The Ryerson Fiction Award, also known as the All-Canada Prize, was a Canadian literary award, presented irregularly between 1942 and 1960. Presented by Ryerson Press,[1] the award was given to an unpublished manuscript by a new or emerging writer, which was then published by Ryerson Press,[2] and the prize consisted of $1,000 of which $500 was an advance on royalties.[1]

Ryerson Fiction Award
Awarded forunpublished manuscript by a Canadian writer
CountryCanada
Presented byRyerson Press
First awarded1942
Last awarded1960

Although it was considered one of the major Canadian literary awards in its era, few of the winning novels remain well-remembered today.[2] Only five titles which won the award ever went on to a subsequent paperback reprint,[2] with Edward McCourt's Music at the Close the only title that was selected for McClelland & Stewart's New Canadian Library reprint series in the 1970s.[2]

Statistics

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Two works, G. Herbert Sallans' Little Man and Philip Child's Mr. Ames Against Time, won both the Ryerson Fiction Prize and the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction in the same year; one other writer, Laura Salverson, won both awards for different works. Three writers — Child, Will R. Bird and Gladys Taylor — won the award twice, although both of Bird's wins and one of Child's were in ties with other writers.

Winners

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ryerson Award Winner". The Gazette, March 13, 1954.
  2. ^ a b c d Brian Busby, "Anyone Care About the Ryerson Fiction Award?". The Dusty Bookcase, January 7, 2013.
  3. ^ "Ryerson Press Fiction Award Contest Opens". Winnipeg Tribune. June 27, 1944. p. 19. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "No Novel Chosen". Lethbridge Herald. July 4, 1943. p. 9. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Toronto Novelist Wins Ryerson Award". Ottawa Journal. May 21, 1949. p. 40. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Wins Fiction Award". Ottawa Journal. May 27, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "Wife of Nova Scotia Lighthouse Keeper Wins Ryerson Award". Ottawa Journal. March 28, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "Ryerson Fiction Award". Ottawa Journal. March 14, 1959. p. 44. Retrieved April 14, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "Joan Walker of Swastika Wins Fiction Award". Ottawa Journal, April 20, 1957.
  10. ^ "Winning Author". Ottawa Journal. March 14, 1959. p. 9. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ "Ryerson Fiction Award Winner". Ottawa Journal. March 26, 1960. p. 4. Retrieved August 21, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.