Aspiring writers and poets represent the future of literacy and creativity, and the emerging talent from York University are achieving remarkable milestones in their academic pursuits.
The Department of English, within the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) recognized a number of students with awards for their exceptional contributions to the field of creative writing.
These awards, managed by LA&PS creative writing faculty, honour students for their writing submissions or for selections submitted by faculty members.
"While awards are neither the point nor the culmination of any writing endeavour, we hope that the recipients of this round of prizes feel appropriately encouraged and celebrated for their wonderful, moving, original and inspiring work,” says Pasha Malla, creative writing coordinator and host of the awards ceremony. “A prize might also provide a little boost to students post-graduation, as they head out into the world toward whatever their lives will become."
Ravi de Costa, associate dean of research and graduate studies at LA&PS, notes the Creative Writing Awards is a significant event each year that allows for “the opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by our students within our creative writing community, showcasing a diversity of voices, styles and perspectives.
“Each piece of writing represents not just a work of art, but also the unique experiences and insights from the minds of our talented students,” he says.
This year’s ceremony honoured award recipients from the past two years, presenting a total of 28 awards to students for their creativity and talent.
Tori Gosse, a student who received three awards including the President’s Creative Writing Award for poetry for two consecutive years and the Priscila Uppal Poetry Prize, says, “Receiving these awards was an incredible honour and a reminder of how storytelling connects us. Creative writing provides space to explore ideas, emotions and perspectives in ways that go beyond words. I’m grateful to be part of a community that celebrates this, and this recognition has inspired me to continue to push the boundaries of language and imagination.”
The award winner are as follows:
President’s Creative Writing Awards
Poetry
2023-24: Tori Gosse for All My Relations Blame you
Honourable mention: Euridice Correa for Cannibal
2024-25: Tori Gosse for Blood Meal
Short Fiction
2023-24: Suzzanne Bakr for All the Hands That Mend
Honourable mention: Maya Cabral Cordeiro for Blue Stains
2024-25: Anjolaoluwa Akintunde-Imolehin for Where Do Birds Go When It Rains
Honourable mention: Taylor Reeves for The Line
Screenplay
2023-24: Maria Emilia Peixoto Ferreira for Our First Date in the Movies
Honourable mention: Roxanne Hahn for Right Floor, Wrong Story
2024-25: Zara Ferreira for RED
Honourable mention: Alexander Boese for Cherry
Stageplay
2023-24: Eric Trudell for Funeral for the James Street Taco Bell
Honourable mention: Antong Xu for Table
2024-25: Alexander Boese for Meat Market
Honourable mention: Abigail Torrao for A Death in Texas
LA&PS Creative Writing Awards
The Daniel Whittaker-Van Dusen Prize
2023-24: Pamela Reeve for Here and There
Honourable mention: Euridice Correa for Love Song
2024-25: Solomon Goudsward for Outings (with Homage to Lisa Robertson)
The Richard Teleky Short Fiction Prize
2023-24: Dorota Biedrzycki for Palm Sunday
Honourable mention: Christopher McAteer for Late Earth
2024-25: Madeline Sanguedolce for Take One of Me
Honourable mention: Hector Jenkins for Clay Pigeons
The Lorna Marsden Prize for Creative Writing in French
2023-24: Sonia Clarke for Contre toute attente
Honourable mention: Aria Thompson for Carmelita Torres
2024-25: Bryant Londono-Escobar for Embrasser la symphonie de la nature
Honourable mention: Leanne Eyre for Invisible & Ghazal Rahman for Les échos du passé
The Stanely Fefferman Prize in Creative Writing
2023-24: Angelique Lawrence
2024-25: Evan Miller
The Adrienne Grago Memorial Prize for Short Fiction
2024-25: Co-winners Gabriella Samfira for A Pebble Beside the Church & Melia Tessel for The Minutes Before Sunset
The Judith Gewurtz Memorial Poetry Award
2023-24: Natalia Sadowski for Seeking Sauria
2024-25: Melia Tessel for Harbour Square Park
bp Nichol Award
2023-24: Jaymi-Lynn Butler
2024-25: Aqib Chaudhry
The Babs Burggraf Award in Creative Writing
2023-24: Suzzanne Bakr
2024-25: Sathana Muraleetharan
The Priscila Uppal Poetry Prize
2023-24: Tori Gosse
2024-25: Natalia Sadowski
The Sorbara Award in Creative Writing
2023-24: Michelle Lemay
2024-25: Ollie Levai
Visit the Department of English website to learn more about these awards and view past recipients.