QWF is proud to have its First Book Prize sponsored by Concordia University, which offers the only BA and MA English-language Creative Writing programs in Quebec.
2020 submissions closed
Sponsored by Concordia University
As of June 1, submissions are closed. The shortlist will be announced in mid-October.
See all submissions2019
Sponsored by Concordia UniversityWinner
nîtisânak
(Metonymy Press)
shortlisted
The Birds That Stay
(Second Story Press)
We Were Like Everyone Else
(Cormorant Books)
Seeker: A Sea Odyssey
(Guernica Editions)
Jury
Chantel Lavoie
Maurice Mierau
John Sweet
2018
Sponsored by Concordia UniversityWinner
Zolitude
(Biblioasis)
shortlisted
Policing Black Lives: State Violence In Canada from Slavery to the Present
(Fernwood Publishing)
Excitement Tax
(DC Books)
Jury
Sky Gilbert
Maria Francesca LoDico
Gregory Younging
2017
Sponsored by Concordia UniversityWinner
Uncertain Weights and Measures
(Goose Lane Editions)
shortlisted
Arabic for Beginners
(Linda Leith Publishing)
The Golem of Hampstead and Other Stories
(Penny-a-Page Press)
Jury
Marilyn Bowering
Adrian Harewood
Alexia Moyer
2016
Sponsored by Concordia UniversityWinner
Small Fires
(McGill-Queen's University Press)
shortlisted
Sleeping Giants
(Del Rey (New York))
Indigenous Writes
(HighWater Press (an imprint of Portage & Main Press))
Jury
Louise Bernice Halfe
Gillian Jerome
Maria Schamis Turner
2015
Winner
Swing in the House and Other Stories
(Véhicule Press)
shortlisted
Giving Up
(BookThug)
The View North from Liberal Cemetery
(Wapiti Press)
Jury
Jane Eaton Hamilton
Ross Leckie
Lesley Trites
2014
Winner
Sweet Affliction
(Invisible Publishing)
shortlisted
Us Conductors
(Random House Canada)
Palawan Story
(Deux Voiliers Publishing)
Jury
Licia Canton
Johanna Skibsrud
John Steffler
2013
Winner
The Barista and I
(Insomniac Press: Serotonin/Wayside)
shortlisted
The Girls of Piazza d’Amore
(Linda Leith Publishing)
The Water Here is Never Blue
(Viking Canada)
Jury
Brian Brett
Helen Humphreys
David McGimpsey
2012
Winner
All the Voices Cry
(Biblioasis)
shortlisted
Pollen
(DC Books)
Waking in the Tree House
(Cormorant Books)
Jury
Arthur Holden
Olive Senior
Amy Shearn
2011
Winner
The Truth of Houses
(Brick Books)
shortlisted
A Complete Encyclopedia of Different Types of People
(Coach House Books)
Spat the Dummy
(Anvil Press)
Jury
Anita Lahey
David Manicom
Dorota Kozinska
2010
then known as QWF First Book PrizeWinner
The Empire Within
(Mc-Gill Queen's University Press)
shortlisted
Mammoth
(DC Books)
YOU Comma Idiot
(Goose Lane Editions)
Jury
Kerry Clare
Mark Heffernan
Jill Rolliins
