The Quebec Writers' Federation Awards are a series of Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the Quebec Writers' Federation to the best works of literature in English by writers from Quebec. They were known from 1988 to 1998 as the QSPELL Awards.
Categories
They are currently presented in seven literary categories: Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry Concordia University First Book Prize QWF Prize for Children's & Young Adult Literature Cole Foundation Prize for Translation (French and English, with target language alternating each year) 3Macs Carte Blanche Prize for the best work published in the QWF's online literary journal Carte Blanche.
A Community Award is also frequently presented to a person who has played a significant role in building and supporting Quebec's anglophone writing community.
The awards have been presented annually since 1988.
Winners
Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature The Janet Savage Blachford Prize, established in 2008, is presented annually for children's and young adult books. Picture books with text and books intended for beginner readers are eligible in even-numbered years, whereas books intended for middle grade or young adult readers are eligible in odd-numbered years. The award was established in 2008, was sponsored by sponsored by Janet and John Blachford beginning in 2014, and has been sponsored in the memory of Janet Savage Blachford since 2018. +Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature winnersYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2008 Orphan AhwakWinner2009What World Is LeftWinnerProud as a Peacock, Brave as a LionShortlistWhen Stella Was Very, Very Small Shortlist2010Rough MagicWinnerWalking Backward ShortlistShortlist2011MiloWinnerWithout YouShortlistShortlist201226 Tips for Surviving Grade 6WinnerPyroShortlistYellow Mini Shortlist2013UndercurrentWinnerDesperate FreedomShortlistShortlist2014Hate MailWinnerAny Questions? ShortlistStraight PunchShortlist2015No award was presented in 20152016, illus. by Marie LafranceOscar Lives Next DoorWinner, illus. by Julie MorstadThis Is SadieShortlistBug in a Vacuum Shortlist2017Subject to ChangeWinnerChicoShortlistLightning LouShortlist2018Mr. Crum's Potato PredicamentWinner, illus. by Tom KnightShortlist, illus. by Félix GirardThat`s Not Hockey Shortlist2019Yipee's Gold MountainWinnerIn WhichShortlistI Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times Shortlist2020WinnerPokko and the DrumShortlistFern and HornShortlist2021Room for One MoreWinnerShortlistJournal of a Travelling Girl ShortlistZee Shortlist2022MinaWinnerI'm Not SydneyShortlistPink, Blue, and YouShortlistYou Are My Favorite ColorShortlist2023A Boy Is Not a GhostWinner"Valley of the Birdtail wins two prizes at the Quebec Writers' Foundation literary awards". CBC Books, November 22, 2023. Witches of Brooklyn: S'More Magic Shortlist Captain Skidmark Dances with Destiny2024HopscotchWinnerAttila Berki, "Winners of the 2024 Quebec Writers' Federation Literary Awards announced". Quill & Quire, November 13, 2024.Walking Trees Shortlist and Emma CrosslandThe Wolf PupYayoSOS Water2025Cassandra CalinThe New GirlWinnerLea BeddiaOutta HereShortlistElizabeth Blanchard and Nancy King SchofieldThe BearingMonique Polak and Valéry GouletRemember This: The Fascinating World of MemoryEdeet RavelMiss Matty
carte blanche Prize The carte blanche Prize, established in 2008, is awarded annual "in recognition of an outstanding submission to QWF's online literary journal, carte blanche, by a Quebec writer, artist, or translator. Winners receive a cash prize and a unique trophy—'The Lori'—created by Montreal artist Glen LeMesurier." +Carte Blanche Prize winnersYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2008"Wyoming Is Haunted"Winner2009 "Changing Winter Tires"Winner2010 "Something Important and Delicate"Winner"Picnic"Second"Letters Out"Third2011"Like This Together"Winner""Second, trans. by Howard Scott"EX(o)ilium"Third2012"Aria"Winner""Second"William and Robbie"Third2013"Bluefooted"Winner"Finding Snow in Wyoming"Second"Death in the Midden"Third2014 and Sheryl Curtis (trans.)"It's Late, Doctor Schweitzer" by Didier LeclairWinner"Dung Beetle"Second""Third2015"Self-Serve"WinnerCathon"Old Shit I Still Feel Guilty About" Second"Holy Treasures"Third2016"Rabbits with Red Eyes"Winner""Second"Bridges We Build"Third2017"Ferrante in the Cellar: A Vulgar Appreciation"Winner""Second"Self-Trolling"Third2018"loss of (her)self"Winner"Tracking Animal"Second"Bow"Third2019"Aquanauts"Winner"On killing a spider"Second"My (Your) Home Movie"Third2020Winner"Thin"Second"Emote: A Time Capsule"Third2021"Tricks"Winner"Sickness in Limbo"Second""Third2022"Some Kind of Light"Winner""Second"Gardens of Dirty Laundry"Third 2023"Disorientations"Winner"Relieved" Shortlist"The Cows Are Benevolent and Full of Flies"2024"Playtime in Carmella's Room"Winner"Zoologies" Shortlist "Bone-Eating Snot Flower"2025Madi Haab"heart made of bees"WinnerAnthony Portulese"The Stars of Saint-Léonard"ShortlistNat Kishchuk"Trulie, Toronto, and the Southwest Swale"
The Cole Foundation Prize for Translation The Cole Foundation Prize for Translation, also known as Le Prix de traduction de la Fondation Cole and established in 1998, is awarded annually to books written by an English-language Quebec writer or an English-language Quebec translator of a book by a French author. English-language Quebec writers are eligible in even-numbered years, whereas English-language Quebec translators are eligible in odd-numbered years. +The Cole Foundation Prize for Translation winnersYearTranslatorAuthorTitleRef.1998 SelfWinner1999These Festive NightsWinnerGabrielle Roy: A Life / Gabrielle Roy: Une Vie ShortlistRomans-fleuves Shortlist2000Montréal barbare / City of ForgettingWinnerFille au bord de l'eau / Swimming Into the Light ShortlistLe Kinkajou /The Kinkajou Shortlist2001 and Howard Scott / La Grand Paix de Montréal de 1701: les voies de la diplomatie franco-amérindienneWinnerTravels with an Umbrella: An Irish Journey / Voyage en Irelande avec un parapluie ShortlistTsubakiShortlist2002Dans l'ombre de Maggie / Jackrabbit MoonWinnerL'autre ennemi / Finding the EnemyShortlistBye-Bye, bébé / Can You Wave Bye Bye, Baby?Shortlist2003 and David Homel / Le Coeur est un muscle involuntaireWinner / Un fin passage ShortlistHelen with a Secret / Helen avec un secret Shortlist2004 and Paul GagnéUn baume pour le cœur / Doing the Heart GoodWinnerL'histoire de Pi / Life of Pi Shortlist and Paul GagnéL'analyste / The Speaking CureShortlist2005Truth or Death: The Quest for Immortality in the Western Narrative Tradition / Raconter et mourirWinner and David Homelll That Glitters / L'élu du hazard ShortlistNo End to the World / Sans bord, sans bout du monde Shortlist2006 and Paul GagnéLa Clameur des ténèbres / The Unyielding Clamour of the NightWinnerLes Anglos: La face cachée de Québec, Tome 1, 1608–1850 / The Anglos: The Hidden Face of Quebec City (Volume 1) ShortlistParlez-vous Boro? /Spoken Here Shortlist2007 / L'immaculée conceptionWinner and Howard ScottMy Name Is Bosnia / Je m'appelle BosniaShortlist and Erín MoureNotebook of Roses and Civilization / Cahier de roses & de civilisation Shortlist2008 and Paul GagnéBig Bang / Bang CrunchWinnerLes artistes de la mémoire / The Memory Artists ShortlistParfum de poussière / De Niro's GameShortlist2009NikolskiWinnerFences in Breathing / La Capture du sombreShortlist and Fred A. ReedWildlives / Champagne Shortlist2010Québec, ville du patrimoine mondial / Quebec, World Heritage CityWinnerNotre Mer Nourricière / Bottomfeeder ShortlistSans limites: la vie exceptionelle des jumelles Rhona et Rhoda Wurtele, olympiennes et pionnières du ski au Canada / No Limits: The Amazing Life Story of Rhona and Rhoda Wurtele–Canada's Olympian Skiing PioneersShortlist2011Apocalypse for Beginners / TarmacWinnerMeridian Line / Origine des méridiens ShortlistPartita for Glenn Gould / Partita pour Glenn Gould Shortlist2012T'es con, point /YOU Comma IdiotWinnerPassage de Franklin / Franklin's PassageShortlist and Paul GagnéFallShortlist2013 / Les Verbes majeursWinnerJudith's Sister / La Soeur de JudithShortlistMai at the Predators' Ball / Mai au bal des prédateursShortlist2014No award was presented in 20142015 and Guillaume PerrierTurkey and the Armenian Ghost: On the Trail of the Genocide / La Turquie et le fantôme arménien: sur les traces du genocideWinner and Howard ScottAs Always / Depuis Toujours ShortlistMãn Shortlist2016 and Paul GagnéSolomon Gursky / Solomon Gursky Was HereWinnerPetits Théâtres / Little Theatres Shortlist and Paul GagnéJoshua / Joshua Then and Now Shortlist2017 / La liberté pauvreWinnerRooms / Chambres ShortlistSun of a Distant Land / Soleil Shortlist / Un the dans la toundra: Nipishapui Nete Mushuat Shortlist2018Hôtel Lonely Hearts / The Hotel Lonely HeartsWinnerVague d'effroi / The Dead of WinterShortlist and Paul GagnéPetits feux / Small Fires Shortlist and Paul Gagné / A Great ReckoningShortlist2019 / La dévoration des féesWinner and Aleshia JensenThis Woman's Work / Moi aussi je voulais l'emporterShortlistExplosions / Des explosions Shortlist2020Éclipse électrique / The Knockoff EclipseWinnerNoirEs sous surveillance. Esclavage, répression et violence d'État au Canada / Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the PresentShortlistZolitude Shortlist2021I Am a Damn Savage; What Have You Done to My Country? / Je suis une maudite sauvagesse/Eukuan nin matshimanitu innu-iskueu and Tante nana etutamin mitassi? / Qu'as-tu fait de mon pays?)WinnerEmShortlistOrwell in Cuba: How 1984 Came to Be Published in Castro's Twilight / Avant l'AprèsShortlist2022Plus aucun enfant autochtone arraché / Fighting for a Hand to Hold: Confronting medical Colonialism Against Indigenous Children in CanadaWinnerLe premier coup de clairon pour réveiller les femmes immorales / The First Blast to Awaken Women Degenerate Shortlist and Paul GagnéFils d'un tout petit héros / Son of a Smaller HeroShortlist2023To See Out the Night (Dormir sans tête)Winner, Bronwyn HaslamThis Is How I Disappear (C'est comme ça que je disparais) ShortlistMade-Up: A True Story of Beauty Culture under Late Capitalism (Maquillée)Rosa's Very Own Personal Revolution (La Logueuse)2024Équateur magnétique (Magnetic Equator)WinnerFayne: L'histoire fantastique de C. Bell (Fayne) Shortlist Les lignes invisibles (Cycling to Asylum)Peler les ramboutans (Peeling Rambutan)Te souviens-tu de ta naissance? (Do You Remember Being Born?)2025Shira Abramovich and Lénaïg CariouLaura VazquezThe Hand of the Hand (Le Main de la main)WinnerNatalia HeroChris BergeronValid (Valide)ShortlistLazer LederhendlerChristophe BernardThe Hollow Beast (La bête creuse)Aimee WallClara Dupuis-MorencySadie X (Sadie X)
Concordia University First Book Prize The Concordia University First Book Prize, established in 1996 and sponsored by Concordia University, is awarded annually to the first book of an English-language Quebec writer. The award has been known as the First Book Award (1996–1998), McAuslan First Book Prize (1999–2009), the QWF First Book Prize (2010), and the Concordia University First Book Prize (2011–present).