Victoria announces shortlist for annual book prize to recognize local authors

The City of Victoria has announced the shortlisted authors and books for the 2025 Victoria Book Prizes. 

The Victoria Book Prize is an annual literary award that began in 2004, which is given to authors from Greater Victoria. 

According to the City, these awards were established to recognize excellence in local writing and storytelling and are meant to reflect Victoria’s vibrant literary community. 

Traditionally, fiction and non-fiction authors had a chance to win $5,000 through the Victoria Book Prizes, with this year also adding a poetry category. This year will mark the first DC Reid Poetry Book Prize, which will be awarded to a local poet. 

D.C. Reid is the sponsor for this new prize, and is a renowned Canadian poet with ties to Victoria. Reid has published 18 books and 11 collections of poetry.

“Victoria is one of the few poetry havens across Canada”, says Reid. “It deserves an award for its many talented poets.” 

Aside from the new poetry category, there are prizes for best book and best children’s book. Both categories include works of fiction and non-fiction.

The shortlist for the awards are decided by three independent juries, who are comprised of representatives from the local literary arts community. 

This year’s shortlist for the 22nd City of Victoria Book Prize includes: 

• Little Fortified Stories (Caitlyn Press) by Barbara Black 
• More Richly in Earth; A Poet’s Search for Mary MacLeod by Marilyn Bowering 
• Signs of Life; Field Notes from the Frontlines of Extinction (Goose Lane) by Sarah Cox

The shortlist for the 18th annual City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize includes:    

• Birds on the Brain (Groundwood Books) by Uma Krishnaswami 
• What Makes a Bird (Owl Kids) by Megan Pomper 
• Why We Need Vaccines; How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases (Orca Book Publishers) by Rowena Rae 

The shortlist for the inaugural DC Reid Poetry Book Prize include: 

• Water Quality (McGill-Queen’s University Press) by Cynthia Woodman Kerkham  
• Midway (House of Anansi) by Kayla Czaga 
• Signal Infinities (McClelland & Stewart) by Melanie Siebert 

The winners of these three categories will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Lieutenant Governor Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia at Government House on Tuesday, November 18th.