In 1994, in the aftermath of civic events held to recognize the literary career of George Woodcock, B.C. BookWorld began working in partnership with the City of Vancouver (Mayor of Vancouver's office), the Vancouver Public Library and a non-profit society (Pacific BookWorld News Society, founded in 1988) to jointly sponsor and present an annual prize to a senior British Columbia author whose enduring contribution to the literary arts spans several decades. Initially the corporate sponsor for this undertaking was BC Gas, later renamed Terasen. This sponsor would not agree to have the award named in honour of George Woodcock, as was first envisioned. But, in 2007, the Terasen Lifetime Achievement Award was renamed the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award, as originally intended. Each year another commemorative plaque is installed in the Writers' Walk--or Woodcock Walk--at the Vancouver Public Library on Georgia Street in Vancouver. The Mayor of Vancouver, or his representative, attends a presentation ceremony and issues a proclamation in honour of the recipient, who received a cash award. Winners are announced with press releases and full-page notices in B.C. BookWorld. The recipients of the annual the annual award have been:

Eric Nicol (1995)

Jane Rule (1996)

Barry Broadfoot (1997)

Christie Harris (1998)

Phyllis Webb (1999)

Paul St. Pierre (2000)

Robert Harlow (2001)

Peter Trower (2002)

Audrey Thomas (2003).

P.K. Page (2004)

Alice Munro (2005)

Jack Hodgins (2006)

bill bissett (2007)

Joy Kogawa (2008)

W.P. Kinsella (2009)

Anne Cameron (2010)

Chuck Davis (2010)

David Suzuki (2011)

Daphne Marlatt 2012)

William New (2013)

Information on all these writers can be found elsewhere on this website. Simply search for their names at the opening menu.

Winners are nominated by letters from the general public. To nominate a candidate for the award, send a brief letter or postcard to George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award c/o BC BookWorld, 3516 West 13th Avenue Vancouver B.C. V6R 2S3. A selection committee consists of the board of directors of Pacific BookWorld News Society. There is no discrimination with regards to genres of writing other than all recipients must be authors of books.

For more extensive information about the George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award, visit www.bcbookawards.ca

[BCBW 2013]