Edna Staebler was a pioneer in the field of literary journalism and a beloved figure in her (our) home region of Waterloo, Ontario. Her first article, “Duellists of the Deep,” a story about swordfishing with Neil’s Harbour fishermen, and published in Macleans when she was in her forties, won the Canadian Womens Press Club Memorial Award. Edna went on to publish with Macleans, Chatelaine, Saturday Night, and other flagship magazines, while her books include the Food that Really Schmecks series—cookbooks so entertaining that people read them in bed. Edna led by example in other ways as well, founding eponymous writers’ awards, scholarships, and bursaries to nurture writers. She helped to found The New Quarterly in 1981, and in 2005 her generous bequest allowed us to establish this award, in her honour.
Please note: Entrants’ anonymity will be preserved throughout the judging process. Decisions will be made by August 31. Finalists will be notified by email.
Interviews with Past Contest Winners:
2017: Susan Olding for “A Different River”
2016: Julie Paul for “It Not Only Rises, It Shines”
2015: Elana Wolff for “Paging Kafka’s Elegist”
2014: Emily McKibbon for “Latencies”
2013: Caterina Edwards for “Light and Space on the Piazza”
2012: Sierra Skye Gemma for “The Wrong Way”
2011: Lisa Martin-DeMoor for “A Container of Light”
2010: Theresa Kishkan for “Arbutus menziesii: The make-up secrets of the Byzantine Madonnas”
We also accept payment by cheque or credit card over the phone. Contact us at 519-884-8111 ex28290 or at info[at]tnq.ca for more information.
The 2021 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest has now closed.
