Awards

PEN Canada confers four annual awards, three of which open to the public for submissions and nominations. Our awards recognize either free expression champions or writers.

One Humanity Award

For a writer whose work transcends the boundaries of national divides and inspires connections across cultures.

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Ken Filkow Prize

For a Canadian citizen or organization who has shown courage in freeing information and ideas from restraint or interference.

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Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize

For a Canadian citizen, organization or permanent resident who has provided significant help to a writer or journalist outside Canada who has faced threats, violence, harassment, or imprisonment for reporting or commenting on issues of public interest.

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New Voices Award

Recognizing and encouraging new writing while providing a space for yet-to-be published Canadian writers.

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Previous Recipients

Explore the stories of previous recipients from 2006 until today. Among them are writers, journalists, activists, and more.

Jimmy Lai

One Humanity Award

2024 winner / writer, newspaper publisher, and pro-democracy activist.

1.4 MARIE ANGE GARRIGUE 46 (1) PEN Canada Awards Ceremony photography by Gary Beechey Oct 16, 2024

Robina Aryubwal and Journalists for Human Rights

Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize

2024 winner / a women's rights activist and a media development organization.

1.3 KEN FILKOW 78 PEN Canada Awards Ceremony photography by Gary Beechey Oct 16, 2024 (1) (1)

Shree Paradkar

Ken Filkow Prize

2024 winner / award-winning journalist and equity advocate.

Alaa Abd el Fattah

One Humanity Award

2023 winner / British-Egyptian writer and software developer.

Joan Leishman

Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize

2023 winner / journalist and longtime advocate for refugee writers.

Copy of Copy of Ken Filkow and Marie Ange Web Covers (4)

Brandi Morin

Ken Filkow Prize

2023 winner / journalist and author.

Amber Bracken

Ken Filkow Prize

2022 winner / Canadian photojournalist.

Mariam Al Zier

Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize

2022 (inaugural) winner / paralegal and immigration consultant.

Amy Lai

Ken Filkow Prize

2021 winner / journalist and legal scholar.

Justin Brake

Ken Filkow Prize

2018 winner / independent journalist.

Nasrin Sotoudeh

One Humanity Award

2019 & 2011 winner / Iranian human rights lawyer.

Tim Bousquet

Ken Filkow Prize

2019 winner / the founder, editor and publisher of the Halifax Examiner, an independent online daily newspaper.

Ashraf Fayadh

One Humanity Award

2017 winner / Palestinian poet.

Desmond Cole

Ken Filkow Prize

2017 winner / writer, journalist and activist.

Azimjon Askarov

One Humanity Award

2016 winner / journalist and human rights defender.

Wendy Fúnes

Escribir sin Miedo Prize

2017 winner / reporter, recognized for her investigative report, Forgotten Victims (Víctimas Borradas).

Raihan Abir

Ken Filkow Prize

2016 winner / author and blogger.

Ariel Torres Funes

Escribir sin Miedo Prize

2016 winner / journalist, recognized for his report El Tumbador: una prisión verde de impunidad (El Tumbador: a green prison of impunity).

Eskinder Nega

One Humanity Award

2015 winner / Ethiopian journalist.

Fred Alvarado

Escribir sin Miedo Prize

2015 (inaugural) winner / journalist and documentary filmmaker, recognized for his essay, Honduras: The Process of American Remilitarization and the Failure of the War on Drugs.