STEPHEN LEACOCK ASSOCIATES
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Cathal Kelly, national sports columnist at the Globe and Mail, has won this year’s Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and the $15,000 prize for his humorous memoir, Boy Wonders, published by Doubleday Canada.
The winner was announced by Nathan Taylor, president of the awarding charity, Stephen Leacock Associates, in front of an enthusiastic audience at a gala dinner award ceremony in Orillia, Ontario. Kelly becomes the 72nd winner of the medal that has been awarded annually since 1947.
The runners-up, Ali Bryan for The Figgs, Freehand Books, and Mark Critch for Son of a Critch, Penguin Random House Canada/Viking Canada, each received $3,000 for achieving the shortlist.
A Canada-wide panel of readers and judges had narrowed 68 initial submissions to form a longlist of 10 highly recommended works, with only three books eventually being selected for the shortlist.
The Leacock Medal is named in memory of Stephen Leacock; humourist, author, economist and lecturer. This year (2019) will be the 150th anniversary of Leacock’s birth and the 75th anniversary of his death.
More information about the Leacock Medal is available on the Leacock Associates’ website at leacock.ca, on the Leacock Medal Facebook page, and on Twitter @LeacockMedal.
About the Stephen Leacock Associates
Established in 1947, the Board of the Stephen Leacock Associates works to preserve the literary legacy of Stephen Leacock, administer the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour award and encourage the growth of Canadian humour writing.
The prestigious medal, accompanied by a $15,000 prize, is awarded annually for the best in Canadian literary humour. The award has attained an international reputation and is the only one of its kind for Canadian humour writing.
Membership is open to the public.
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OrilliaMatters will have a full story about the gala Sunday. Check back here tomorrow morning!
