THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
MARCH 19, 1999
|
|
THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA |
UVic writing professor Bill Gaston and 1994 writing graduate Suzanne Buffam earned Canadian Literary Awards in February, the country's largest award program for unpublished works.
Both winners picked up $10,000, courtesy of the Canada Council, CBC Radio and Saturday Night magazine, which is publishing each of the winning entries.
Gaston won for his short story Where It Comes From, Where It Goes, the tale of a faith healer in "deeply rural" New Brunswick. In selecting it over the 1,200 other entries, judges described the story as "with a mysterious quality...a mature and beautifully crafted work."
Buffam, currently pursuing her master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, won in the poetry category.
Gaston said the best part about going to Toronto to collect the award was the flight home, seated across the aisle from Alice Munro. Munro had attended the award ceremony to pay tribute to Canadian Literary Awards founder Robert Weaver, who established the program 20 years ago.
Gaston came to the UVic writing department &emdash; "the best place to be in Canada to teach writing" &emdash; this past fall after spending the last 10 years in New Brunswick. He has written three novels, three short story collections and a book of poetry. His latest story collection Sex is Red (Cormorant), was published last year.
A Globe and Mail reviewer wrote that, along with his other work, Sex is Red should elevate Gaston "into the leading ranks of Canadian authors... He deserves to dwell in the company of Findley, Atwood or Munro as one of this country's outstanding literary treasures."