Island Literary Awards at The Guild on Nov. 1

The Prince Edward Island Writers’ Guild will celebrate excellence in Island writing with an afternoon salute to student writing and an evening awards gala at the 27th annual Cox & Palmer Island Literary Awards on Saturday, Nov. 1.

This year’s awards to be held at The Guild in Charlottetown, will include a ceremony for the student categories at 2 p.m. and an adult awards gala at 7 p.m.

At the afternoon celebration of student writing, writer and educator Lee Ellen Pottie will emcee the presentation of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty Creative Writing Awards for Young People.

The afternoon will feature readings by first-place winners, a reading by Dave Atkinson, author of the newly released Wereduck, and a reception afterward for winners and their families.

Karen Mair from CBC’s Mainstreet will host the evening awards gala.

The ceremony will feature a special guest reading by Mi’kmaq writer Charlie Greg Sark, a member of the Lennox Island First Nation.

The gala will also include readings by first-place winners, musical entertainment by the Ken Fornetran jazz trio and a cash bar.

“We’ve changed the format for the adult awards by announcing a shortlist,” stated ILA co-ordinator Lee Ellen Pottie.

“The winners will only be announced at the gala ceremony. It certainly adds to the air of suspense.”

The gala awards presentations include the L.M. Montgomery P.E.I. Literature for Children Awards, the Maritime Electric Short Story Awards, the Clary Pottie Creative Non-Fiction Awards, the Milton Acorn Poetry Awards, the Reshard Gool Award and the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts on Prince Edward Island.

Each year, the P.E.I. Writers’ Guild hosts the awards to encourage the Island’s emerging and new writers.

Cash prizes are donated by Island governments, businesses, organizations and individuals.

Anyone who wants more information on the ceremonies shoud email peiliteraryawards@gmail.com.