The 19th Annual Leslie K. Tarr Award
Sponsor: Tyndale University College and Seminary
Recognizes an outstanding career contribution to Christian writing and publishing in Canada.
Winner: Rudy Wiebe of Edmonton, Alta.; novelist, nonfiction author and writing instructor
The Partnership Award
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Recognizes an organization or individual who has shown exceptional support and encouragement to Canadian writers and editors who are Christian.
Winner: Leslie H. Stobbe of Tryon, North Carolina; writer, editor, writing instructor and literary agent
Best New Canadian Christian Author Award
Sponsor: Castle Quay Books Canada and Augsburg Fortress Publishers Canada
Recognizes the most promising nonfiction manuscript about Christian faith. The winning author will be awarded a $1,000 prize or a $1,000 advance against royalties should Castle Quay Books Canada decide to publish the work.
Winner: Alison Mary Sharpe of Renfrew, Ont., for A Drawer Full of Odd Socks: Biblical Meditations.
The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards 2007 Winners
The following writers received awards for the best writing published in 2006. Award of Merit recipients received marks very close to those of the winning entries.
Note: The Word Guild contests are open to all eligible writers who have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status, and are not restricted to members of The Word Guild. All entrants are asked to affirm The Apostles' Creed as a condition of acceptance in the contest. The opinions and viewpoints expressed in the shortlisted and winning works represent the authors' personal beliefs and are not necessarily endorsed by The Word Guild.
BOOK CATEGORIES (for books published in 2006)
Book—Apologetics/Evangelism
Sponsor: Bastian Publishing Services
Winner: Alan Reynolds of Richmond B.C. for A Troubled Faith: Do We Really Need God? (Word Alive)
Award of Merit: Stanley E. Porter of Hamilton Ont. and Stephen J. Bedard of Meaford Ont. for Unmasking the Pagan Christ: An Evangelical Response to the Cosmic Christ Idea (Clements)
Book—Biblical Studies
Sponsor: Bastian Publishing Services
Winner: Tim Perry of Otterburne Man. for Mary for Evangelicals: Toward an Understanding of the Mother of Our Lord (InterVarsity)
Book—Christian Living
Sponsor: Hull's Family Bookstore/Karen & Brent Stiller
Winner: Mark Buchanan of Duncan B.C. for The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath (Thomas Nelson)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Cook)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Is God Obsolete? (Cook)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Does God Still Do Miracles? (Cook)
Award of Merit: J. I. Packer of Vancouver and Carolyn Nystrom for Praying: Finding our Way Through Duty to Delight (InterVarsity)
Book—Culture
Sponsor: House of James Bookstore
Winner: James K. A. Smith of Grand Rapids Mich. for Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? (Baker)
Book—General Readership (books that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)
Sponsor: Keyzers Automation
Winner: Alan Reynolds of Richmond B.C. for A Troubled Faith: Do We Really Need God? (Word Alive)
Book—Instructional
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Rod J. K. Wilson of Vancouver for How Do I Help a Hurting Friend? (Baker)
Award of Merit: Sue Careless of Toronto for Discovering the Book of Common Prayer: A Hands-On Approach; Volume II: Our Life in the Church (ABC)
Book—Leadership/Theoretical
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: James M. Houston of Vancouver for Joyful Exiles: Life in Christ on the Dangerous Edge of Things (InterVarsity)
Book—Life Stories
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Marilyn Meyers of Waterdown Ont. for Through Fire & Sea (Rocksalt Publishing)
Book—Relationships
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Rod J. K. Wilson of Vancouver for How Do I Help a Hurting Friend? (Baker)
Book—Independently-Published Nonfiction
Sponsor: Word Alive
Winner: Ed Hird of North Vancouver for Battle for the Soul of Canada: Raising Up the Emerging Generation of Leaders (independently published)
Award of Merit: Keturah Leonforde of Guelph Ont. for Reflections from the Waiting Room: Insights for thriving when life puts you on hold (Essence)
Book—Special
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: George Whipple of Burnaby B.C. for The Peaceable Kingdom (Penumbra Press)
Award of Merit: Kirsten Femson of Pickering Ont. who compiled The Way They Should Go: Timeless Advice for the Teen Journey (Castle Quay Books)
Book—Children
Sponsor: Focus on the Family Canada
Winner: M. D. Meyer of Winnipeg for Get Lost! (independently published)
Award of Merit: Helen Toews of Winnipeg for Emma's Corner (The Cottage at Creek Bend)
Book—Young Adult
Sponsor: Foundation Distributing
Winner: Connie Brummel Crook of Peterborough, Ont. for Meyers' Rebellion (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Novel—Contemporary
Sponsor: That's Life Communications
Winner: Keith Clemons of Caledon Ont. for These Little Ones (George Colton Publishing)
Award of Merit: Deborah Gyapong of Ottawa for The Defilers (Castle Quay Books)
Novel—Independently Published Fiction
Sponsor: That's Life Communications
Winner: Keith Clemons of Caledon Ont. for These Little Ones (George Colton Publishing)
Novel—Romance
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Carolyne Aarsen of Neerlandia, Alta. for The Only Best Place (Warner Faith)
Novel—Mystery/Suspense
Sponsor: Sunrise Terrace Bed & Breakfast, Haliburton, Ont.
Winner: Linda Hall of Fredericton, N. B. for Dark Water (WaterBrook)
SHORT CATEGORIES: ARTICLES/COLUMNS/POETRY/SONG LYRICS
(for work published in 2006)
Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (series)
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Thomas Froese of Uganda and Ancaster Ont. for "Where is African spirituality heading?" and "Doomsday Diversions" (ChristianWeek)
Award of Merit: Grace Fox of Heriot Bay B.C. for "Parents—Stay Awake!" and "And What Happened to My Kid at Summer Camp" (B.C. Christian News)
Award of Merit: Dave Toycen of Mississauga Ont. for "A Seat at the World's Food Table" and "The Most Powerful Weapon" (World Vision Canada: Childview/Enfants du monde)
Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (single)
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Kurt Armstrong of Vancouver for "Why Love Will Always Be A Poor Investment" (Radix)
Award of Merit: Thomas Froese of Uganda and Ancaster Ont. for "Christmas: the luxury to pick and choose" (ChristianWeek)
Award of Merit: Sheila Wray Gregoire of Belleville Ont. for "Seeking a Wise Man" (The Shield)
Award of Merit: Denyse O'Leary of Toronto for "Can you choose to help? Or are you simply spreading your genes?" (Maranatha News)
Article—Long Feature
Sponsor: Canadian Christianity.com
Winner: Terry LeBlanc of Evansburg Alta. for "Native Suicide: A Challenge to the Church" (Faith Today)
Article—Short Feature
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Paul M. Beckingham of Vancouver for "Purpose-Driven Starbucks" (Tidings)
Article—General Readership (articles that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)
Sponsor: Wendy Elaine Nelles
Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "In the beginning was the Word" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Rick Gamble of Brantford Ont. for "A Ten Dollar Heart" (The Brantford Expositor)
Award of Merit: Rick Gamble of Brantford Ont. for "Leave an Impression" (The Brantford Expositor)
Award of Merit: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "The Vanishing Choirboys" (Ottawa Citizen)
Article—Inspirational/Devotional
Sponsor: Women Alive
Winner: Donald N. Bastian of Brampton Ont. for "The Joy of Aging" (Christianity Today)
Article—News
Sponsor: ChristianWeek
Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "Conservative Anglicans livid over lesbian priest in Ottawa/Torn Asunder" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Ross Muir and Tim Miller Dyck of Waterloo Ont. for "Mennonite Groups Oppose Land Speculator" (Canadian Mennonite)
Article—Personal Experience
Sponsor: Mennonite Brethren Herald
Winner: Adele Simmons of Whitby Ont. for "The Cabin" (Writers' Circle of Durham Region)
Article—Profile/Human Interest
Sponsor: Faith FM 94.3, Kitchener, Ont.
Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "The Education of David Jeffrey" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Milton Friesen of Airdrie Alta. for "The Universe to Explore: Faith and a World of Ideas" (Decision Magazine–Cdn. Edition)
Article—Review
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Winner: Violet Nesdoly of Surrey B.C. for "Review of Presumed Guilty by James Scott Bell" (Cleveland.com)
Article—Short Story
Sponsor: The Word Guild
Award of Merit: Joanna Mallory of Dartmouth, N.S. for "DisConnect" (ByLine Magazine)
Article—Children/Young Adult
Sponsor: Faith Life Financial
Winner: Violet Nesdoly of Surrey B.C. for "A Touch of Wonder" (Review & Herald Publishing Association Guide)
Poetry
Sponsor: Imago
Winner/Tie: Judith Millar of Nanaimo, B.C. (formerly of Kitchener, Ont.) for "After the Fall" (Southern Ontario Library Service: The Changing Image)
Winner/Tie: Richard Weening of Newmarket Ont. for "1 Corinthians 13" (SCA International: Word & Deed)
Song Lyrics
Sponsor: Bingley Distributors
Winner: Ali Matthews of Stratford Ont. for "Poised for a Fall" (from the CD Window of Light)
Award of Merit: Ali Matthews of Stratford Ont. for "Santorini" (from the CD Window of Light)
