Sharpen your pens! Entries are being sought for the 2016
edition of the annual John W. Bilsland Award for senior writers.
The Strathcona Place Seniors Society in Edmonton inaugurated
the annual award last year with the aim of celebrating and fostering the
creativity of older writers.
Writers aged 55 years and older who live in the city and surrounding
area are eligible to submit work for this year’s award. Prizes of $500 will be awarded in each of
three categories: short fiction, short non-fiction and poetry.
Last year the short fiction award went to Sara Coumantarkis
for her story Homing Device. In second place was Michael Edwin Lamb for The
Link into Hell. Vacancy by Barbara A. Fraser was the winning work in the poetry
category, with the runner-up being Legacy by Anne Stewart. Donna Petit was the
winner for creative non-fiction with her essay Dr. Caulfield. The second place
finisher in the category was Betty McDowell with The Rectory.
Award judges included local authors Alice Major, Theresa
Shea and Todd Babiuk, who was also its honourary chair. Winners were announced
at well-attended gala dinner and awards presentation that is an annual fixture.
John W. Bilsland is a professor emeritus of English at the
University of Alberta. In addition to his 30-year professional teaching career,
as a volunteer he taught creative writing at the Strathcona Place Senior Centre
for 25 years. During that time seniors who have attended his classes have
produced more than 20 publications, including books.
The deadline for award submissions is April 22, 2016. For
entry rules and regulations, and to download an entry form, go to www.strathconaplace.com. Entry forms
are also available at the Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University
Avenue, Edmonton. For further
information email JackBilslandAward@gmail.com.
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