City of Victoria Butler Book Prize
Congratulations to the 2020 Victoria Book Prize Winners!
On October 4, 2020 at the 17th annual Victoria Book Prize Gala, Mayor Lisa Helps and co-sponsor Brian Butler awarded the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize to Lorna Crozier for The House the Spirit Builds (Douglas & McIntyre) and also awarded the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize to Mark Leiren-Young for Orcas Everywhere; The Mystery and History of Killer Whales (Orca Book Publishers). The winners were announced at a virtual gala evening as part of the Victoria Festival of Authors. Both winners received $5000.
17th Annual City of Victoria Butler Book Prize 
The five finalists were:
- Lorna Crozier (poetry)
The House the Spirit Builds (Douglas & McIntyre) - Carla Funk (non-fiction)
Every Little Scrap and Wonder: A Small-Town Childhood (Greystone) - Christin Geall (non-fiction)
Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style (Princeton Architectural Press) - Carey Newman & Kirstie Hudson (non-fiction)
Picking Up the Pieces: Residential School Memories and the Making of the Witness Blanket (Orca Book Publishers) - Steven Price (fiction)
Lampedusa (McClelland & Stewart)
13th Annual City of Victoria Children's Book Prize
New for 2020, the Children’s Book Prize has been rebranded as the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize. In fall 2019, Council approved a motion to provide an annual $5,000 grant to the Victoria Book Prize Society for the Children’s Book Prize to recognize and celebrate exceptional children’s and youth literature in our community. This funding is in addition to the $5,000 prize for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The prize was established in 2008 by the late Mel Bolen of Bolen Books.
The three finalists were:
- Sara Cassidy
Nevers (Orca Book Publishers) - Mark Leiren-Young
Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales (Orca Book Publishers) - Sylvia Olsen & Odelia Smith
Neekah’s Knitting Needles (Sono Nis Press)
Online Awards Gala
Two independent juries comprised of representatives from the local literary arts community adjudicated the entries. The winners were announced at a free online event, hosted by CBC’s Gregor Craigie on Sunday, October 4 at 7 p.m. as part of the Victoria Festival of Authors.
How to Apply
Submissions were to include the following:
- A submission form - completed and signed.
- FIVE copies of the book. (One copy will be part of a display at Victoria City Hall.)
- Entry fee. $25 per entry, payable by cheque to: Victoria Book Prize Society
NOTE: Finalists were required to provide SEVEN additional copies for promotional purposes.
The Victoria Book Prize Society
c/o Jeff Moore
207 Beach Drive
Victoria Book Prize Society
The Victoria Book Prize Society is a non-profit organization that establishes the policy and criteria for the two prizes, appoints the juries, and administers the competitions. Two independent juries comprised of representatives from the literary arts community are appointed by the Society to review and assess the submissions. Learn more.
Sponsors
The Victoria Book Prize Society would like to thank and acknowledge the following organizations for their support: the City of Victoria, Brian Butler of Butler Brothers Supplies, the Union Club of British Columbia, Friesens Corporation, Munro’s Books, Russell Books, Tanner’s Books, Ivy’s Bookshop, CBC Radio, Island Blue Print Co., and the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Previous Winners
Bill Gaston, A Mariner's Guide to Self Sabotage
Madeline Sonik, Afflictions & Departures in 2012
Monique Gray-Smith, Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation
Contact Us
Alyssa Polinsky
President
Victoria Book Prize Society
250.893.1311
victoriabookprizes@shaw.ca