Local writers were recently honored with 2023 Norfolk Literary Prize awards at an event hosted by the Norfolk County Public Library.
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Held at the St. Williams Community Center, it was the first in-person celebration of the awards in three years.
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The Norfolk Literary Prize is a writing contest that provides an opportunity for local unpublished writers, including children, youth and adults, to submit their poetry and short stories. The awards aim to promote and celebrate literary excellence among writers in Norfolk County.
The contest was sponsored by three non-profit organizations: the Friends of the Library Norfolk County Public Library Delhi Chapter; the Friends of the Library Norfolk County Public Library Port Dover Chapter; and the Simcoe Lions Club.
Guest speakers at the awards ceremony were Norfolk Mayor Amy Martin, library board chairperson Kimberley Earls, and three local authors – Dick Bourgeois-Doyle, Jodi Walsh and Cher Obediah. Poet Laureate John B. Lee was also in attendance and presented the Laurate Award to Jennifer Gedye for her poem, Hands.
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“Excellent writing is always in demand and it never goes out of style,” Martin said at the ceremony. “So, keep putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard.”
A video and photographs of the awards ceremony can be viewed on the Norfolk County Public Library’s Facebook page.
Submission guidelines for next year’s awards will be available when the contest is launched in February.
The 2023 prize winners include:
Poetry Category
Children
First: Chance McMaster for The Best Defense
Second: Varsity Pastir for So Still, I Wait
Third: Samantha Rixmann for Spring Cleaning
Youth
First: Leif Greentree for Regarding Autism, Insects and Hyperempathy
Second: Isabella Nydam, I Love You (Love)
Third: James Swannell, A Winter Weekend in Algonquin
Short Story Category
Children
First: Aurora Tozer for Angels and Demons, Be You
Second: Layliana McMaster for The Tale of the Little Blue Girl
Third: Cloey Starks for Dolls
Youth
First: Taylor Mannen for A Raven Called Sorrow
Second: Gregory Martin for Where’s Wilson?
Adults
First: Jean Mottashed for The Blue Tarp Campaign
Second: Brian Jones for The River
Third: Debbie Dymant for A Gift of Grace
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