen no less than five graduates of Concordia’s English and Creative Writing program walk away with top honours,” said Jason Camlot, associate professor and chair of the Department of English.
“The evening highlighted the special role that our programs have played – and continue to play – in the development of English-language creative writing in Quebec,” he added.
Concordia's three-year sponsorship of the QWF Concordia University First Book Prize is funded jointly by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs, the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, and the Faculty of Arts and Science.
Dimitri Nasrallah, MA 03, received the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction for his book, Niko, published by Véhicule Press. Nasrallah is a novelist, music journalist and critic whose first novel, Blackbodying, won QWF’s 2005 McAuslan First Book Prize and was a finalist for the Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal.
Lazer Lederendler, MA 93, received the Cole Foundation Prize for Translation for his English translation of Nicolas Dickner's French-language book Tarmac (Apocalypse for Beginners). He received the 2008 Governor General’s Award for his translation of Nicolas Dickner’s novel Nikolski, which also won Canada Reads 2010 and the 2009 QWF Translation Prize.
The ceremony also included the presentation of the 3Macs carte blanche prize, awarded once a year in recognition of an outstanding submission by a Quebec writer, artist or translator. Concordia graduate Gillian Sze, MA 08, took home the prize for her poem, Like This Together, published in issue 13.
The winners of the 2011 Quebec Writing Competition were also announced. Concordia graduate Kasper Hartman, MA 09, won first prize for his story, Someone Has to Save Us From This. His story will be published in an upcoming issue of Maisonneuve and will be read on CBC Radio’s Cinq à Six.
Endre Farkas, MA 76, was honoured with the 2011 QWF Community Award. For the past 30 years, Farkas has demonstrated outstanding contributions to advancing English-language literary life in Quebec.
He was instrumental in founding the Federation of English-language Writers of Quebec and the Quebec Society for the Promotion of English Language Literature, the two precursors of QWF. Additionally, he has edited a number of anthologies of Quebec literature over the decades, and has worked as a producer, editor and publisher.
The A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry, sponsored by Richard Pound in memory of his brother Robert, was awarded to Gabe Foreman for A Complete Encyclopedia of Different Types of Books while the Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-fiction was presented to Joel Yanofsky for Bad Animals: A Father’s Day Accidental Education in Autism. The Mavis Gallant prize is sponsored by Champlain, Dawson, Heritage, John Abbott, and Vanier Colleges.
The QWF Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, sponsored by Babar Books, was presented to Alan Silberberg for Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze.
Related links:
• “Concordia Sponsors Literary Award” – NOW, October 11, 2011
• Quebec Writers’ Federation