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Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children's Literature

One prize ($5,000) is awarded each year for a book of fiction or non-fiction that is readily available in print; that was written by a living, full-time resident of Atlantic Canada; and that was published or distributed for the first time in Canada in the two years prior to the submission deadline. Additional finalists each receive $250.

Each cycle of the award covers two publication years to allow for the award’s annual alternation between children’s literature (with submissions accepted in odd-numbered years and prize awarded in the next spring) and YA literature (with submissions accepted in even-numbered years and prize awarded in the next spring).

The Ann Connor Brimer Award was established in 1991 by the Nova Scotia Library Association and supported by the family of Ann Elisabeth Connor Brimer — a teacher, researcher, and program coordinator who served as executive director of the Canadian Learning Materials Centre, founding member of the Nova Scotia Coalition on Arts and Culture, co-founder of Woozles Children’s Bookstore, and Atlantic Officer for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. The award honours outstanding contributions to writing for Atlantic Canadian young people.

Beginning in 2016, the focus of this award began alternating annually between children’s literature (for readers up to 11 years old) and YA literature (for readers aged 12 to 17). The first prize for YA literature was awarded in 2017, and the first prize for children’s literature was awarded in 2018. In 2019, the Ann Connor Brimer Society passed stewardship and administration of the award to the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. Beginning in 2022, thanks to the generosity of Gavin Brimer, the prize amount was raised from $2,000 to $5,000.

Submission Guidelines

Click covers for more information.

Chad Lucas
You Owe Me One, Universe
(Abrams Books)

Rebecca Phillips
The End of Always
(Second Storey Press)

Valerie Sherrard
Standing on Neptune
(DCB)

Hannah State
Journey to the Dark Galaxy
(Glowing Light Press)

Gloria Ann Wesley
Shovels Not Rifles
(Formac)

2024 Winner

Karen Pinchin
Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas
(Knopf Canada)

2024 Finalists

Sherri Aikenhead
Mommy Don’t: From Mother to Murderer: The True Story of Penny and Karissa Boudreau
(Nimbus Publishing)

Kelly Thompson
Still, I Cannot Save You: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Love, and Letting Go
(McClelland & Stewart)

2024
(Children's)

Winner

Jack Wong
The Words We Share
(Annick Press)

Finalist

Alma Fullerton
The Journal of Anxious Izzy Parker
(Second Story Press)

Finalist

Vicki Grant
A Green Velvet Secret
(Tundra Books)

Finalist

George Paul
Kepmite’taqney Ktapekiaqn / Le chant d’honneur / The Honour Song
(Éditions Bouton d’or Acadie)

2023
(YA)

Winner

Nicola Davison
Decoding Dot Grey
(Nimbus Publishing)

Finalist

Vicki Grant
Tell Me When You Feel Something
(Penguin Random House Canada)

Finalist

Jo Treggiari
Heartbreak Homes
(Nimbus Publishing)

2022
(Children's)

Winner

Chad Lucas
Thanks a Lot, Universe
(Amulet Books)

Finalist

Jodie Callaghan
The Train
illustrated by Georgia Lesley
(Second Story Press

Finalist

Rebecca Thomas
Swift Fox All Along
illustrated by Pauline King
illustrated by Maya McKibbin
(Annick Press)

2021
(YA)

Winner

Tom Ryan
Keep This to Yourself
(Albert Whitman & Company)

Finalist

Andre Fenton
Annaka
(Nimbus Publishing)

Finalist

Jo Treggiari
The Grey Sisters
(Penguin Teen)

2020
(Children's)

Winner

Sheree Fitch
EveryBody's Different on EveryBody Street
illustrated by Emma FitzGerald
(Orca Book Publisher)

Finalist

Wesley King
A World Below
(Simon & Schuster)

Finalist

Rebecca Thomas
I’m Finding My Talk
illustrated by Pauline King
(Nimbus Publishing)

2019
(YA)

Winner

Susan Sinnott
Catching the Light
(Vagrant Press)

Finalist

Vicki Grant
Short for Chameleon
(HarperCollins)

Finalist

Daphne Greer
Finding Grace
(Nimbus Publishing)

2018
(Children's)

Winner

Charis Cotter
The Painting
(Tundra Books)

Finalist

Sheree Fitch
Polly MacCauley’s Finest Divinest, Wooliest Gift of All
illustrated by Darka Erdelji
(Running the Goat Books & Broadsides)

Finalist

Susan White
The Memory Chair
(Acorn Press)

2017
(YA)

Winner

Lesley Choyce
Into the Wasteland
(Red Deer Press)

Finalist

Lisa Moore
Flannery
(Groundwood Books)

Finalist

Valerie Sherrard
Rain Shadow
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Prior to 2017, the Ann Connor Brimer Award did not alternate annually between children’s literature and young adult literature.

2016

Winner

Sharon E. McKay

(Annick Press)

Finalist

Don Aker
Delusion Road
(HarperCollins)

Finalist

Valerie Sherrard
Rain Shadow
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

2015

Winner

Sharon E. McKay
The End of the Line
(Annick Press)

Finalist

Andy Jones
Jack, the King of Ashes
illustrated by Darka Erdelji
(Running Goat Books & Broadsides)

Finalist

Janet McNaughton
Flame and Ashes: The Great Fire Diary of Triffie Winsor
(Scholastic)

2014

Winner

Jill MacLean
Nix Minus One
(Pajama Press)

Finalist

Jan L. Coates
The Power of Harmony
(Red Deer Press)

Finalist

Meghan Marentette
The Stowaways
illustrated by Dean Griffiths
(Pajama Press)

2013

Winner

Lisa Harrington
Live to Tell
(Dancing Cat Books)

Finalist

Kathleen Martin
Kamakwie: Finding Peace, Love, and Injustice in Sierra Leone
(Red Deer Press)

Finalist

Sharon E. McKay
Enemy Territory
(Annick Press)

2012

Winner

Susan White
The Year Mrs. Montague Cried
(Acorn Press)

Finalist

Vicki Grant
Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret
(HarperCollins)

Finalist

Gloria Ann Wesley
Chasing Freedom
(Roseway Publishing)

2011

Winner

Valerie Sherrard
The Glory Wind
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Finalist

Jan L. Coates
A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk
(Red Deer Press)

Finalist

Shauntay Grant
The City Speaks in Drums
illustrated by Susan Tooke
(Nimbus Publishing)

2010

Winner

Jill MacLean
The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Finalist

Darlene Ryan
Five Minutes More
(Orca Book Publishers)

Finalist

Valerie Sherrard
Tumbleweed Skies
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

2009

Winner

Jill MacLean
The Nine Lives of Travis Keating
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Finalist

Joanne Jefferson
Lightning and Blackberries
(Nimbus Publishing)

Finalist

Philip Roy
The Submarine Outlaw
(Ronsdale Press)

2008

Winner

K.V. Johansen
Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin, Book One
(Orca Book Publishers)

Finalist

Valerie Sherrard
Speechless
(Dundurn)

Finalist

Alice Walsh
A Sky Black with Crows
(Red Deer Press)

2007

Winner

Budge Wilson
Friendships
(Penguin)

Finalist

Janet McNaughton
The Raintree Rebellion
(HarperCollins)

Finalist

Darlene Ryan
Saving Grace
(Orca Book Publishers)

2006

Winner

Kevin Major
Aunt Olga’s Christmas Postcards
illustrated by Bruce Roberts
(Groundwood Books)

Finalist

Vicki Grant
Quid Pro Quo
(Orca Book Publishers)

Finalist

Nancy Shouse
Any Pet Will Do
(Orca Book Publishers)

2005

Winner

Alice Walsh
Pomiuk, Prince of the North
illustrated by Jerry Whitehead
(Beach Holme)

Finalist

Maureen Hull
Rainy Days With Bear
illustrated by Leanne Franson
(Lobster Press)

Finalist

Joanne Taylor
There You Are
(Tundra Books)

2004

Winner

Don Aker
The First Stone
(HarperCollins)

Finalist

Kevin Major
Ann and Seamus
illustrated by David Blackwood
(Groundwood)

Finalist

Janet McNaughton
An Earthly Knight
(HarperCollins)

2003

Winner

Lesley Choyce
Shoulder the Sky
(Dundurn)

Finalist

Robert Rayner
Walker’s Runners
(James Lorimer & Co)

Finalist

Joanne Taylor
Full Moon Rising
illustrated by Susan Tooke
(Tundra Books)

2002

Winner

Frances Wolfe
Where I Live
(Tundra Books)

Finalist

David Weale
Everything That Shines
illustrated by Dale McNevin
(Acorn Press)

Finalist

Budge Wilson
A Fiddle for Angus
illustrated by Susan Tooke
(Tundra Books)

2001

Winner

Janet McNaughton
The Secret Under My Skin
(Stoddart Kids)

Finalist

Kevin Major
Eh? To Zed: A Canadian Abecedarium
illustrated by Alan Daniel
(Red Door Press)

Finalist

Robin McGrath
Hoist Your Sails and Run
(Tuckamore)

2000

Winner

David Weale
The True Meaning of Crumbfest
illustrated by Dale McNevin
(Acorn Press)

Finalist

Sheree Fitch
If I Were the Moon
illustrated by Leslie Elizabeth Watts
(Doubleday)

Finalist

Shirley Woods
Kit: the Adventures of a Raccoon
illustrated by Celia Godkin
(Groundwood Books)

1999

Winner

Janet McNaughton
Make or Break Spring
(Tuckamore)

Finalist

Christina Gunn
Lily
(Roseway Publishing)

Finalist

Sandra & Ron Lightburn
Driftwood Cove
(Doubleday)

Finalist

Anne Lousie MacDonald
The Memory Stone
illustrated by illustrated by Joanne Ouellet
(Ragweed)

Finalist

Wenda Young
Angels in the Snow
(Coteau Books)

1998

Winner

Kevin Major
The House of Wooden Santas
(Red Deer Press)

Finalist

Don Aker
Stranger at Bay
(Stoddart Kids)

Finalist

Pamela Hickman
Animal Senses
(Kids Can Press)

Finalist

Budge Wilson
Sharla
(Stoddart Kids)

1997

Winner

Janet McNaughton
To Dance at the Palais Royale
(Tuckamore)

Finalist

Elaine Breault Hammond
The Secret Under the Whirlpool
(Ragweed)

Finalist

Sheree Fitch
If You Could Wear My Sneakers
illustrated by Darcia Labrosse
(Doubleday)

1996

Winner

Don Aker
Of Things Not Seen
(Stoddart)

Finalist

Geoff Butler
The Killick: a Newfoundland story
(Tundra Books)

Finalist

Marjorie Speed
Alexander's Sky Blue Eggs
illustrated by Marjorie Speed
(Roseway Publishing)

Prior to 1996, finalists for the Ann Connor Brimer Award were not publicly announced.

1995

Sheree Fitch
Mabel Murple
illustrated by Sydney Smith
(Nimbus Publishing)

1994

Lesley Choyce
Good Idea Gone Bad
(Formac)

1993

Budge Wilson
Oliver's War
(Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

1992

Kevin Major
Eating Between the Lines
(Seal Books)

1991

Joyce Barkhouse
Pit Pony
(Gage)

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The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is based in Kjipuktuk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties do not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognize Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and establish the rules for an ongoing relationship between nations.

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Simultaneous Submissions

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) administers some programs (and special projects) that involve print and/or digital publication of ‘selected’ or ‘winning’ entries. In most cases, writing submitted to these programs and projects must not be previously published and must not be simultaneously under consideration for publication by another organization. Why? Because our assessment and selection processes depends on all submitted writing being available for first publication. If writing selected for publication by WFNS has already been published or is published by another organization first, copyright issues will likely make it impossible for WFNS to (re-)publish that writing.

When simultaneous submissions to a WFNS program are not permitted, it means the following:

  • You may not submit writing that has been accepted for future publication by another organization.
  • You may not submit writing that is currently being considered for publication by another organization—or for another prize that includes publication.
  • The writing submitted to WFNS may not be submitted for publication to another organization until the WFNS program results are communicated. Results will be communicated directly to you by email and often also through the public announcement of a shortlist or list of winners. Once your writing is no longer being considered for the WFNS program, you are free to submit it elsewhere.
    • If you wish to submit your entry elsewhere before WFNS program results have been announced, you must first contact WFNS to withdraw your entry. Any entry fee cannot be refunded.

Prohibitions on simultaneous submission do not apply to multiple WFNS programs. You are always permitted to submit the same unpublished writing to multiple WFNS programs (and special projects) at the same time, such as the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program, the Emerging Writers Prizes, the Jampolis Cottage Residency Program, the Message on a Bottle contest, the Nova Writes Competition, and any WFNS projects involving one-time or recurring special publications.

Recommended Experience Levels

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) recommends that participants in any given workshop have similar levels of creative writing and / or publication experience. This ensures that each participant gets value from the workshop⁠ and is presented with information, strategies, and skills that suit their career stage. The “Recommended experience level” section of each workshop description refers to the following definitions used by WFNS.

  • New writers: those with less than two years’ creative writing experience and/or no short-form publications (e.g., short stories, personal essays, or poems in literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or chapbooks).
  • Emerging writers: those with more than two years’ creative writing experience and/or numerous short-form publications.
  • Early-career authors: those with 1 or 2 book-length publications or the equivalent in book-length and short-form publications.
  • Established authors: those with 3 or 4 book-length publications.
  • Professional authors: those with 5 or more book-length publications.

Please keep in mind that each form of creative writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and writing for children and young adults) provides you with a unique set of experiences and skills, so you might consider yourself an ‘established author’ in one form but a ‘new writer’ in another.

For “intensive” and “masterclass” creative writing workshops, which provide more opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback, the recommended experience level should be followed closely.

For all other workshops, the recommended experience level is just that—a recommendation—and we encourage potential participants to follow their own judgment when registering.

If you’re uncertain of your experience level with regard to any particular workshop, please feel free to contact us at communications@writers.ns.ca