Warm up this autumn with a Crime Writers of Canada panel discussion on cozy mysteries!
Moderator Jass Aujla (author of Next Of Twin and Regional Director for
Crime Writers of Canada) is joined by fellow writers Ginger Bolton (Sour
Crime Donuts), Karen Grose (All June Left Behind), Desmond P. Ryan
(Mary-Margaret and The Case of The Thieving Barmaid), and Danee Wilson
(Death at Fort York) to discuss this beloved sub-genre.
Learn about the inspirations and process of writing cozy mysteries in a
fun conversation that will educate aspiring authors and mystery buffs
alike.
Drop in, no registration required.
(La version française suit l’anglais.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crime Writers of Canada Opens Submissions for Prestigious 2026 Awards of Excellence with $4,750 in Prizes
OTTAWA, ON – October 1, 2025 – Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is thrilled to announce the official opening of submissions for the highly anticipated 2026 CWC Awards of Excellence. Celebrating the best in Canadian crime, mystery, and suspense writing, the awards offer authors a chance to share in $4,750 worth of prizes and gain significant national recognition and promotion.
The CWC Awards of Excellence continue to recognize and promote the exceptional talent within the country's vibrant and diverse crime writing genre, and CWC is excited to welcome all authors and publishers to submit their work across diverse categories, from novels and short stories to non-fiction and unpublished manuscripts.
The competition welcomes entries from Canadian citizens and permanent residents for works published in 2025.
CWC is delighted to announce a significant new partnership for the 2026 Awards of Excellence. Carrick Publishing is now the proud sponsor of The Best French Language Crime Book, offering a prize of $500 CDN.
This sponsorship marks a first for the category and underscores CWC’s commitment to elevating crime writing in both English and French across Canada, recognizing the rich contribution of Francophone authors to the genre.
The 2026 Awards feature nine categories, recognizing excellence across the crime writing spectrum. All prizes are awarded in Canadian Funds.
Submissions will be accepted starting October 1, 2025. Full rules, eligibility criteria, and submission forms can be found on the Crime Writers of Canada website at www.crimewriterscanada.com.
CWC is grateful for the support of our awards sponsors:
Founded in 1982, Crime Writers of Canada is a professional organization dedicated to raising the profile of Canadian crime writers. Our members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents, as well as many developing authors. Past winners of the Awards have included such major names in Canadian crime writing as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson, and Eric Wright. We thank our sponsors and volunteers, and the many participating publishers, authors, and judges for their continued support.
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For more information about the Awards of Excellence, contact: Ludvica Boota at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
To enquire about becoming an Awards of Excellence sponsor, contact: CWC Awards Chair, Dave Wickenden at board-chair@crimewriterscanada.com
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
‘Crime Writers of Canada’ lance officiellement la période de soumission pour les prestigieux Prix d’Excellence 2026, avec un total de 4 750 $ en prix à gagner.
OTTAWA (Ontario) – 2025-10-01 – ‘Crime Writers of Canada’ (CWC) est ravi d’annoncer l’ouverture officielle des candidatures pour les Prix d’Excellence 2026, long attendus. Célébrant les meilleurs du roman policier, du mystère et du suspense canadien, ces prix offrent aux auteurs l’occasion de se partager un montant total de 4 750 $ ainsi qu’une promotion et reconnaissance d’envergure nationales.
Les Prix d’Excellence de la CWC continuent de mettre à l’honneur et de promouvoir le talent exceptionnel de la scène littéraire policière canadienne, dynamique et diversifiée. CWC invite chaleureusement tous les auteurs et éditeurs à soumettre leurs œuvres dans de nombreuses catégories, allant du roman à la nouvelle, en passant par le documentaire et le manuscrit inédit.
Le concours accepte les candidatures d’auteurs citoyens canadiens ou résidents permanents pour des ouvrages publiés en 2025.
La CWC est fière d’annoncer un partenariat d’envergure pour l’édition 2026 des Prix d’Excellence. Carrick Publishing devient le nouveau commanditaire du Prix du meilleur livre policier francophone, offrant une bourse de 500 $ CA.
Cette commandite marque une première pour la catégorie et témoigne de l’engagement de la CWC à valoriser le roman policier tant en anglais qu’en français à travers le Canada, tout en soulignant la contribution essentielle des auteurs francophones au genre.
Les Prix 2026 sont répartis en neuf catégories, afin de récompenser l’excellence dans tous les domaines de la littérature policière. Tous les prix sont attribués en dollars canadiens.
Les soumissions seront acceptées à partir du 1er octobre 2025. Le règlement complet, les critères d’admissibilité et les formulaires de soumission sont disponibles sur le site Web de Crime Writers of Canada : www.crimewriterscanada.com.
La date limite finale de soumission pour les œuvres non publiées est le 31 octobre 2025.
La date limite finale de soumission pour les œuvres publiées est le 15 décembre 2025.
Les listes de finalistes seront annoncées le 24 avril 2026.
Les lauréats seront annoncés le 29 mai 2026.
Le CWC tient à remercier ses commanditaires de prix pour leur soutien :
Fondée en 1982, ‘Crime Writers of Canada’ est une organisation professionnelle qui vise à accroître la visibilité des auteurs canadiens de romans policiers. Nos membres comprennent des auteurs, éditeurs, libraires, bibliothécaires, critiques, agents littéraires, ainsi que de nombreux auteurs en développement. Parmi les anciens lauréats des prix figurent des noms majeurs de la littérature policière canadienne tels que Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson et Eric Wright. Nous remercions nos commanditaires, bénévoles et les nombreux éditeurs, auteurs et membres du jury participants pour leur soutien continu.
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Pour toute information sur les Prix d’Excellence, veuillez contacter : Ludvica Boota à l’adresse awards@crimewriterscanada.com
Pour toute demande concernant le parrainage des Prix d’Excellence, veuillez contacter : le président des prix du CWC, Dave Wickenden à l’adresse board-chair@crimewriterscanada.com
The 2026 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE will be open for submissions on October 1st, 2025. Stay tuned for more information!
Volunteering for the Crime Writers of Canada can be a rewarding experience for members, offering opportunities to give back to the community, develop professionally, and find personal fulfillment.
As a volunteer, you'll be on the front lines, helping to organize events, judge awards, and promote the incredible talent within our country. This is an opportunity to directly contribute to the recognition and celebration of the genre you love, ensuring that Canadian crime writers get the attention and acclaim they deserve.
Crime Writers of Canada volunteers also:
OPEN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Want to help identify the next great Canadian crime writer? Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence seeks jurors with:
Our jurors are librarians and booksellers, writers and justice professionals, readers and academics. We welcome applications from Canadian and international readers.
CWC membership is not a requirement.
Interested? Request the Juror Guidelines and Juror Information Form by email below:
Ludvica Boota, Awards Manager at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
or Jayne Barnard, Jury Chair at awardsjudging@crimewriterscanada.com
Awards Committee: Be a part of celebrating literary excellence!
Want to celebrate the best in the genre? The Crime Writers of Canada Awards Committee is seeking new members! We oversee the prestigious Awards of Excellence, meeting monthly (except July & December) to champion outstanding Canadian crime writing.
Join us and help recognize the next generation of talent!
Jury Selection Committee: Ever wondered how the best crime books in Canada are chosen?
The Crime Writers of Canada Jury Selection Committee (JSC) is your chance to get involved!
The JSC comprises CWC members from across Canada who are tasked with recruiting passionate readers and industry professionals who will sit on Jury panels and select the winners of the prestigious Awards of Excellence.
This is a short-term commitment, approximately 1-2 hours per week from early August to early November. If you're passionate about crime fiction and want to contribute to the literary community, we encourage you to apply!
Crime Writers of Canada Mentorship Committee: Invest in the Future of Writing - Volunteer with Us!
Exciting news! We're building a mentorship program to connect experienced writers with emerging talent, and we need YOUR help! Share your wisdom, guide the next generation, and be a part of something amazing. We're seeking 2 passionate volunteers to help develop and launch this program by January 2026. Want to make a real difference? Join us!
Ready to get more involved?
To express your interest in volunteering for any of the above positions, please contact Executive Director Ludvica Boota at ed@crimewriterscanada.com.
Your contribution will help us continue to build a strong and vibrant community for Canadian crime writers!
Meet The Board is an interview series that highlights the fantastic individuals who make up The Board of Directors for Crime Writers of Canada.
This month, we meet BC/Yukon Rep, Joanna Vander Vlugt.
Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. She has been writing since a child, and she's a graduate of Simon Fraser University's Writer's Studio. Her motorcycle illustrations have been purchased world-wide and her Woman Empowered motorcycle art series has been featured in on-line art and motorcycle magazines. Under the pseudonym J.C. Szasz, Joanna’s short mysteries Egyptian Queen, and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were both published in Crime Writers of Canada mystery anthologies. Her essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle anthology.
The Unravelling, her debut novel, and Dealer’s Child were Canadian Book Club Awards finalists, and now Spy Girls has received Chick Lit Book Cafe's International Book of Excellence Award for best spy thriller and suspense. Joanna draws upon her 13 years’ experience working in the prosecutor’s office and 10 years working in the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner for inspiration for her novels. Joanna is proud of her podcast SAM Magazine and the many authors she has interviewed and short stories she has showcased
10 Questions for Joanna
1. Who is your favourite Canadian author (live or dead, doesn’t have to be mystery)?
L.R. Wright was my favorite Canadian author.
2. What is your favourite book?
My favourite book is Lessons in Chemistry. I bought the book after listening to the audiobook while creating art.
3. What is your favourite movie?
It’s an animation, K-Pop Demon Hunters. I learned about the movie after listening to The Q podcast in which the creator, Maggie Kang, who was raised in Toronto, talked about how she didn’t want to portray the typical superhero.
4. What inspires you to write?
It’s not so much inspiration, but if I go three days and I haven’t written something, my world is off kilter. Nothing can beat that feeling when, with a single word, I get a hint of an idea, and I know something is there, I just need to think about it and give it time.
5. Has a real person ever inspired a character in your stories?
Yes, my daughter, who’s an ER nurse. In each book, if I don’t have a nurse as a main character, then I’ll have minor characters administering first aid, or from the medical profession.
6. Has a real person ever inspired you to kill them (in your book)?
Yes. Because of my experience working in the prosecutor’s office, I cannot write novels involving innocent victims. I’ve seen too much of the reality of those situations. In Spy Girls, I was so disgusted with individuals in power getting away with human trafficking, that I had it as a plot line. Usually, my murder victims are individuals of ill repute.
7. Are you proud of the first novel/story that you wrote? And, did you let other people read it?
Yes, I am proud of it, and I did publish it. I originally wrote The Unravelling in the early 2000s. I had a period of ten years when I wasn’t writing. Ten years later I re-read The Unravelling with the thought, if there was something salvageable, I’d rewrite it. I couldn’t remember who was the murderer. I was a different person and writer ten years later.
8. Other than writing, what is your passion?
Art. I wrote and created charcoal portraits as a child. My medium now is Copic art markers. I’m now working with another author and creating the art for a graphic novel. I’ve also illustrated over thirty motorcycles, some commissions, some for myself.
9. On average, how long do you write in a day?
I write approximately three to six hours a day, depending on where I am in the novel I’m working on, and if I’m meeting a deadline.
10. Do you have any unfinished manuscripts in your drawer/computer?
I have a time travel. It took me four years to finally write it, and I had developmental edits done. Now, I need to get back to it. What’s difficult is how close the story mirrors the current situation in the US, and I believe that’s why I’m hesitant to jump back in.
Social Media handles:
Instagram: Joannavandervlugt_author_art
Newsletter: https://joannavandervlugt.substack.com/
Website: www.joannavandervlugt.com
Readings and signings by Ardelle Holden, Tony Ollivier, Merrilee Robson, WInona Kent and special guest Iona Whishaw. Also appearing CWC's 2025 BC/YT Rep Joanna Vander Vlugt.
Produced by Bob Harris and VPL Programming & Learning.
A Crime Writers of Canada panel discussion:
Moderator Jass Aujla (author of Next Of Twin and Regional Director for Crime Writers of Canada) is joined by writers C. Fitton (Her Dead Boyfriend), Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson (The Road to Heaven), Steve Urszenyi (Perfect Shot), and Angela Van Breemen (Past Life’s Revenge) to discuss the unexpected challenges and delights of the first year after publication.
This session will be tailored to foster a discussion that informs, inspires and prepares aspiring authors for the realities of the post publication world.
Drop in, no registration required.
Thursday, July 10th
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Toronto Reference Library
Beeton Hall
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on June 19, 2025, during which a new Board of Directors was elected.
The CWC extends its sincere gratitude to all retiring directors, Ann Lambert (QC), Jane Burfield (ON: Southwest, North, & GTA Region) and Barbara Hawryluk (MB / Nunavut) for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions to the organization. A special thank you goes to our outgoing Chair, Winona Kent, for her exceptional leadership and commitment. Her hard work has been instrumental in our success, and we wish her all the best.
We are thrilled to welcome our new leadership team. Please join us in congratulating our new Chair, Del Chatterson and our new Vice-Chair, Dave Wickenden. We are confident that their vision and expertise will guide the CWC to new heights.
We also welcome back our returning directors and extend a warm welcome to our new directors. We look forward to working with this talented and dedicated group as we continue to champion Canadian crime writing.
RETURNING
Atlantic
Prov – Veronica
Purcell
ON-SW/N/GTA –
Jass Aujla
ON-SW/N/GTA -
Lorne Tepperman
ON-C/E/Ottawa –
John Hill
Vice Chair and
Director at
Large: Dave
Wickenden
(Northern
Ontario)
Director At
Large – Craig
Copland (BC)
Chair Director
At Large – Del
Chatterson (QC)
NEW
BC/YT
– Joanna Vander
Vlugt
SK - Betty
Ternier Daniels
AB/NWT - Andrew
Barbero
Quebec -
Francisca
Bullock
Director At
Large – Tammy
Smith (BC/YT)
The Crime Writers of Canada would also like to express its profound appreciation to our members for their ongoing support and engagement. Your commitment is vital to the success of our organization and the programs we provide.
We are also incredibly grateful to the contractors and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our organization operational and running smoothly. Your dedication is truly appreciated.
Please note: The CWC office will be closed for the month of July. For any technical support needs, contact Stephen Butters at techsupport@crimewriterscanada.com
We are excited about the year ahead and the opportunities it holds for Canadian crime writers.
OTTAWA, ON – May 30, 2025 – Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2025 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors, including citizens abroad and new residents.
On behalf of CWC, Hyacinthe Miller, Awards Committee Chair, extends congratulations to all the talented finalists.
THE 2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS
The Miller-Martin Award for Best Crime Novel
Sponsored by the Boreal Benefactor with a $1000 prize
Conor Kerr, Prairie Edge, Strange Light, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada
In Conor Kerr’s exceptional novel Prairie Edge cousins Ezzy, an aimless big-hearted drifter, and Grey, a cynical burned out activist, hatch an audacious scheme to abduct a herd of bison and release them into a downtown Edmonton park. What follows is a tragic, unsentimental exploration of the unpredictable sometimes fatal consequences of their actions and the brutal realities of contemporary activism. Characterizations are complex and multi-layered; dialogue is raw and authentic; the propulsive narrative is flawless with passages of astounding beauty and lyricism. It is a profound testament to the enduring legacy of multi-generational trauma. This powerful, gripping, darkly funny crime novel is brimming with love and rage, despair and hope and is utterly impossible to either put down or forget.
Best Crime First Novel
Sponsored by Melodie Campbell with a $1000 prize
Ashley Tate, Twenty-Seven Minutes, Doubleday Canada
From its haunting opening description of death to its surprising but somehow exactly right ending, Ashley Tate’s Twenty-Seven Minutes is a gripping, assured debut novel. As the story of Phoebe Dean’s death unfurls, we discover its effect on her family, her friends, and her neighbours in the little town of West Wilmer. Tate takes her time, revealing twist after twist but never allowing the pace to falter. The reader is hooked; we care about these people and hope for a happy ending for them, even as we know disaster is coming. The author shows real skill in concealing so much in plain sight, and the jury is sure that Twenty-Seven Minutes is only the first book in a long, successful career for Ashley Tate.
Best Crime Novel Set in Canada
Sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize
Shane Peacock, As We Forgive Others, Cormorant Books
In Shane Peacock’s As We Forgive Others, the Canadian setting stands as a character in its own right. The talented author creates the brooding atmosphere of a rural Ontario winter seen, ironically, through the eyes of a New York homicide detective. Hugh Mercer is trying to escape a shattered marriage and career in an old, rented farmhouse he describes as located, “at the end of nowhere.” The peace he craves eludes him when a mysterious woman appears at the farmhouse door with a ludicrous, perhaps clairvoyant, prediction of a murder. Peacock pulls the reader deep inside the character as he tries but fails to understand the Canadians he meets. The author’s wry humour shows when Mercer compares dangerously polite Canadians, bereft of emotion, to his transparent American countrymen. A laconic local cop with strong appetites, Alice Morrow, invites herself into his life. A skillfully crafted character, she is secretive and incomprehensible, like the Canadian winter. Together, they solve the ingenious mystery, but Mercer is left without answers or forgiveness for his own broken story.
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery
Sponsored by Jane Doe with a $500 prize
Thomas King, Black Ice, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Black Ice is a thoroughly enjoyable, masterfully crafted whodunnit that has it all: tight plot, clever clues, elements of surprise, and compelling characters.
King has deftly hidden clues throughout this witty mystery - if you can only stop grinning long enough to spot them. Just as the case seems impossible, Thumps Dreadful Waters, Temporary Sheriff, has a brilliant revelation—every puzzle piece clicks into place for both him and the reader - if they have been paying attention. A clever mystery that rewards the sharpest minds.
Set in a cozy-like, close-knit community where people know and care for one another, this novel blends surprise twists, resonant emotion, and humorous dialogue with deeper themes. That context supports one of the novel's underlying themes, which is how a person carries on after profound loss. The exploration of that theme, along with the light shone on environmental concerns reminds us that crime fiction can be about more than presenting a “whodunnit”.
Best Crime Novella
Sponsored by Carrick Publishing with a $200 prize
Pamela Jones, The Windmill Mystery, Austin Macauley Publishers
The Windmill Mystery is a whodunit set in off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods of Montreal, where an unlikely duo of detectives investigates the death of an eccentric political activist with a mysterious past and a few items of considerable value. When she is found deceased at the foot of an old windmill, the officers find several suspects with compelling motivations: a riches-to-rags sister, a shady politician, and a group of financially distressed nuns. Central to the story is the history of the expulsion of the Acadians from what is now Canada’s Maritime provinces, in 1755. With its clever writing, colourful characters and a satisfying puzzle that can be solved by the perceptive reader, The Windmill Mystery tops our list as Best Novella.
Best Crime Short Story
Therese Greenwood, “Hatcheck Bingo”, from The 13th Letter, Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem, Carrick Publishing
“Hatcheck Bingo” is fresh and original with deeply Canadian historical roots. The post-WW1 period is effectively woven through the action. Our hat-check girls are clever and resourceful, moral if not entirely law-abiding. Underlying the effervescent Prohibition-era atmosphere are serious undercurrents invoking postwar PTSD, sex discrimination for jobs, and ruthless cross-border power struggles over lucrative booze trafficking routes. The jury specially commends the masterful use of these themes as essential drivers to the deliciously twisty crime story. Wit and humour sparkle to the last bubble, like the best smuggled champagne.
Best French Language Crime Book
Guillaume Morrissette, Une mémoire de lion, Saint-Jean
The judges thoroughly enjoyed this story, with its intriguing mystery and well-drawn, complex, and sympathetic characters. The slow unfolding of the information is cleverly done, and the flashback sequences well signalled with a clear timeline. The growing trust between the autistic main character, who talks only through a lion puppet, and one of the police officers, conflicts with the understandable insistence on “going by the book” by some members of the police team. This clash between team members paints a nuanced portrait of police officers as human beings. The author skillfully draws the reader into the layered processes of police work. Readers gain insight into the life of an autistic person living off the grid and managing in what, to him, is an alien world, and are also shown the varying reactions of citizens of Trois-Rivieres towards him, ranging from protective to hostile. The town is atmospherically described, and the author’s judicious use of "joual" adds a very real, very immediate sense of place.
Une Mémoire de lion is an outstanding example of a police procedural in which the reader follows the investigation as it happens, to arrive at a very satisfying ending. A story with a great deal of heart. Bravo.
Les juges ont beaucoup apprécié cette histoire, avec son mystère captivant et ses personnages bien conçus, complexes et sympathiques. Le dévoilement progressif des informations est habilement réalisé, et les séquences de flashback sont bien signalées avec une chronologie claire. La confiance croissante entre le personnage principal autiste, qui s'exprime uniquement à travers une marionnette de lion, et un des officiers de police, contraste avec l'insistance compréhensible de certains membres de l'équipe sur le respect strict des procédures. Ce conflit entre les membres de l'équipe offre un portrait nuancé des policiers en tant qu'êtres humains. L'auteur réussit à immerger le lecteur dans les processus complexes de l'enquête policière. Les lecteurs découvrent la vie d'une personne autiste qui vit en marge de la société et s'adapte à un monde qui lui est étranger, tout en observant les réactions variées des habitants de Trois-Rivières envers lui, allant de la protection à l'hostilité. La ville est décrite de manière atmosphérique, et l'utilisation judicieuse du "joual" par l'auteur ajoute un sentiment très réel et très immédiat du lieu.
Une Mémoire de lion est un excellent exemple d'un roman procédural policier dans lequel le lecteur suit l'enquête au fur et à mesure qu'elle se déroule, pour arriver à une fin très satisfaisante. Une histoire avec beaucoup de cœur. Bravo.
Best Juvenile / YA Crime Book
Sponsored by Superior Shores Press with a $250 prize
Sigmund Brouwer, Shock Wave, Orca Book Publishers
In this fast paced and engaging thriller, eighteen year old Jake Ballard is tricked into helping a teenage girl break into a houseboat and becomes the target of an angry crime boss. Jake is given 24 hours to rectify the situation and, as his mother is away receiving treatment for combat related PTSD, he must do it on his own. As Jake skillfully navigates dangerous situations and finds the courage to continue, he discovers the answer to the question that many teens today face - what to do with their lives. The author elevates this storytelling by providing interesting and realistic discussions on the military, violence, service to others, and mental health. Short chapters, action filled scenes and snappy dialogue make this book set in Sicamous, British Columbia a compelling and easy read for teens.
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book
Sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton) with a $300 prize
It’s a tie!
From the judges: What a privilege to have these two stories in our lives, as devastating and emotional as they are. The authors of these women-centred, family-focused narratives show compassion for their subjects, tenacity in their research, and a commitment to shining spotlights on important issues. These two Canadian books showing survivors reclaiming their own narratives are worthy of the highest recognition. Congratulations to Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse and Tanya Talaga, The Knowing.
Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse, Random House Canada
In Out of Darkness, Denise Chong has created a compassionate and respectfully written portrait of Rumana Monzur’s horrific lived-experiences of abuse and violence. The result is a tribute to Rumana’s resilience, ambition, and strength in overcoming personal tragedy.
Chong’s masterwork in building tension examines how abuse intensifies over time, revealing the warning signs, missed clues, and betrayals that facilitate the hidden epidemic of domestic violence. Chong’s ability to immerse the reader into the narrative, to be alongside Rumana in the horror and the light, creates a long-lasting impression the reader—and the jurors—will not soon forget.
Out of Darkness honours the life Rumana has chosen for herself: A life rich with knowledge and bravery—full of happiness and love while showing her daughter, Anusheh, a way forward, out of the darkness.
Congratulations to Denise Chong and Out of Darkness.
Tanya Talaga, The Knowing, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Tanya Talaga lives up to her name Ka-musko pimojijet pinaysheesh, Little Bird with Big Wings Who Carries a Heavy Burden, in her brave and ambitious book The Knowing. Talaga meticulously braids 150 years of narratives to show how crimes against Indigenous Peoples are systemic and individualized, complex, and intergenerational.
Talaga draws deeply on her personal journey to reclaim the stories of her ancestors and reveal the frustrations of trying to reconcile Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge with the reality of missing and destroyed official government records. A skilful journalist, Talaga’s detailed research and rigorous self-examination shows how crimes of the past are compounded and reverberate today.
Talaga’s thoughtful organization of The Knowing invites and moves the reader through her journey. As jurors, we were moved by Talaga’s perseverance and commitment to telling her and Indigenous Peoples’ truths.
Congratulations to Tanya Talaga and The Knowing.
Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author
Sponsored by ECW Press with a $500 prize
Luke Devlin, Govern Yourself Accordingly
A surreal supernatural crossgenre work of crime fiction. The mystery at the heart of the book has a satisfying solution, and there is excellent tension as the hero battles to uncover it.
CWC gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors
About Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers. Our members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing authors. Past winners of the Awards have included such major names in Canadian crime writing as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson and Eric Wright. We thank our sponsors and volunteers, and the many participating publishers, authors and judges for their continued support.
For more information about the Awards of Excellence, contact Ludvica Boota at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
To enquire about becoming an Awards sponsor, contact the CWC Awards Committee Chair, Hyacinthe Miller, at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
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The supporting materials related to the AGM are now available for download on the CWC website, including the following documents:
To view or download the documents, please use the following link:
Registration
CWCs Annual General Meeting is scheduled for June 19th @ 7:00 pm and will be held using Zoom. The deadline for registration is June 19th, 12pm ET. Once registration is closed, members who have registered will receive an email with a link to the Zoom meeting. All CWC members in good-standing are permitted to attend to the AGM; to register, please use the link below:
In accordance with CWC Bylaws, a Professional Author Member (PAM) in good standing who is not able to attend the virtual AGM may designate another PAM as a proxy to exercise their voting privileges. If you wish to designate a voting proxy, please use the link below:
CWC 2025 AGM Proxy Voting Form
Volunteering
We are looking for members to volunteer for vacancies on the Board of Directors. Listed below are the vacant positions for Officers. Please note that nominations are welcome for ALL Officer and Director positions.
We are also seeking nominees for the following Regional Representative positions (PAM or Associate Member):
Won't you consider being part of the CWC Board? Please use the following link to volunteer:
AGM Nomination and Volunteering Form
We look forward to seeing you at the AGM!