The Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Trust of Canada to an emerging Canadian writer who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer community. Originally presented as a general career achievement award for emerging writers that considered their overall body of work, since 2022 it has been presented to honor debut books.
It is one of two literary awards in Canada serving the LGBTQ community, alongside the Blue Metropolis Violet Prize for established writers.Peter Knegt, "Canadian LGBTQ literature is having a moment, and this Montreal festival is showcasing that". CBC Arts, April 18, 2018.
The award was originally established by artist Robin Pacific as the Dayne Ogilvie Grant in memory of Dayne Ogilvie, a book editor, writer, arts manager and former managing editor of Xtra! who died in October 2006. The award was renamed from a grant to a prize in 2012.
Established in 2007, the prize was not originally presented for a specific work, although writers must have published at least one book of fiction or poetry to be eligible. The winner was selected by an independent jury of three members, and presented annually; the presentation was normally in June, although the 2020 announcement was postponed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. In its early years the award was presented in conjunction with Pride Toronto, although in later years it expanded to different venues and cities.
Beginning in the prize's second year, the award introduced a preliminary shortlist of two or three writers. In 2019, Casey Plett became the first nominee in the award's history to be renominated a second time.
In 2022, the Writers' Trust transitioned the award from a general "career achievement" award into a prize to honour specific debut books. The award's scheduling has also been moved so that it no longer takes place in June as part of Pride Month, but in November at the same gala presentation as the other Writers' Trust awards."Bilal Baig, francesca ekwuyasi, Matthew James Weigel finalists for $10K prize for emerging LGBTQ writers" . CBC Books, August 24, 2022.
The prize package has since been increased to $12,000 for the winner, and $2,000 for each of the non-winning finalists.Talia Kliot, "Gwen Aube, Tiana Reid and Misha Solomon shortlisted for $12K 2SLGBTQ+ emerging writers prize". CBC Books, September 16, 2026.
Recipients General achievement (2007-2021) YearJuryAuthorResult2007 Winner 2008 Elizabeth RuthMaureen HynesDan Bazuin Winner "Zoe Whittall wins Dayne Ogilvie Grant". Quill & Quire, June 17, 2008.Finalist2009 Derek McCormackShani MootooAren X. Tulchinsky Winner Finalist2010 Brian FrancisDon HannahSuzette Mayr Winner Finalist2011 Jen Sookfong LeeJeffrey RoundZoe Whittall Winner Finalist2012 Kamal Al-SolayleeIvan E. CoyoteMichael V. Smith Winner Honorable mention2013 Amber DawnAnne FlemingVivek Shraya Winner Finalist2014 Anna CamilleriConnie FifeBill Whitehead Winner Finalist2015 Nancy Jo CullenBrett Josef GrubisicAnand Mahadevan Winner Finalist2016 Anjula GogiaBilleh NickersonCasey Plett Winner "Leah Horlick wins 2016 Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBT Emerging Writers" . CBC Books, June 7, 2016.Finalist2017 Jane Eaton HamiltonElio IannacciTrish Salah Winner Finalist2018 Ali BlytheGreg KearneyShannon Webb-Campbell Winner Finalist2019 Amber DawnKai Cheng Thom Winner Finalist2020 Trevor CorkumJas M. MorganLeah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Winner Finalist2021 Daniel Allen CoxEva CrockerDanny Ramadan Winner Finalist
Debut book prize (2022-present) YearJuryAuthorBookResult 2022 Billy-Ray BelcourtSamra HabibZoey Leigh Peterson Butter Honey Pig Bread Winner Acha Bacha Shortlist Whitemud Walking 2023 S. Bear BergmanNicholas DawsonSharanpal Ruprai Chrysalis Winner Scenes from the Underground Shortlist and David Di Giovanni Body So Fluorescent 2024 Jillian ChristmasAdam Garnet JonesHazel Jane Plante Dayspring Winner Perfect Little Angels Shortlist What I Know About You 2025 Gabrielle Boulianne-TremblayDarrin HagenJanika Oza All the Parts We Exile Winner How I Bend Into More Shortlist Three Parties2026francesca ekwuyasiKama La MackerelMichael V. SmithGwen AubeMissed Connections with Tall GirlsShortlist Tiana ReidNightnursingMisha SolomonMy Great-Grandfather Danced Ballet
References
External links
Dayne Ogilvie Prize