Minister Mitchelmore Congratulates Heather Smith for Winning the 2018 BMO Winterset Award

  • Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

March 29, 2019

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today congratulated Heather Smith for winning the 2018 BMO Winterset Award.

The BMO Winterset Award, administered by ArtsNL, recognizes excellence in all genres of writing. Books in any genre published in 2018 were eligible for the award. A total of 30 works by Newfoundland and Labrador authors (either native-born or resident) were submitted by publishers from across Canada.

Ms. Smith receives a $12,500 award for Ebb and Flow, published by Kids Can Press. Robert Chafe, for Between Breaths, and Melissa Barbeau for The Luminous Sea, each received a $3,000 award for being shortlisted.

Inspired by her east coast roots, Ms. Smith has concentrated her writing on young people’s literature. Her 2018 BMO Winterset Award winning novel – Ebb and Flow – tells the story of a young boy named Jett, who spends the life-changing summer with his eccentric grandmother.

ArtsNL, the provincial arts council, administers the Winterset Award and provides grants to local artists and arts organizations. The BMO Winterset Award honours the memory of Sandra Fraser Gwyn, St. John’s-born social historian, prize-winning author, and passionate promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador arts.

Quotes
“Congratulations to Heather Smith for winning the 2018 BMO Winterset Award. Newfoundland and Labrador’s literary scene produces an incredibly talented writers, and I applaud Melissa and Robert for being shortlisted for this prestigious award. The abilities of this year’s nominees highlight the wealth of artistic talent in our province, and I commend all writers who made submissions for this year’s program.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

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Media contact
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

2019 03 29 10:30 am