Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers

Established: 2007
Organizer: Writers' Trust of Canada
Category: Literature and General Literary Arts
Selection Method: Recommendation
Target: Newcomer
Frequency: 1 per year
Announcement Period: around October
Status: Active

Description

The Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers is a Canadian literary award organized by Writers' Trust of Canada, awarded to emerging Canadian writers from the LGBTQ community. Established in 2007 in memory of Dayne Ogilvie, it originally targeted the writer's body of work, but since 2022 has been changed to target debut works. Announcements were traditionally in June (Pride Month), but since 2022 are held at the Writers' Trust ceremony in November with other awards.

Prize

Main Prize: Winner receives current CA$10,000 (increased in recent years; initially CA$5,000). Shortlisted non-winners historically receive CA$500 (if one) or CA$250 each (if two).
Cash Prize: 10,000 CAD

Prize money for shortlisted non-winners (historical practice: CA$500 if one, CA$250 each if two)
Profile enhancement for winners and nominees (exposure via ceremony and press releases)

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Eligibility / Nomination verification	Writers' Trust of Canada (staff handles eligibility check)	Unknown	Eligibility verification conducted internally within the organization
Shortlist selection	Independent judges (usually 3)	Unknown (shortlist typically 2-3 people)	Shortlist is publicly announced and candidates revealed (announcement timing varies by year)
Final judging / Winner determination	3 independent judges (writers, critics, etc.)	Unknown	Announced at Writers' Trust ceremony (traditionally June, November since 2022)

Eligibility / Nomination verification

Judges Writers' Trust of Canada (staff handles eligibility check)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Eligibility verification conducted internally within the organization

Shortlist selection

Judges Independent judges (usually 3)

Pass Rate Unknown (shortlist typically 2-3 people)

Announcement Shortlist is publicly announced and candidates revealed (announcement timing varies by year)

Final judging / Winner determination

Judges 3 independent judges (writers, critics, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Announced at Writers' Trust ceremony (traditionally June, November since 2022)

Criteria

Exceptional merit in LGBTQ literature-related works
Emerging Canadian writer
Writing quality, originality, expressiveness
Contribution of the work or writer to the community
Historically evaluated writer's overall body of work; since 2022 targets debut work (specific debut book)