JUDGES

Donald G. Bastian a veteran book editor with over fifteen years’ experience running the trade book editorial programs of Irwin Publishing and Stoddart Publishing and ten years now as President of Bastian Publishing Services Ltd. and publisher of BPS Books, a cooperative book publishing program. He has edited the books of many award-winning and best-selling authors, including John Ralston Saul and David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

 

Angela Reitsma Bick is the editor of Christian Courier, an independent bi-weekly newspaper. Previously, she created Redeemer University College's Writing Centre and worked as its Director. She's also written for a variety of Christian publications and edited three monographs as a freelancer.

 

Arthur Boers holds the R. J. Bernardo Family Chair of Leadership at Tyndale Seminary. Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions is his latest book. He is the author of several other books, including Day by Day These Things We Pray: Uncovering Ancient Rhythms of Prayer and The Way is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago.

 

Gilbert Brandt taught English at Fresno Pacific University while studying at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. After completing his studies he taught at Bethany College, Hepburn SK. He then switched to publishing and worked at Kindred Press for ten years before creating Windflower Communications. Gilbert recently retired and now does some freelance work.

 

Susan Brandt was involved with the Mennonite Brethren Herald for fifteen years in various positions, including managing editor and editor. She served on the Manitoba Editors’ Association executive for one year, and was on the executive of the Manitoba Evangelical Fellowship for a number of years. She has now retired and at her church uses her talents with seniors and the library and also takes time catching up with her reading.

John Congram has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 40 years. He is an accomplished writer and retired editor for the Presbyterian Record. 

 

Mary Lou Cornish holds a Master’s Degree in journalism from the University of Western Ontario.  She has edited and written for a variety of publications down through the years and worked in corporate communications.  She has won awards for her poetry and non-fiction.

 

Ian Darling is the editorial writer at the Record in Kitchener and has worked as a reporter, editor and editorial writer since 1973. I also taught media writing at Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition, he wrote two books, Go Ask Dad: Fathers are Nice Guys and Amazing Airmen: Canadian Flyers in the Second World War.

 

Ron Dart has published more than 22 books, has published more than 150 articles on mountaineering, and more than 50 articles on spirituality, the church, and politics. He has taught in the department of political science/philosophy/religious studies at University of the Fraser Valley since 1990. Ron was on staff with Amnesty International in the 1980's.

 

George H. Dawe retired Pastor with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland & Labrador, celebrates 50 years of ministry and marriage with wife Laura. Taught at his alma mater, Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, he was also President of Family Enrichment Ministries. He wrote for The Pentecostal Evangel, testimony and Good Tidings; as well as a newspaper column, "Religious Viewpoint." George loves to read, preach and laugh.

 

Janice L. Dick, an author from the Canadian prairies, writes book length fiction and does some editing, teaching and speaking. Her first two historical novels won first place in The Word Guild's Christian Writing Contest, and the third short-listed for the same award. In the works are two more historical and a contemporary novel.

Audrey Dorsch started as a newspaper journalist, and then went on to edit magazines and books. She is now a self-employed editor with more than 200 books to her editing credit, including the 2001 Christie winner and several Write Canada award winners.

 

 

Alison Gresik is the author of the story collection Brick and Mortar, which was nominated for the Ottawa Book Award. She is also a creativity coach for writers who want to design a life committed to their art.  Visit her at www.gresik.ca or follow her on Twitter at @AlisonGresik.

 

Newfoundlander Burton K. Janes has written more than ten books, his most recent being A Journey of Faith and Grace. He’s an adjunct instructor with three colleges. He currently freelances with a local newspaper. A minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador for over thirty years, he edited his denomination's official publication for 15 years.

 

Dr. Dave Jenkinson is Professor Emeritus of the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Education where he had taught courses in children's and adolescent literature for more than three decades. He is also the Editor of CM: Canadian Review of Materials. www.umanitoba.ca/cm

 

Stephen Kennedy is the editor of testimony, the national magazine of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He is a published writer of articles, short stories and poetry. His short stories have won a Canadian Church Press award and a God Uses Ink award. He is a reader and a lover of story.

 

Casey Korstanje is a journalist, writer, teacher and currently world news editor at The Hamilton Spectator. In his career at The Spectator, Casey has worked as a reporter and as the paper's religion writer before joining senior management as managing editor and then associate editor/editor of the editorial page. Casey also teaches journalism writing at Redeemer University College. He is a past recipient of the B'nai Brith National Human Rights Award for Journalism.

 

Raymond Louter holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts and his M.A. in drama. He’s participated in Physical Theatre for the 21st Century. He’s directed many plays, most recently: Hippolytus and Under Milkwood; as well as the premiere of Sara Weber’s Baggage for the London and Hamilton Fringe Festivals. In 1986 he began the theatre department at Redeemer University College and this year marks his 25th year.

 

Lloyd Mackey, Leslie K. Tarr recipient in 2006, retired from Christian newspaper editing, publishing and development that same year. Author of books on Stephen Harper and Preston Manning, examining the faith-political interfaces surrounding both men, he expects to embark on Doctor of Ministries studies through Tyndale Seminary this year. He and wife, Edna, live in Ottawa, where he is a member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery.

 

Articles—Review

 

Stratford recording artist, Ali Matthews has built a strong international following as a performing songwriter. She has released six critically acclaimed CDs and has won numerous acknowledgements including ten GMA Covenant Awards. 

 

Alison McCullough is a Children's Librarian at Oshawa Public Libraries. She is also a church librarian and currently attends Crossroads Community Christian Reformed Church in Ajax with her three sons. Alison loves to talk about children's books and promotes Christian authors at any opportunity. She would love to see more fantasy for 8-12s and more quality picture books for young children.

 

Kevin Miller is an award-winning filmmaker who has applied his craft to documentaries, feature films and shorts. Recent projects include Hellbound? (2012), spOILed (2011), Sex+Money (2011), With God On Our Side (2010) and Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008). In addition to his work in film, Kevin has written, co-written and edited over 40 books. Originally from Foam Lake, SK, he now lives in Abbotsford, BC with his wife and four children. 

 

Barbara Colebrook Peace is the author of two poetry books: Duet for Wings and Earth (Sono Nis Press, 2008), which won an award from The Word Guild, and Kyrie (Sono Nis Press, 2001.) She also co-edited P.K. Page: Essays on Her Works (Guernica Editions, 2001.) She has performed her poetry on CBC, and in settings ranging from cathedral and university to Word on the Street. Her website is: www.barbaracolebrookpeace.ca.

 

Tim Perry is an Anglican priest and theologian and is rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury, Ontario. He has published academic and popular books with Eerdmans, InterVarsity Press, Paraclete and Morehouse and has written for Faith Today, The Anglican Planet and ChristianWeek.

 

Lloyd Rang holds an MA in history from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont., and an MA in creative writing and literature from the University of Guelph. He taught in Christian schools for eight years. He is Director of Writing and Web, Office of the Premier of Ontario; he worked for the last seven years in communications for the provincial government. 
Books —Christian Living

 

Dr. Christine Schintgen is Assistant Professor of Literature at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in Barry's Bay, Ontario. She has a B.A. in English from Carleton University, and an M.Phil. and D.Phil. in Literature from Oxford University. Her specialty is Victorian Literature. Her husband Michael teaches Philosophy at OLSWA, and they have two-year-old son named Carl.

 

Leslie Scrivener is a feature writer at the Toronto Star and has been on staff since 1978. She is the author of the biography, Terry Fox: His Story, has been the paper’s Faith and Ethics Reporter, and continues to be interested in faith issues.

 

Joseph Sinasac is publishing director of Novalis, the largest religious publisher in Canada. His journalistic work has appeared in newspapers across Canada, the religious press and on national radio and television. His most recent book is John Paul II (Novalis 2011).
Articles—Column Single

 

Marianne Meed Ward is a city councillor in Burlington, Ont. and writes a monthly e-newsletter and blog for her constituents, as well as regularly posting to Facebook, Twitter and www.ward2news.ca. Previously, she ran her own communications company, Meed Ward Media, where she provided on-air, print, teaching and consulting services for a variety of clients including CBC, Chatelaine, Ryerson University, Vision TV, Faith Today, ChristianWeek and more. She remains a weekly panelist on the Michael Coren Show on CTS. 

Bert Witvoet is a retired educator (teacher of English, vice-principal and principal), as well as a former editor of four publications: ­The Christian School Herald, Vanguard, Christian Courier and Christian Educators Journal.  He has authored hundreds of columns for secular and Christian magazines. He holds a B.A degree from Calvin College and an M.A. from the University of Toronto. He lives in St. Catharines, Ontario.