Do you know someone who has upheld freedom of expression in Canada?
The PEN Canada Ken Filkow Prize is an annual award which recognizes an individual or group who has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
Nominees will be adjudicated by an external jury: Dan David, Hasmik Egian, and Matt Hatfield. The winning nominee will receive a $2,000 CAD cash prize.
Eligibility
Nominees may be anyone — authors, journalists, public servants, scientists, professors, business people, editors, publishers, organizations and concerned citizens, and others — whose work has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
In the case of individuals, special consideration will be given to those whose actions have demonstrated personal courage that may have involved putting personal interests (career advancement, reputation, ties of family or friendship, etc.) on the line.
In the case of organizations, special consideration will be given to those who have acted in a way that could have been damaging to their or their members’ financial or other interests.
How to submit a nomination
Anyone can suggest a name — or multiple names — of a person or organization that fit the award criteria. The deadline to submit is Monday June 16, 2024.
In the form below (also available here), please provide a brief biography of the nominee (or a link to one online) and a description of what the nominee has done on behalf of freedom of expression in Canada. Nominations must include specific examples of actions that have advanced freedom of expression in Canada with supporting details and links.
If you have questions or are experiencing issues submitting your nomination, please contact Theresa Johnson at queries@pencanada.ca:
About the jury
Dan David
Dan David has been a journalist at CBC, TVO, and VISION-TV, published by THIS Mag, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, Aboriginal Voices, and Windspeaker, a journalism trainer in South Africa, Indonesia and Azerbaijan. He founded APTN News.
Hasmik Egian
Hasmik Egian was the Director of the UN Security Council Affairs Division from 2016 to 2022. For over 30 years, she held senior positions in the UN system where her assignments included peacekeeping (Cambodia, Tajikistan), peacebuilding (Somalia, Syria), and humanitarian and development work (Iraq, UNICEF in Tanzania and the Middle East Region). She retired from the UN in 2022. She holds an MA in political science from Carleton University, and a BA in Russian Literature and Political Science from McGill University.
Matt Hatfield
Matt is OpenMedia’s Executive Director, Canada’s leading digital rights community that works for an open, accessible, and democratic Internet. He holds a BA in International Relations from the University of British Columbia, and a Masters of Global Affairs from the University of Toronto.
History behind the Ken Filkow prize
The prize is named in memory of Kenneth A. Filkow, Q.C., a distinguished Winnipeg lawyer, former chair of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, and a former member of PEN Canada’s Canadian Issues Committee.
The prize is funded by Cynthia Wine and Philip Slayton.
Within the Canadian context, the right to freedom of opinion and expression is protected under Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is enshrined as a fundamental freedom in section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
PAST WINNERS: Franke James, Raihan Abir, Desmond Cole, Justin Brake, Tim Bousquet, Amy Lai, Amber Bracken, Brandi Morin, and Shree Paradkar.
