Congratulations to University of Victoria teacher Madeline Sonik, whose collection of personal essays, Afflictions & Departures, has won the ninth annual City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The collection details Sonik’s childhood stage by stage, relating incidents, feelings and developments to social and current events of the time, with a deep, meaningful understanding and insight into childhood.

At the same gala on October 12th, author Caitlyn Vernon was awarded the 5th annual Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize for her celebrated work Nowhere Else on Earth; Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest. Her offering is a stunningly beautiful collection of information, stories and images from BC’s central coastal rainforest, with a mind to protect and preserve.

Each author was awarded $5,000.