Writers' Trust of Canada - 50 Years
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Encouraging the future of Canadian literature

RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers

Highlights

GuidelinesPrize History

Prize

  • Winners $10,000
  • Finalists $2,500

2026 Important Dates

  • Finalists announced & applicants notified of results mid-April 2026
  • Winners announced June 2026

Eligibility

  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • At least one literary publication credit
  • Unpublished in book form and without a contract

Questions?

Please contact:
Devon Jackson, Associate Program Director
djackson@writerstrust.com

About the Award

Established in memory of writer Bronwen Wallace, this award has a proven track record of helping talented developing authors secure their first book deal. Three $10,000 prizes will be given for outstanding works of unpublished poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Finalists are invited to attend networking events in Toronto and have their nominated writing published in print, digital, and audiobook formats. Winners also receive a mentorship tailored to their career goals. All applicants are given access to webinars on the business and craft of writing. The award has been supported by RBC since 2007. It aims to advance the careers and development of emerging Canadian creatives through skills development, mentorship programs, education, and access and exposure to new audiences.

Continuing a successful partnership with Apple Books to promote RBC Bronwen Wallace Award finalists, the shortlisted authors will be invited to record audiobooks of their works in a professional studio with Penguin Random House Canada sound engineers. After winners are announced in June, the audiobooks will be available for free on Apple Books and copies of all finalists work will be available to read and download on this page.

2026 Finalists - Poetry

2026 Finalists - Short Fiction

2026 Finalists - Creative Nonfiction

Jury

Poetry (2026)
A jury composed of Jeff Latosik, Zehra Naqvi, and Chuqiao Yang read 143 submissions to select finalists in the poetry category.

Jury

Short Fiction (2026)
A jury composed of Jamaluddin Aram, Jen Neale, and Nathan Whitlock read 172 submissions to select finalists in the short fiction category.

Jury

Creative Nonfiction (2026)
A jury composed of Alison Calder, Robert McGill, and Padma Viswanathan read 108 submissions to select the finalists in the creative nonfiction category. 

Publishing can be a confusing and tough industry to navigate, and I am truly grateful that the Bronwen Wallace Award has been like a foot on the gas pedal for my career.

— Teya Hollier

About Bronwen Wallace

Bronwen Wallace (1945–1989) was a poet, short story writer, essayist, and mentor to many aspiring authors as a creative writing instructor at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario. This prize was established in her honour in 1994 by a group of friends and colleagues. Wallace felt that writers should have more opportunities for recognition early in their careers. This annual award will be presented to three writers — one each in the categories of poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction — who have been published in literary journals or anthologies but have yet to publish in book form. Past winners include Michael Crummey, Alissa York, Sonnet L’Abbé, Alison Pick, Noor Naga, Maria Reva, and John Elizabeth Stintzi.  

Sponsor

RBC aims to support the careers and development of emerging Canadian creatives through skills development, mentorship programs, education, and access and exposure to new audiences.