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Aurora Awards (Prix Aurora-Boréal)

おーろらしょう

Annual award recognizing excellence by Canadians in science fiction, fantasy, and horror

Best NovelBest YA NovelBest Novelette/NovellaBest Short StoryBest Poem/SongBest Graphic Novel/ComicBest Cover Art/Interior IllustrationBest Related WorkBest Fan Writing and PublicationBest Fan Related WorkHall of Fame
Established
1980
Organizer
Canvention (host organization) / Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) / SFSF Boreal Inc. (SFSFBI)
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Selection Method
Vote
Target
Open
Frequency
1 per year
Status
Active

Description

The Aurora Awards (Prix Aurora-Boréal) are annual awards recognizing outstanding professional works and fan activities in Canadian science fiction and fantasy. Established in 1980, they are presented by CSFFA and SFSFBI at the Canvention venue. There are English (Aurora) and French (Prix Aurora-Boréal) categories, with nominations by CSFFA members (criterion: each work must receive at least 5 nominations), followed by member voting (instant-runoff voting) to determine winners. Categories span novels, short fiction, comics, poetry, music, art, film & television, fan activities, lifetime achievement / Hall of Fame, and more.

Prize

Main Prize
Trophy and recognition upon winning (awarded per category). Hall of Fame Trophy for lifetime achievers
  • Public announcement and promotion of the award
  • Enshrinement in Hall of Fame (lifetime achievement, if applicable)

Selection

Selection Process

Nomination
Judges Nominations by CSFFA members (each work requires at least 5 nominations)
Announcement Works receiving a certain number of nominations become subject to review by the organizing committee
Shortlist selection
Judges Awards committee (organizing committee) confirms official nominees from nominations
Announcement Announced as the official shortlist
Final vote
Judges Voting by all CSFFA members (members gain voting rights by paying $10 annual dues)
Announcement Winners determined by instant-runoff voting at Canvention venue or online
Hall of Fame selection
Judges Selection by 4 judges appointed annually by CSFFA (for lifetime achievers and meritorious contributions)
Announcement Hall of Fame inductees are announced separately

Criteria

  • The work must be a Canadian work produced or completed in the previous year
  • Literary/creative excellence in the category (style, structure, originality, impact, etc.)
  • Must meet requirements for English and French categories respectively
  • No award if fewer than 3 candidates or if 'No Award' receives majority in voting
  • Organizers use instant-runoff voting for final decisions

Application Tips

Dos

  • Confirm that the submitted work is a Canadian work produced or completed in the previous year
  • Promote the work in the CSFFA community to secure nominations from members (official criterion: 5 or more nominations required)
  • Clearly present submission information (publication date, publisher, format, etc.)
  • Participate in voting and community activities, and understand CSFFA membership rules (annual dues payment, membership history of 1 month or more, etc.)

Don''ts

  • Do not submit works outside the eligibility period or not completed in the previous year
  • Do not attempt to manipulate nominations or votes improperly (rules violation or ethical breach)
  • Do not omit required information or make publication details vague

From Judges

  • Emphasis on originality and story completeness
  • Providing clear publication information and completion date makes review smoother
  • Contributions to the community and the work's impact are also part of the evaluation

Related Awards

  • Prix Boréal
  • Prix Aurora-Boréal
  • CSFFA Hall of Fame
  • Hugo Awards
  • Nebula Awards
  • Locus Awards
  • Worldcon / Canvention

Official Resources

https://www.csffa.ca/awards-information/

Past Winners

Edition 1 (1980)
No winner