The Shields Prize at the 2025 Vancouver’s Writers Fest
“Alma's presence in the front row tonight will be deeply missed," Leslie Hurtig said during The Alma Lee Opening Night “Oh, Canada!” event at the Vancouver Writers Fest on October 21. It was the first iteration of the festival after their founder’s passing in March. Alma Lee was also a champion and Honorary Founding Patron of The Carol Shields Prize.
Moderated by CBC’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud, the event included a number of amazing Canadian writers who moved the audience with funny and poignant contributions. Click here to see pictures.
2025 Shields Prize Winner and 2025 festival guest curator Canisia Lubrin’s touching closing remarks asked:
"What might be next? What would a more varied, open world of true relation require? Of true stewardship? What could we be if we were not still whiplashed by the logics of violence that produce the nation state? What could we be with the world liberated from the stranglehold of that history? To be more porous and varied. Rich, and enough, as we know it to be. Who could we be?"
Also featured in the festival was Shields Prize Finalist Sarah Manguso speaking about her shortlisted novel Liars. Alongisde fellow writer, Aislinn Hunter, Sarah was witty, insightful, and unafraid to be vulnerable in her pursuit of the truth. They had a frank conversation about womanhood across generations, balancing being a mother and an artist, and her multidisciplinary body of work. Click here to see pictures.
With thanks to Caroline Little for the pictures and accounts of the events.
