Latest News!

Student Awards deadline extended

The deadline for submitting essays for the student awards has been extended from May15th to June 15th.  Our Snapchat campaign resulted in around 15,000 visits to our student awards page during March and April, but we feel we need to reach more students yet to let them know about the competition. To find out more about the awards, see the details on our Student Awards page.

April 15, 2023


Snapchat campaign launched for Student Competition

With the deadline for submissions for the students awards set at May 15, 2023, we're trying to reach as many Ontario students as possible.  The Snapchat campaign starts on March 6 and ends on April 14.  Here are the two ads that will be displayed; the first was prepared by David Mallinson, and the second by Heather Price-Jones.

March 4, 2023


The book submission deadline for 2023 has passed!

Submissions for the 2023 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour are now closed unless your book submission package was in the mail and postmarked prior to midnight on December 31, 2022. As of the deadline date, we are expecting the final count of submissions to be 72.  However, we have still to receive and/or process the packages of books for a number of submissions, so the final entry list is not yet complete.

January 2, 2022


AGM set for November 13, 2022

The Board of Stephen Leacock Associates will hold its annual general meeting on Sunday, November 13, 2022 using the Zoom online meeting software.  Members of Stephen Leacock Associates and members of the public are welcome to attend the AGM, the public session of which will commence at 3 p.m.  Anyone wishing to attend the meeting should contact the Associates at pr@leacock.ca to register no later than noon on Friday, November 11, 2022.  Registrants will be emailed the link to the meeting and instructions on how to use Zoom.

October 14, 2022


Rick Mercer wins Leacock Medal!

Rick Mercer with Leaock MedalAt the Leacock Gala Award Dinner hosted by CBC personality Ali Hassan on a warm evening on Saturday, September 17th, Rick Mercer was announced the winner of the 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for his memoir Talking to Canadians, published by Doubleday Canada.  In an acceptance speech to around 230 attendees, Rick lived up to his reputation with a hilarious account of an encounter with a pigeon following a visit to the dentist; it succeeded in  elicitating immoderate laughter from his audience.  Rick beat out the other two shortlisted authors, fellow Newfoundlander Mark Critch and Saskatchewan Cree author Dawn Dumont, for the prize.

The weekend started the previous evening with a "Meet the Authors" and Student Showcase event hosted by author Terry Fallis on a very cool evening in a tent on the lawn of the Leacock Museum and Historical Site.  Despite the cold, attendees were treated to humorous essays read by the winners of the student competitions of 2021 and 2022, namely Vincenzo Fracassi, Bethany Robert, Cais Harbridge, Amy Ghobrial and George Vanderlaan.  This was followed by amusing readings or commentaries by the Medal shortlisted authors for 2020, 2021 and 2022, Heidi Jacobs, Drew Hayden Taylor, Joe Kertes, and Morgan Murray, then by an entertaining question and answer session with a panel of authors having questions fired at them by Associates treasurer Josh Milligan and the audience.

In the coming days, photos of all the events that took place on the weekend will appear on our Photo Gallery page.

(Photo: Orillia Matters)

September 19, 2022


Top entertainers Mark Critch and Rick Mercer will attend Gala Dinner

The countdown to our Gala Weekend has started!  Top entertainers Mark Critch and Rick Mercer will be attending the Gala Dinner at which the winner of this year's Leacock Medal will be announced.  Ali Hassan will be the emcee.  Many past winners and shortlisted authors will also be in attendance at this entertaining event.  See how many you can identify in the photos below.

Authors

September 1, 2022


Concern about Dawn Dumont

We have only just been made aware of a situation with Dawn Dumont, one of the finalists for the Leacock Medal, and have added this statement to our shortlist press release today:

While the Leacock Associates are happy and proud to include Dawn Dumont as one of the finalists for the Leacock Medal in 2022, we are extremely concerned for the current safety of Ms. Dumont, who also goes by the name Dawn Walker. She and her son Vincent have been missing in Saskatchewan since July 22. Saskatoon police and the RCMP continue their on-going investigation.

August 3, 2022

UPDATE:  We are glad and relieved to hear that Dawn and her son have been found safe in Oregon today.

August 5, 2022


Critch, Dumont and Mercer make Leacock Medal shortlist

ORILLIA, Ont. — The president and board of directors of Stephen Leacock Associates are pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. In the running for the medal and $25,000 prize are, in alphabetical order by author surname:

· Mark Critch, An Embarassment of Critch’s (Viking Canada)
MARK CRITCH is one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian comedy and he has won multiple awards for both writing and performance. For fourteen years, he has starred on CBC's flagship show, This Hour Has 22 Minutes. As an anchor and “roving reporter,” he has brought celebrities and politicians to Canadian living rooms across the nation. He is the host of CBC’s Halifax Comedy Festival and has written for and appeared in CBC’s world-renowned Just for Laughs series.

· Dawn Dumont, The Prairie Chicken Dance Tour (Freehand Books)
Dawn DumontDAWN DUMONT is from the Okanese Cree Nation, located in southern Saskatchewan. She is the award-winning writer of Nobody Cries at Bingo, Rose’s Run and Glass Beads. Dawn is a keynote speaker, comedian and humourist for Eaglefeather News and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

 

 

· Rick Mercer, Talking to Canadians (Doubleday Canada)
Rick Mercer
RICK MERCER co-created and performed on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes, created and starred in Made in Canada, and created and starred in Talking to Americans, the most-watched comedy special in Canadian television history. He went on to host the hugely successful Rick Mercer Report for 15 seasons. Rick was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014 for his work with charitable causes and “his ability to inspire and challenge Canadians through humour.” In 2019, he received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. He is from Middle Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Books selected for the Stephen Leacock medal must be not only humorous but also well-written, showing style and depth. The three finalists this year meet those criteria without question,” said Leacock Associates president Michael Hill. “Our panel of judges has selected three outstanding books from seventy-eight entries. It will be exciting to see which one was determined to be the most humorous of the year.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Leacock Medal Gala Dinner where the three 2022 finalists will join the shortlisted authors from 2020 and 2021 for celebrations that have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Leacock Medal, and many former winners will also be attending. Tickets for this memorable event and for the “Meet the Authors” and Student Showcase event the previous evening are available for purchase online at www.leacock.ca/gala.php.

The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour awards are generously sponsored by the Dunkley Charitable Foundation.

For more information about Stephen Leacock Associates, please visit the website at www.leacock.ca.

August 3, 2022


Student Award winners announced

The Stephen Leacock Associates are pleased to announce the winners of their
2022 Student Humorous Short Story Competition.

First Place:
Any Title Will Do, It’s Simply Rubbish
Written by Amy Ghobrial, Richmond Hill High School, Richmond Hill.

Second Place:
"Nothing Ever Changes in Fairy Tale Forest
Written by George Vanderlaan, H. B. Beal Secondary.School, London.

Third Place:
DisORDERly Conduct
Written by Bethany Robert, St. Francis Xavier High School, Ottawa.

Amy Ghobrial
 
George Vanderlaan
 
Bethany Robert
 

The winners will receive $1,000 (first place), $700 (second place) and $300 (third place).

Stephen Leacock Associates congratulates all the winners and finalists. The judges were certainly challenged this year. All entrants are encouraged to participate in this worthwhile competition next year.

At the "Meet the Authors" event on September 16th, the winners will receive their awards and will read parts of their essays.

June 16, 2022


Humourists to host Gala Weekend events

As of today, tickets are available for the events of the 75th Anniversary Gala Weekend that takes place September 16 and 17, 2022.

We are delighted to welcome two well-known humourists to act as emcees:

Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Leacock Medal, will host the "Meet the Authors" and Student Showcase evening, on Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m.

Ali Hassan, host of CBC's "Laugh Out Loud" and "Canada Reads", will host the Leacock Medal Award Gala Dinner, Saturday, September 17 at 5 p.m.

Details about these events can be found on our Gala Weekend page, where you may also purchase tickets.  This year, all tickets will be sold online.  Anyone needing assistance may visit the Leacock Museum, 50 Museum Drive, Orillia or phone 705-329-1908, where staff will provide help.


Terry Fallis
 


Ali Hassan
(Photo: Pierre Gautreau)

June 15, 2022


Leacock Medal Longlist Revealed!

Long List Books

The Stephen Leacock Associates are pleased to announce the 2022 long list for the annual Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. Celebrating 75 years since its inception, this annual award recognizes excellence in Canadian literary humour. Past winners have included Terry Fallis, Will Ferguson, W.O.Mitchell, Stuart McLean and Mordecai Richler. Board President Michael Hill thanks the national panel of judges and a committee of local readers for their thoughtful recommendations with this “long list”. He also thanks the authors for their submissions, and commends them on the quality of their writing.
The three finalists for the award will be named on Monday, August 15, 2022, with the medal winner being announced on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the Leacock Medal Award Gala Dinner.

The long list for the 2022 Leacock Medal can be viewed here,

June 1, 2022


Deadline for student award competition extended

The deadline for the student award competition has been extended by a whole month.  Originally, entries had to be submitted by April 15, 2022, but the new deadline is now May 15, 2022.  This is a great opportunity for students between the ages of 14 and 19 to win some money for their college or university education (or for any other purpose!)  Start writing now!  See the details on our Student Award page.

April 15, 2022


It's time to renew your membership!

The Stephen Leacock Associates has certainly appreciated your support over the past year!

And the Associates would appreciate your continuing support if you decide to continue as a member - another trip around the Sun, as they say - at just $10.00 (single), $20.00 (dual), or the very efficient $100.00 Life category.

We make this suggestion because our membership 'marker' date is fast approaching: April 1 (yes, THAT day!).

But you wouldn't be a fool for signing on again. As we emerge from our two years' pandemic, we again can get together in person at our annual Gala weekend of September 17, 2022.

The grounds of the national historic Stephen Leacock Home will be the scene of our events over three days. Events may be at no charge, or individually priced to defray costs. You will be the first to know when tickets become available for the Gala Award Dinner on Saturday.

You will be able to meet friends old and new over dinner, celebrate the awarding of our 75th silver medal and accompanying $25,000.00 cash award offered by our new sponsor, the Dunkley Charitable Foundation.

The writing efforts of our youth will be recognised too, as top stories are presented at the Friday evening salon, and the authors of the top student stories receive their awards.

Have the satisfaction of encouraging award-winning Canadian writers! I look forward to seeing you at these events.
Membership
Jim Harris, Chair: Membership

To renew, simply click on this link:  https://leacock.ca/renew.php

March 6, 2022


 

 

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2020 Fundraising Campaign Donors

The donors listed below each contributed $100 or more to our August/September/October on-line fundraising campaign in 2020. We are very grateful to all of you (including people who donated lesser amounts) for your support of the Leacock medal.

Anonymous Ramara, ON
Richard Eedy St. Mary's, ON
Jonathon Tait Barrie, ON
Lesley Holland Toronto, ON
Christina Perry Conception Bay South, NL
Valerie McDonald Toronto, ON
Kit Dobson Calgary, AB
Anonymous Bracebridge, ON
Margaret Atwood Toronto, ON
Leslie Dobson Orillia, ON
John Frankel Toronto, ON
Derek Ford Orillia, ON
David Wimsett Kentville, NS
Sheila Burvill Ottawa, ON
Anonymous Dunrobin, ON
Anonymous London, ON
David Eastaugh Toronto, ON
Karla Tremblay Toronto, ON
Verla Hall Orillia, ON
Peter Babiak Vancouver, BC
Anonymous Toronto, ON
Nickle Family Foundation Calgary, AB
Dick and Wendy Johnston Orillia, ON
William Greenizan Toronto, ON
Ted Tiffany Midland, ON
Steve Skurka Toronto, ON
Mary Lou Fallis Port Hope, ON
Michael Mallinson Toronto, ON
June Maresca Markham, ON
Gilbert Storey Richmond Hill, ON
Joan Dejesus Georgetown, ON
R Bruce MacKeen Guysborough, NS
Mauer Chiarello Toronto, ON
Melanie Hazell Toronto, ON
Peter Nosalik Waterloo, ON
Anonymous Toronto, ON
Graham Yeates Kitchener, ON
Edwin and Margaret Johnson London, ON
Susan Grant Orillia, ON
Anonymous Hafford, SK
Grant Dickson Toronto,ON
Donnajean Jefferies Orillia, ON
Anonymous Calgary, AB
Barbara Bissonette Washago, ON
Richard (Dick) Bourgeois-Doyle OTTAWA, ON
Drew Taylor Curve Lake, ON
Douglas Gibson Toronto, ON
Lynn Murray and Bob Gauldie Orillia, ON
Anonymous Windsor, ON
Marion Reidel Guelph, ON
Andrew Lam Toronto, ON
Daniel Byers Orillia, ON
Anne Kallin Orillia, ON
Joe and Pat Dell'Aquila Cambridge, ON
Judy Millar Calgary, AB
Derek Ford Orillia, ON
William Tweed Toronto, ON
Anonymous Vancouver, BC
Terry Toews Swift Current, SK
Marian Robinson North Bay, ON
Anonymous Eston, SK
Beverley Slopen Toronto, ON
Caged Element Inc. Etobicoke, ON
Karleen Bradford Orillia, ON
Anonymous Bristol, UK
Janie Chang Vancouver, BC
Sandra Thomson Nanaimo, BC
Lynda Simmons Burlington, ON
Christopher Cameron Campbellford, ON
Christine Barbetta Toronto, ON
Peggy Bereza Victoria, BC
Vivian Carter Unionville, ON
Kenneth Drope Keswick, ON
Wendy and Fred Fallis Coldwater, ON
Elsa Lam Toronto, ON
Susan Juby Nanaimo, BC
Anonymous Orillia, ON
Doris McLean Orillia, ON
William Deverell Pender Island, BC
Jodie Schaefer Barrie, ON
Mark Lefebvre Waterloo, ON
Jay Fallis Orillia, ON
Terry Fallis Toronto, ON
Words Indeed Publishing Toronto, ON
Sue Mallinson Orillia, ON
David Mallinson Orillia, ON