Black Writing Awards

Awards and Prizes Recognizing Black Canadian Literature

Compiled by Lara El Mekaui

This list features various awards and prizes that celebrate Black Canadian authors and their contributions to literature across international, national, and provincial levels. It highlights notable winners, finalists, and achievement awards. While this compilation strives for comprehensiveness, it may not encompass every award recognizing Black Canadian literature. The intention is to showcase significant accomplishments. The compilation was last updated in February 2025.

INTERNATIONAL

I. Dublin Literary Award

The International Dublin Literary Award, established in 1996, is presented annually for a novel written in or translated into English, promoting excellence in world literature.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2024 Finalist)
  2. Esi Edugyan, Washington Black (2020 Finalist)

II. The Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prizes

The Donald Windham Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prizes are American awards offering unrestricted grants in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Administered by the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, these prizes recognize global English-language writers, celebrating literary achievement while allowing them to focus on their work without financial stress. Since adding the poetry category in 2017, eight prizes have been awarded annually.

  1. Christina Sharpe (2024 Non-Fiction Winner)
  2. Dionne Brand (2021 Fiction Winner)
  3. M. NourbeSe Philip (2024 Poetry Winner)
  4. Canisia Lubrin(2021 Poetry Winner)
  5. David Chariandy (2019 Fiction Winner)
  6. Lorna Goodison (2018 Poetry Winner)
  7. André Alexis (2017 Fiction Winner)

III. Commonwealth Foundation prizes

From 1987 to 2011, the Commonwealth Foundation awarded several prizes, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize with its Best Book and Best First Book categories, as well as the Commonwealth Short Story Competition. In 2012, these awards were replaced by the Commonwealth Writers initiative, which introduced the Commonwealth Book Prize for best first books and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The Book Prize was discontinued after two years, leaving only the Short Story Prize.

1.     Commonwealth Writers Prize: Best Book Prize (Discontinued in 2011)

  1. Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes (2008 Winner)
  2. Nega Mezlekia, The Unfortunate Marriage of Azeb Yitades (2007 Shortlist)
  3. Austin Clarke, The Polished Hoe (2003 Winner)
  4. Olive Senior, Summer Lightning (1987 Winner)

2.     Commonwealth Award for Poetry (Discontinued in 1987)

  1. Claire Harris (1985 Winner)

3.     Commonwealth Short Story Prize

  1. Jasmine Sealy (2017 Finalist)
  2. Amina Farah (2015 Finalist)
  3. Idrissa Simmonds (2014 Finalist)

IV. Lambda Literary Awards

The Lambda Literary Awards, known as the Lammys, were created in 1989 to enhance visibility for LGBTQ books. These awards now honour over 150 LGBTQ writers in 26 categories, celebrating a variety of genres and experiences. We recognize works by self-published authors, independent presses, and major publishers alike.

  1. francesca ekwuyasi, Butter Honey Pig Bread (2021 Finalist)

V. Carol Shields Prize for Fiction

The first major English-language literary prize to celebrate creativity and excellence in fiction by women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United States.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2024 Finalist)
  2. Janika Oza, A History of Burning (2024 Finalist)

VI. Booker Prize

The Booker Prize is the leading literary award in the English-speaking world, and has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over five decades

  1. Esi Edugyan, Washington Black (2018 Finalist)
  2. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2011 Finalist)

VII. The Republic of Consciousness Prize

The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses is an annual British literary award honouring fiction published by small presses in the UK and Ireland.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2024 Finalist)

VIII. Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards

The Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards program honours Black writers in the U.S. and globally for literary achievements. Established in 2001, it is the first national award for Black writers by a national organization. The awards are given for published works in categories such as Fiction, Debut Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Historical Nonfiction, Memoir Nonfiction, and Poetry.

  1. Kai Thomas, In the Upper Country (2024 Debut Fiction Shortlist)
  2. Harrison Mooney, Invisible Boy (2023 Fiction Winner)
  3. Esi Edugyan, Washinton Black (2019 Fiction Finalist)
  4. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2013 Fiction Winner)
  5. Esi Edugyan, The Second Life of Samuel Tyne (2005 Debut Fiction Finalist)
  6. David Chariandy, Brother (2019 Fiction Finalist)
  7. Christina Sharpe, In the Wake: On Blackness and Being (2017 Nonfiction Finalist)
  8. Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes (2008 Fiction Finalist)
  9. Austin Clarke, The Polished Hoe (2003 Fiction Finalist)

IX. RSL Ondaatje Prize

The Ondaatje Prize is an annual award from the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) recognizing a work of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry that evokes a sense of place. It is named after benefactor Sir Christopher Ondaatje. 

  1. Aida Edemariam, The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History (2019 Winner)

X. Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction

The Edmund White Award is an annual literary award, presented by Publishing Triangle to honour debut novels by writers within the LGBT community.

  1. Téa Mutonji, Shut Up You’re Pretty (2020 Winner)

NATIONAL

I. CBC Literary Awards

The CBC Literary Prize is a Canadian literary award, granted annually in three categories: short stories, poetry, and creative non-fiction. 

1. Poetry Prize

  1. Bola Opaleke, “The Morgue in my Tears” (2021 Finalist)
  2. Michael Fraser, “African Canadian in Union Blue” (2016 Winner)
  3. Sonnet L’Abbé, A Strange Relief (2000 Shortlist)

2. Creative Non-fiction Prize

  1. Chanel M. Sutherland, Umbrella (2021 Winner)

3. Short Story Prize

  1. Chanel M. Sutherland, “Beneath the Softness of Snow” (2022 Winner)

II. Amazon Canada First Novel Award

Established in 1976, the First Novel Award awards debut novels by Canadian authors.

  1. Janika Oza, A History of Burning (2024 Finalist)
  2. Jasmine Sealy, The Island of Forgetting (2023 Winner)
  3. Kai Thomas, In the Upper Country (2023 Shortlist)
  4. Jael Richardson, Gutter Child (2021 Finalist)
  5. francesca ekwuyasi, Butter Honey Pig Bread (2021 Finalist)
  6. Ian Williams, Reproduction (2019 Finalist)
  7. Kaie Kellough, Accordéon (2017 Finalist)

III. The Writers’ Union of Canada

The Writers’ Union of Canada recognizes excellence in writing and contributions to Canadian writing culture through four awards. 

1. Danuta Gleed Literary Award

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award was created to celebrate the life of Danuta Gleed, a writer whose short fiction won several awards before her death in December 1996. 

  1. Idman Nur Omar, The Private Apartments (2023 Finalist)
  2. Kaie Kellough, Dominoes at the Crossroads (2020 Finalist)
  3. Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain (2020 Winner)
  4. Ian Williams, Not Anyone’s Anything (2012 Winner)

2. Freedom To Read Award

The award recognizes work in support of freedom of expression.

  1. Jael Richardson, The Stone Thrower (2019 Winner)
  2. Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes (2012 Winner)

IV. Griffin Poetry Prize

The Griffin Poetry Prize is Canada’s poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. 

  1. Tolu Oloruntobs, The Junta of Happenstance (2022 Canadian Winner)
  2. Canisia Lubrin, The Dyzgraphxst(2021 Canadian Winner)
  3. Kaie Kellough, Magnetic Equator (2020 Canadian Winner)
  4. Chantal Gibson, How She Read (2020 Canadian Shortlist)
  5. Dionne Brand (2019 Canadian Shortlist)
  6. Aisha Sasha John, I have to live (2018 Canadian Shortlist)
  7. Ian Williams, Personals (2013 Canadian Shortlist)
  8. Shane Book, Congotronic (2015 Canadian Shortlist)
  9. Dionne Brand (2011 Canadian Winner)
  10. Dionne Brand (2003 Canadian Shortlist)

V. Governor General’s Literary Awards

The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada.

  1. Chimwemwe Undi, Scientific Marvel (2024 English Poetry Winner)
  2. Canisia Lubrin, Code Noir (2024 English Fiction Finalist)
  3. Oonya Kempadoo, Naniki (2024 English Fiction Finalist)
  4. Janika Oza, A History of Burning (2023 English Fiction Finalist)
  5. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2023 English Fiction Finalist)
  6. Kai Thomas, In the Upper Country (2023 English Fiction Award Shortlist)
  7. Sheila Murray, Finding Edward (2022 English Fiction Finalist)
  8. Robyn Maynard with Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Rehearsals for Living (2022 English Nonfiction Finalist)
  9. Tolu Oloruntoba, The Junta of Happenstance (2021 English Poetry Winner)
  10. Liselle Sambury, Blood Like Magic (2021 YP Fiction Finalist)
  11. Chantal Gibson, How She Read (2020 English Poetry Finalist)
  12. Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Sound of the Beast (2020 Drama English Finalist)
  13. Edem Awumey, Mina parmi les ombres (2019 French Fiction Finalist)
  14. Chloé Savoie-Bernard, Fastes (2019 French Poetry Finalist)
  15. Amanda Parris, Other Side of The Game (2019 English Winner Drama
  16. Dionne Brand, The Blue Clerk (2018 English Poetry Finalist)
  17. Cecily Nicholson, Wayside Sang (2018 English Poetry Winner)
  18. Aida Edemariam, The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History  (2018 English Non-Fiction Finalist)
  19. Janice Lynn Mather, Learning to Breathe (2018 Young People’s Literature Finalist)
  20. Rodney Saint-Éloi, Je suis la fille du baobab brûlé (2016 French Poetry Finalist)
  21. Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, A Man A Fish (2016 Drama English Finalist)
  22. Rodney Saint-Éloi, Jacques Roche, je t’écris cette lettre (2013 French Poetry Finalist)
  23. Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Gas Girls (2011 Drama English Finalist)
  24. Dany Laferrière, L’énigme du retour(2010 French Shortlist)
  25. Dany Laferrière, Je suis fou de Vava (2006 Young People’s Literature French Winner)
  26. George Elliott Clarke, Execution Poems: The Black Acadian Tragedy of George and Rue (2001 Poetry English Winner)
  27. Nega Mezlekia, Notes from the Hyena’s Belly (2000 Non-Fiction English Winner)
  28. Dionne Brand, Land to Light On (1997 English Poetry Winner)
  29. Dionne Brand, (1990 English Poetry Winner) 

VI. Giller Prize

The award recognized excellence in Canadian fiction – long format or short stories – and endowed a cash prize annually.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2022 Winner)
  2. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, The Son of the House (2021 Shortlist)
  3. Ian Williams, Reproduction (2019 Winner)
  4. Esi Edugyan, Washington Black (2018 Winner)
  5. André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs (2015 Winner)
  6. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2011 Winner)
  7. Dionne Brand, What We All Long For (2005 Shortlist)
  8. Austin Clarke, The Polished Hoe (2003 Winner)
  9. André Alexis, Childhood (1998 Shortlist)

VII. Canada Reads

Canada Reads is an annual “battle of the books” competition organized and broadcast by Canada’s public broadcaster, the CBC.

  1. C.L. Polk, The Midnight Bargain(2021 Contender)
  2. francesca ekwuyasi, Butter Honey Pig Bread (2021 Contender)
  3. David Chariandy, Brother (2019 Contender)
  4. André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs (2017 Winner)
  5. Lawrence Hill, The Illegal (2016 Winner)
  6. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2014 Contender)
  7. Lawrence Hill, Aminata (2013 French Winner)
  8. Nalo Hopkinson, Brown Girl in the Ring (2008 Contender)
  9. Mairuth Sarsfield, No Crystal Stair (2005 Contender)
  10. George Elliott Clarke, Whylah Falls (2002 Contender)

VIII. ReLit Awards

Canadian literary prizes awarded annually to book-length works in the novel, short-story and poetry categories

  1. Chelene Knight, Junie (2023 Shortlist)
  2. Kaie Kellough, Dominoes at the Crossroads (2020 Shortlist)
  3. Ian Williams, Word Problems (2021 Shortlist)
  4. Ian Williams, Personals (2012 Shortlist)
  5. Ian Williams, You Know Who You Are (2011 Shortlist)
  6. George Elliott Clarke, J’Accuse! (Poem versus Silence) (2022 Shortlist)
  7. George Elliott Clarke, Canticles I (2017 Shortlist)
  8. Aisha Sasha John,  Thou (2014 Shortlist)
  9. George Elliott Clarke, Red (2012 Shortlist)
  10. Edem Awumey, Dirty Feet (2012 Shortlist)
  11. Suzette Mayr, Monoceros (2011 Winner)
  12. George Elliott Clarke, Black (2007 Shortlist)

IX. Writer’s Trust Awards

The Writers’ Trust of Canada is a registered charity that supports Canadian writers through financial aid and various awards. The organization celebrates the achievements of novelists, poets, and biographers. Established on March 3, 1976, it oversees several literary awards, including the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction.

1. Rising Stars

  1. Daysha Loppie (2024 Selection)

2. Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize

Awarding the best Canadian novel or short story collection of the year.

  1. Canisia Lubrin, Code Noir (2024 Shortlist)
  2. Kai Thomas, In the Upper Country (2023 Winner)
  3. André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs (2019 Winner)
  4. Téa Mutonji, Shut Up You’re Pretty (2020 Shortlist)
  5. Esi Edugyan, Washington Black (2018 Shortlist)
  6. David Chariandy, Brother (2017 Winner)
  7. André Alexis, Days by Moonlight (2015 Winner)
  8. André Alexis, Pastoral (2014 Shortlist)
  9. Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes (2007 Winner)
  10. Austin Clarke, The Origin of Waves (1997 Winner)

3. Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life

  1. Olive Senior (2019 Winner)

4. RBC Bronwen Wallace Award Poetry 

  1. Faith Paré, Selections from “a fine African Head” (2024 Winner)
  2. Zoe Imani Sharpe, Sullied (2020 Shortlist)
  3. Sonnet L’Abbé, Sonnet’s Shakespeare (2020 Shortlist)
  4. Sonnet L’Abbé, A Strange Relief (2001 Winner)

5. Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction

  1. Christina Sharpe, Ordinary Notes (2023 Winner)
  2. Ian Williams, Disorientation (2021 Finalist)
  3. Tessa McWatt, An Anatomy for Race and Belonging (2020 Finalist)

6. RBC Taylor Prize for Literature (discontinued after 2020)

  1. Lorna Goodison, From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her People (2008 Finalist)
  2. Nega Mezlekia, Notes from the Hyena’s Belly (2002 Finalist)

7. Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers

  1. francesca ekwuyasi (2022 Winner)
  2. Jillian Christmas (2020 Winner)
  3. Robyn Maynard (2020 Finalist)

X. League of Canadian Poetry Awards

1. Gerard Lampert Memorial Award

The Gerald Lampert Memorial Award is given in the memory of Gerald Lampert, an arts administrator who organized authors’ tours and took a particular interest in the work of new writers. The award recognizes a first book of poetry published by a Canadian. 

  1. Britta Badour, Wires That Sputter (2024 Finalist)
  2. Bertrand Bickersteth, The Response of Weeds: A Misplacement of Black Poetry on the Prairies (2021 Finalist)
  3. Jillian Christmas, The Gospel of Breaking (2021 Finalist)

2. Pat Lowther Memorial Award

The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is awarded in memory of the late Pat Lowther, whose career was cut short by her untimely death in 1975.  

  1. Britta Badour, Wires That Sputter (2024 Finalist)
  2. Jillian Christmas, The Gospel of Breaking (2021 Finalist)
  3. Chantal Gibson, How She Read (2020 Winner)
  4. Dionne Brand, thirsty (2003 Winner)
  5. Dionne Brand, Ossuaries (2011 Shortlist)

3. Raymond Souster Award 

The award honours Raymond Souster, an early founder of the League of Canadian Poets.

  1. Olive Senior, Hurricane Watch (2023 Shortlist)
  2. Ian Williams, Word Problems (2021 Finalist)
  3. Sonnet L’Abbé, Sonnet’s Shakespeare (2020 Finalist)

4. Lesley Strutt Poetry Prize

The Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest is an award that provides a prize for the single best poem submitted to a panel of judges. 

  1. Michael Fraser, “African Canadian in Union Blue” (2022 Winner)

XI. Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prizes

The Emerging Writer Prize, presented by Rakuten Kobo, highlights debut Canadian authors by recognizing outstanding books in three categories: Literary Fiction, Nonfiction, and a specific genre (Romance, Speculative Fiction, or Mystery).

  1. Kai Thomas, In the Upper Country (2024 Shortlist)
  2. Harrison Mooney, Invisible Boy (2023 Winner for Non-fiction)
  3. Eternity Martis, They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing (2021 Winner for Non-fiction)
  4. Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain (2020 Winner)

XII. OLA Evergreen Award

The Evergreen Award is an award given by the Ontario Library Association (OLA) to the best Canadian fiction or non-fiction book for adults. It’s part of the OLA’s Forest of Reading program, which is Canada’s biggest recreational reading program for adults.

  1. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2021 Finalist)
  2. Desmond Cole, The Skin We’re In (2020 Finalist)
  3. Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes (2008 Winner)

XIII. William C. Morris Award

The annual award, which is organized by the American Library Association, recognizes debut YA novels.

  1. Ben Philippe, The Field Guide to the North American Teenager (2020 Winner)

PROVINCIAL

MANITOBA

Manitoba Book Awards

The Manitoba Book Awards/Les Prix du livre du Manitoba celebrates excellence in Manitoba writing, publishing, storytelling, book design and illustration for more than three decades.

  1. Kaie Kellough, Maple Leaf Rag (2010 Shortlist)

ALBERTA

Alberta Literary Awards

The Alberta Literary Awards were created by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta in 1982 to recognize excellence in writing by Alberta authors. 

1. Short Story Collection
  1. Idman Nur Omar, The Private Apartments (2024 Finalist)
2. Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Book of Poetry
  1. Bertrand Bickersteth, The Response of Weeds: A Misplacement of Black Poetry on the Prairies (2021 Poetry Winner)
  2. Claire Harris, Travelling to Find a Remedy (1987 Poetry Winner)
3. The Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction

Given for a novel or collection of short stories written by an Alberta author in the previous year. This award was established in 1982 to honour the novelist Georges Bugnet.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2022 Winner)
4. The Writers’ Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award

This award is presented to acknowledge the lifetime achievements of outstanding Alberta writers.

  1. Claire Harris, Travelling to Find a Remedy (1987 Poetry Winner)

The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize

Awarded in honour of acclaimed Calgary writer W.O. Mitchell and recognizes literary achievement by Calgary authors.

  1. Suzette Mayr, The Sleeping Car Porter (2022 Winner)
  2. Suzette Mayr, Monoceros (2011 Winner)

BRITISH COLUMBIA

BC (British Columbia) National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction

British Columbia’s National Award for Canadian Non-fiction was a Canadian literary award. Despite being presented by a BC-based organization, the award was not limited to writers from British Columbia, and instead was open to all non-fiction work by Canadian writers. (Discontinued 2018)

  1. Lorna Goodison, From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her People (2008 Winner) 

The HarperCollins Publishers/UBC Prize

A biannual award offering literary representation by Cooke McDermid Literary Management and book publication by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  1. Jasmine Sealy, The Island of Forgetting (2020 Best New Fiction Winner)

City of Vancouver Book Award

The City of Vancouver Book Award celebrates exceptional authors from all genres since 1989, highlighting the city’s diversity, history, and achievements.

  1. Chelene Knight, Junie (2023 Winner)
  2. Chelene Knight, Dear Current Occupant (2018 Winner)
  3. Wayde Compton, The Outer Harbour (2015 Winner)

Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Awards

SCWES stands for Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society, a non-profit organization that supports local writers, editors, and artists. 

  1. Esi Edugyan, Garden of Lost Socks (2024 Children and Young Adult 3rd Prize)
  2. Harrison Mooney, Invisible Boy (2024 Diverse Voices 1st Prize)
  3. Jasmine Sealy, The Island of Forgetting (2024 Diverse Voices 2nd Prize)
  4. Chelene Knight, Let it Go (2024 Honourable Mention)
  5. Tolu Oloruntobs, Each one a Furnace: Poems (2022 Poetry Winner)

BC and Yukon Book Prizes

1. Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize

The Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, established in 1985, is awarded annually for the best work of fiction by a British Columbia resident. It is named after Ethel Wilson, the author of Swamp Angel and The Innocent Traveller.

  1. David Chariandy, Brother (2018 Winner)
  2. Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (2012 Winner)

2. Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize

The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, established in 1986, is awarded annually to the best collection of poetry by a resident of British Columbia, Canada.

  1. Otoniya J. Okot Bitek, A Is for Acholi (2023 Poetry Prize Winner)
  2. Tolu Oloruntobs, Each one a Furnace: Poems (2022 Finalist)
  3. Chantal Gibson, How She Read (2020 Winner)
  4. Sonnet L’Abbé, Sonnet’s Shakespeare (2020 Finalist)
  5. Cecily Nicholson, From the Poplars(2015 Winner)

3. Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize

Awarded to the author(s) of the best original work of literary non-fiction.

  1. Ian Williams, Disorientation (2021 Shortlist)

ONTARIO

Trillium Book Awards

The Ontario government established the Trillium Book Award in 1987 to recognize excellence, support marketing and foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario writers and writing. 

  1. Zalika Reid-Benta, River Mumma (2024 Fiction Finalist)
  2. Britta Badour, Wires that Sputter (2024 Poetry Finalist)
  3. Canisia Lubrin, The Dyzgraphxst (2021 Poetry Finalist)
  4. Melchior Mbonimpa, Au sommet du Nanzerwé il s’est assis et il a pleuré (2021 French Finalist)
  5. Téa Mutonji, Shut Up You’re Pretty (2020 Fiction Winner)
  6. Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain (2020 Fiction Finalist)
  7. Aristote Kavungu, Mon père, Boudarel et moi (2020 French Fiction Finalist)
  8. Dionne Brand, The Blue Clerk (2019 Poetry Winner)
  9. Dionne Brand, Love Enough (2014 Fiction Finalist)
  10. Aisha Sasha John,  Thou (2014 Poetry Shortlist)
  11. Ryad Assani-Razaki, Deux Cercles (2010 French Poetry Winner)
  12. Lorna Goodison, From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her People (2008 Finalist)
  13. Dionne Brand, Inventory (2006 Poetry Finalist)
  14. Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo, Avec tes mots (2003 French Poetry Winner)
  15. Austin Clarke, The Polished Hoe (2003 Fiction Winner)
  16. Dionne Brand, thirsty (2002 Poetry Finalist)
  17. Melchior Mbonimpa, Cognac et Porto(2001 French Finalist)
  18. Didier Leclair, Toronto, je t’aime (2000 French Fiction Winner)
  19. Dionne Brand, Land to Light (1997 Poetry Winner)
  20. Dionne Brand, In Another Place, Not Here (1996 Poetry Finalist)

Toronto Book Award

Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards honour books of literary merit that are inspired by the city. 

  1. Rinaldo Walcott, On Property (2021 Finalist)
  2. Desmond Cole, The Skin We’re In (2020 Winner)
  3. Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain (2020 Finalist)
  4. Dionne Brand (2019, 2006 Winner)
  5. Ian Williams, Reproduction (2019 Finalist)
  6. David Chariandy, Brother (2018 Winner)
  7. Brandeis Denham Jolly, In the Black: My Life (2017 Winner)
  8. Austin Clarke, More: A Novel (2009 Winner)

Toronto Arts Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Literature

  1. Austin Clarke (1992 Recipient)

Premier of Ontario’s Award for Excellence in the Arts

The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts honour outstanding achievements by Ontario artists and arts organizations.

  1. Afua Cooper (2008, 2020 Finalist)
  2. Klyde Broox (2017 Finalist)
  3. George Elliott Clarke (2016 Finalist)
  4. Dwayne Morgan (2016 Finalist)

White Pine Award

It is awarded to various outstanding works of Canadian young adult literature (Grades 9-12: ages 14-18).

  1. Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain (2021 Nominee)

Ottawa Book Award

Since 1985, the Ottawa Book Awards have recognized the top English and French books published in the previous year. Both languages have categories for fiction and non-fiction.

  1. Huda Mukbil, Agent of Change: My Life Fighting Terrorists, Spies and Institutional Racism (2024 Winner English Non-Fiction)
  2. Kagiso Lesego Molope, This Book Betrays My Brother (2019 Winner)

ATLANTIC CANADA

Atlantic Book Awards

The Atlantic Book Awards are an annual event that recognize excellence in Atlantic Canadian writing and book publishing. The awards are presented by the Atlantic Book Awards Society (ABAS).

  1. Shauntay Grant, Africville (2019 Winner)
  2. Ingrid R.G. Waldron, There’s Something In The Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous & Black Communities (2019 Winner)

J.M. Abraham Atlantic Poetry Award

The J.M. Abraham Poetry Award, formerly known as the Atlantic Poetry Prize, is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Atlantic Book Awards & Festival, to the best work of poetry published by a writer from the Atlantic provinces.

  1. Afua Cooper, Black Matters (2021 Winner)
  2. George Elliot Clarke, Beatrice Chancy (2000 Shortlist)

Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature

The Ann Connor Brimer Award, established in 1991 by the Nova Scotia Library Association and supported by Ann Elisabeth Connor Brimer’s family, recognizes exceptional contributions to writing for Atlantic Canadian youth.

  1. Toufah Jallow, Toufah Jallow: The Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement (2023 Shortlist)
  2. Mayann Francis, Mayann Francis: An Honourable Life (2021 Shortlist)
  3. Burnely “Rocky” Jones, Burnely “Rocky” Jones Revolutionary: An Autobiography (2017 Shortlist)

Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award

The award honours the work of fiction writers in the Atlantic region and, as its original benefactor envisioned, provides “the gift of time and peace of mind” so essential to the creation of new work.

  1. Charlene Carr, Hold My Girl (2024 Finalist) 

Portia White Prize

The Portia White Prize recognizes an outstanding professional Nova Scotian artist, who has attained mastery and recognition in their discipline and has made a significant contribution to the province’s cultural life over a sustained career.

  1. Afua Cooper (2020 Winner)

Maxine Tynes Nova Scotia Poetry Award

The Nova Scotia Poetry Award was established in 2020 through the efforts of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia and poets from across the province, who raised funds to biennially honour the best book of poetry by a Nova Scotia writer. In 2021, the prize was named for poet Maxine Tynes (1949 – 2011). 

  1. Sylvia D. Hamilton, Tender (2023 Winner)

QUEBEC

Grand Prix du Livre de Montreal

  1. Kaie Kellough, Dominoes at the Crossroads (2020 Finalist)

Charles Biddle Prix

The Charles-Biddle Prize highlights the exceptional contribution of people who have immigrated to Quebec and whose personal or professional commitment contributes to the cultural and artistic development of Quebec.

  1. Rodney Saint-Éloi, Jacques Roche, je t’écris cette lettre (2012 Winner)

QWF Writes – Quebec Writers’ Federation

These awards honour outstanding English-language literary works by Quebec authors. While specific instances of Black Canadian writers winning are not detailed in the available sources, the QWF has been known to celebrate diverse voices within Quebec’s literary community.

  1. Chanel M. Sutherland (recipient of the 2022 Mairuth Sarsfield Mentorship)
  2. Kaie Kellough, Dominoes at the Crossroads (2020 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction Winner)
  3. Kaie Kellough, Magnetic Equator (2019 A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry Finalist)
  4. Kaie Kellough, Magnetic Equator (2018 Carte Blanche 3Macs Award Finalist)