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The Word Guild

Contests/Awards

2007 Winners


The 19th Annual Leslie K. Tarr Award

Sponsor: Tyndale University College and Seminary


Recognizes an outstanding career contribution to Christian writing and publishing in Canada.

Winner: Rudy Wiebe of Edmonton, Alta.; novelist, nonfiction author and writing instructor

The Partnership Award

Sponsor: The Word Guild


Recognizes an organization or individual who has shown exceptional support and encouragement to Canadian writers and editors who are Christian.

Winner: Leslie H. Stobbe of Tryon, North Carolina; writer, editor, writing instructor and literary agent

Best New Canadian Christian Author Award

Sponsor: Castle Quay Books Canada and Augsburg Fortress Publishers Canada


Recognizes the most promising nonfiction manuscript about Christian faith. The winning author will be awarded a $1,000 prize or a $1,000 advance against royalties should Castle Quay Books Canada decide to publish the work.

Winner: Alison Mary Sharpe of Renfrew, Ont., for A Drawer Full of Odd Socks: Biblical Meditations.


The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards 2007 Winners

The following writers received awards for the best writing published in 2006. Award of Merit recipients received marks very close to those of the winning entries.


BOOK CATEGORIES (for books published in 2006)


Book—Apologetics/Evangelism

Sponsor: Bastian Publishing Services

Winner: Alan Reynolds of Richmond B.C. for A Troubled Faith: Do We Really Need God? (Word Alive)
Award of Merit: Stanley E. Porter of Hamilton Ont. and Stephen J. Bedard of Meaford Ont. for Unmasking the Pagan Christ: An Evangelical Response to the Cosmic Christ Idea (Clements)

Book—Biblical Studies

Sponsor: Bastian Publishing Services

Winner: Tim Perry of Otterburne Man. for Mary for Evangelicals: Toward an Understanding of the Mother of Our Lord (InterVarsity)

Book—Christian Living

Sponsor: Hull's Family Bookstore/Karen & Brent Stiller

Winner: Mark Buchanan of Duncan B.C. for The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath (Thomas Nelson)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Cook)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Is God Obsolete? (Cook)
Award of Merit: Dr. Brad Burke of Windsor Ont. for An MD Examines: Does God Still Do Miracles? (Cook)
Award of Merit: J. I. Packer of Vancouver and Carolyn Nystrom for Praying: Finding our Way Through Duty to Delight (InterVarsity)

Book—Culture

Sponsor: House of James Bookstore

Winner: James K. A. Smith of Grand Rapids Mich. for Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? (Baker)

Book—General Readership (books that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)

Sponsor: Keyzers Automation

Winner: Alan Reynolds of Richmond B.C. for A Troubled Faith: Do We Really Need God? (Word Alive)

Book—Instructional

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Rod J. K. Wilson of Vancouver for How Do I Help a Hurting Friend? (Baker)
Award of Merit: Sue Careless of Toronto for Discovering the Book of Common Prayer: A Hands-On Approach; Volume II: Our Life in the Church (ABC)

Book—Leadership/Theoretical

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: James M. Houston of Vancouver for Joyful Exiles: Life in Christ on the Dangerous Edge of Things (InterVarsity)

Book—Life Stories

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Marilyn Meyers of Waterdown Ont. for Through Fire & Sea (Rocksalt Publishing)

Book—Relationships

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Rod J. K. Wilson of Vancouver for How Do I Help a Hurting Friend? (Baker)

Book—Independently-Published Nonfiction

Sponsor: Word Alive

Winner: Ed Hird of North Vancouver for Battle for the Soul of Canada: Raising Up the Emerging Generation of Leaders (independently published)
Award of Merit: Keturah Leonforde of Guelph Ont. for Reflections from the Waiting Room: Insights for thriving when life puts you on hold (Essence)

Book—Special

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: George Whipple of Burnaby B.C. for The Peaceable Kingdom (Penumbra Press)
Award of Merit: Kirsten Femson of Pickering Ont. who compiled The Way They Should Go: Timeless Advice for the Teen Journey (Castle Quay Books)

Book—Children

Sponsor: Focus on the Family Canada

Winner: M. D. Meyer of Winnipeg for Get Lost! (independently published)
Award of Merit: Helen Toews of Winnipeg for Emma's Corner (The Cottage at Creek Bend)

Book—Young Adult

Sponsor: Foundation Distributing

Winner: Connie Brummel Crook of Peterborough, Ont. for Meyers' Rebellion (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Novel—Contemporary

Sponsor: That's Life Communications

Winner: Keith Clemons of Caledon Ont. for These Little Ones (George Colton Publishing)
Award of Merit: Deborah Gyapong of Ottawa for The Defilers (Castle Quay Books)

Novel—Independently Published Fiction

Sponsor: That's Life Communications

Winner: Keith Clemons of Caledon Ont. for These Little Ones (George Colton Publishing)

Novel—Romance

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Carolyne Aarsen of Neerlandia, Alta. for The Only Best Place (Warner Faith)

Novel—Mystery/Suspense

Sponsor: Sunrise Terrace Bed & Breakfast, Haliburton, Ont.

Winner: Linda Hall of Fredericton, N. B. for Dark Water (WaterBrook)

SHORT CATEGORIES: ARTICLES/COLUMNS/POETRY/SONG LYRICS

(for work published in 2006)


Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (series)

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Thomas Froese of Uganda and Ancaster Ont. for "Where is African spirituality heading?" and "Doomsday Diversions" (ChristianWeek)
Award of Merit: Grace Fox of Heriot Bay B.C. for "Parents—Stay Awake!" and "And What Happened to My Kid at Summer Camp" (B.C. Christian News)
Award of Merit: Dave Toycen of Mississauga Ont. for "A Seat at the World's Food Table" and "The Most Powerful Weapon" (World Vision Canada: Childview/Enfants du monde)

Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (single)

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Kurt Armstrong of Vancouver for "Why Love Will Always Be A Poor Investment" (Radix)
Award of Merit: Thomas Froese of Uganda and Ancaster Ont. for "Christmas: the luxury to pick and choose" (ChristianWeek)
Award of Merit: Sheila Wray Gregoire of Belleville Ont. for "Seeking a Wise Man" (The Shield)
Award of Merit: Denyse O'Leary of Toronto for "Can you choose to help? Or are you simply spreading your genes?" (Maranatha News)

Article—Long Feature

Sponsor: Canadian Christianity.com

Winner: Terry LeBlanc of Evansburg Alta. for "Native Suicide: A Challenge to the Church" (Faith Today)

Article—Short Feature

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Paul M. Beckingham of Vancouver for "Purpose-Driven Starbucks" (Tidings)

Article—General Readership (articles that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)

Sponsor: Wendy Elaine Nelles

Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "In the beginning was the Word" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Rick Gamble of Brantford Ont. for "A Ten Dollar Heart" (The Brantford Expositor)
Award of Merit: Rick Gamble of Brantford Ont. for "Leave an Impression" (The Brantford Expositor)
Award of Merit: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "The Vanishing Choirboys" (Ottawa Citizen)

Article—Inspirational/Devotional

Sponsor: Women Alive

Winner: Donald N. Bastian of Brampton Ont. for "The Joy of Aging" (Christianity Today)

Article—News

Sponsor: ChristianWeek

Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "Conservative Anglicans livid over lesbian priest in Ottawa/Torn Asunder" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Ross Muir and Tim Miller Dyck of Waterloo Ont. for "Mennonite Groups Oppose Land Speculator" (Canadian Mennonite)

Article—Personal Experience

Sponsor: Mennonite Brethren Herald

Winner: Adele Simmons of Whitby Ont. for "The Cabin" (Writers' Circle of Durham Region)

Article—Profile/Human Interest

Sponsor: Faith FM 94.3, Kitchener, Ont.

Winner: Jennifer Green of Ottawa for "The Education of David Jeffrey" (Ottawa Citizen)
Award of Merit: Milton Friesen of Airdrie Alta. for "The Universe to Explore: Faith and a World of Ideas" (Decision Magazine–Cdn. Edition)

Article—Review

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Winner: Violet Nesdoly of Surrey B.C. for "Review of Presumed Guilty by James Scott Bell" (Cleveland.com)

Article—Short Story

Sponsor: The Word Guild

Award of Merit: Joanna Mallory of Dartmouth, N.S. for "DisConnect" (ByLine Magazine)

Article—Children/Young Adult

Sponsor: Faith Life Financial

Winner: Violet Nesdoly of Surrey B.C. for "A Touch of Wonder" (Review & Herald Publishing Association Guide)

Poetry

Sponsor: Imago

Winner/Tie: Judith Millar of Nanaimo, B.C. (formerly of Kitchener, Ont.) for "After the Fall" (Southern Ontario Library Service: The Changing Image)
Winner/Tie: Richard Weening of Newmarket Ont. for "1 Corinthians 13" (SCA International: Word & Deed)

Song Lyrics

Sponsor: Bingley Distributors

Winner: Ali Matthews of Stratford Ont. for "Poised for a Fall" (from the CD Window of Light)
Award of Merit: Ali Matthews of Stratford Ont. for "Santorini" (from the CD Window of Light)