Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour

History

The Stephen Leacock Associates, the non-profit organising body behind the award, was founded in 1946 by a loose group of Leacock’s friends and supporters.

Each year the Associates’ board of directors appoints a panel of suitable judges from around the country, and also commissions readers who rank and select from submitted works a long list of ten books, which is later narrowed to a short list of three books (previously five). The shortlist is typically announced in early May. In 1990, for the only time in the award's history they did not whittle the initial longlist down to a shortlist but simply announced a shortlist of ten books which were all considered for the final award.

The cash prize began in 1970, as a $2,500 award co-sponsored by Manulife Insurance and the Hudson's Bay Company. The following decades saw gradual increases in the amount of the prize under a number of sponsors, reaching its current value of $15,000 in 2009, sponsored by the TD Bank Financial Group. As of 2018, both remaining shortlist authors each receive cash prizes of $3,000.

In 1969 the Associates established a quarterly newsletter called The Newspacket to commemorate the centenary of the author’s birth. The publication printed excerpts from nominated books and showcased Canadian humour writing. More recently, the Associates have communicated through its newsletter Leacock Matters.

In 1977 the group established an annual Student Award for Humour, which honours and encourages young Canadian writers from secondary and post-secondary levels with recognition and cash prizes for the top three.

Organization

The Leacock Award is ceremonially led by a past winner or nominee, who holds the honorary title "Mayor of Mariposa". The duties of this position include giving a speech at the awards ceremony, and representing the Leacock Foundation in other public appearances including McGill University's annual Leacock Lecture. Held by Dan Needles until 2018,

The Medal

The medal, cast in silver and designed by Canadian sculptor Emanuel Hahn, is two inches (5.08 cm) in diameter and approximately 0.125 inches (.32 cm) thick. It weighs 3.125 ounces (88.59 g).

On the obverse is a profile of Stephen Leacock’s head and the dates of his lifespan (1869–1944). The words "Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal Founded 1946" are worked around the perimeter.

The reverse side features the words "Orillia “The Sunshine Town” Award for Canadian Humour". A jolly face represents the sun resting on waves, and the latitude and longitude of Orillia, Ontario, Canada, appear in small figures at the top. Two small fish swim beneath the waves, and two large mosquitoes are depicted — one on the sun, the other in the water. Below the design, there is room for the winner’s name and date to be inscribed, and below that a small maple leaf emblem.

Winners and nominees

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

References

References

1. [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/stephen-leacock-memorial-medal-for-humour/ "Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour"] at [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]].
2. Bourgeois-Doyle, Dick, What’s So Funny?: Lessons from Canada’s Leacock Medal for Humour Writing. General Store Publishing House, 2015. {{ISBN. 978-1-77123-342-2. p.57
3. Although administered and presented separately today, the award was announced as part of the [[Governor General's Awards]] in its early years."Prof. Lower's History Gets Vice-Regal Award". ''[[Winnipeg Tribune]]'', April 19, 1947.
4. "Win Governor General's Awards in Annual Literary Contest". ''[[Ottawa Journal]]'', June 11, 1949.
5. "Governor General's Awards Announced for Two Authors". ''[[Ottawa Journal]]'', May 23, 1953.
6. "Long short-list for Leacock award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 3, 1990.
7. [https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/8481973-barwin-takes-home-humour-award/ "Barwin takes home humour award"]. ''Orillia Packet and Times'', June 10, 2017.
8. (September 29, 2024). "John Levesque named next mayor of fictitious town of Mariposa".
9. "Stephen Leacock Associates".
10. [http://litawards.library.mun.ca/index.php?award=897 "Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour"]. [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]] Literary Awards in Canada 1923–2000.
11. "Backstage". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 10, 1980.
12. "Buckler win Leacock Award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 12, 1978.
13. "Gotlieb wins humor award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 11, 1979.
14. "Physicians hold annual council". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 8, 1981.
15. "Leacock winner plays a shopworn theme". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 13, 1982.
16. "Torgov wins 1983 Leacock Medal". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 29, 1983.
17. "Lautens wins award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', May 11, 1984.
18. "Six finalists for Leacock Medal". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 13, 1984.
19. "Montrealer Ted Allan wins Leacock award for 'Long Shot' novel". ''[[The Gazette (Montreal). The Gazette]]'', April 18, 1985.
20. "The Star's Slinger wins humor award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 18, 1986.
21. "Star's Slinger up for humor prize". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 11, 1986.
22. "B.C.'s Kinsella wins Leacock humor award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 24, 1987.
23. "Third time lucky for Leacock winner". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', April 29, 1988.
24. "Leacock award 'stuns' winner". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 30, 1989.
25. "Mitchell wins Leacock Award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 19, 1990.
26. "Howard White wins Leacock". ''[[The Gazette (Montreal). The Gazette]]'', May 7, 1991.
27. "Carrier's Prayers are answered with Leacock prize"]. ''[[The Gazette (Montreal). The Gazette]]'', April 29, 1992.
28. "Hamilton writer wins Leacock humor award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 4, 1993.
29. "Richardson wins Leacock prize". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', April 26, 1994.
30. "Montreal writer wins humor award". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 4, 1995.
31. "Broadcaster Boulton wins Leacock prize". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 25, 1996.
32. "Arthur Black wins award for humour: Radio host, author honoured for book". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', May 1, 1997.
33. "Mordecai Richler wins Leacock humour award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 16, 1998.
34. "McLean wins Leacock award". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', April 22, 1999.
35. "Arthur Black nabs last laugh – again". ''[[Kingston Whig-Standard]]'', April 20, 2000.
36. "Literature: Stuart McLean wins Leacock award, again". ''[[Kingston Whig-Standard]]'', April 20, 2001.
37. "Calgary writer wins Leacock award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 18, 2002.
38. "Charles Gordon nominated for Leacock". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', March 20, 2002.
39. "Wingfield creator wins Leacock medal". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 24, 2003.
40. "And the nominees are ...". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', March 30, 2003.
41. "Ian Ferguson wins Leacock humour award". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 22, 2004.
42. "Will Ferguson wins second Leacock humour medal". ''[[The Telegram]]'', April 24, 2005.
43. "Black shortlisted for Leacock award". ''[[Victoria Times-Colonist]]'', April 6, 2005.
44. "Arthur Black wins third Leacock humour prize". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 20, 2006.
45. "Five Canadian finalists named for Leacock Medal of Humour". ''[[Sudbury Star]]'', March 31, 2006.
46. "He's funny. Seriously." ''[[The Telegram]]'', April 20, 2007.
47. "Five finalists named for Stephen Leacock medal". ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'', March 31, 2007.
48. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/self-published-novel-by-terry-fallis-wins-leacock-award-1.710236 "Self-published novel by Terry Fallis wins Leacock award"]. [[CBC News]], April 30, 2008.
49. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/leiren-young-wins-leacock-medal/article1196987/ "Mark Leiren-Young wins Leacock Medal for humour"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 30, 2009.
50. "Will Ferguson wins Leacock". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', May 2, 2010.
51. "Five in running for Leacock". ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', April 2, 2010.
52. "Leacock award goes to Ontario writer". ''[[Victoria Times-Colonist]]'', April 29, 2011.
53. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/patrick-dewitt-wins-stephen-leacock-medal-for-humour/article4102970/ "Patrick deWitt wins Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 27, 2012.
54. [https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/4-women-on-short-list-for-stephen-leacock-medal-1.1199521 "4 women on short list for Stephen Leacock Medal"]. [[CBC News]], April 2, 2012.
55. [http://www.cbc.ca/books/2013/04/cassie-stocks-wins-stephen-leacock-award.html "Cassie Stocks wins Stephen Leacock Award"]. [[CBC Arts]], April 25, 2013.
56. [http://www.cbc.ca/books/2013/04/the-authors-on-the-shortlist-for-the-stephen-leacock-medal-are-no-april-fools.html "The authors on the shortlist for the Stephen Leacock Medal are no April Fools"]. [[CBC Arts. CBC Books]], April 2, 2013.
57. [http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/04/bill-conall-wins-2014-stephen-leacock-medal-for-humour.html "Bill Conall wins 2014 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour"]. [[CBC News]], April 24, 2014.
58. [http://www.quillandquire.com/book-news/2015/04/30/terry-fallis-wins-second-leacock-medal-for-no-relation/ "Terry Fallis wins second Leacock Medal for No Relation"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', April 30, 2015.
59. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160613114611/http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/nanaimo-author-wins-stephen-leacock-medal-for-humour-1.2942350 "Nanaimo author wins Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour"]. [[CIVI-DT. CTV Vancouver Island]], June 12, 2016.
60. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160507005058/http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/two-time-leacock-medal-winner-terry-fallis-shortlisted-for-2016-prize-1.2891361 "Two-time Leacock Medal winner Terry Fallis shortlisted for 2016 prize"]. [[CTV News]], May 6, 2016.
61. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-author-gary-barwin-wins-leacock-medal-for-humour-for-yiddish-for-pirates-1.4156240 "Hamilton author Gary Barwin wins Leacock Medal for Humour for Yiddish for Pirates"]. [[CBC Hamilton]], June 12, 2017.
62. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-bc-based-author-jennifer-craig-wins-stephen-leacock-medal-for-humour/ "B.C.-based author Jennifer Craig wins Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 10, 2018.
63. [http://www.cbc.ca/books/scaachi-koul-laurie-gelman-and-jennifer-craig-shortlisted-for-2018-stephen-leacock-memorial-medal-for-humour-1.4645066 "Scaachi Koul, Laurie Gelman and Jennifer Craig shortlisted for 2018 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour"]. [[CBC Books]], May 2, 2018.
64. [https://quillandquire.com/omni/cathal-kelly-wins-leacock-medal/ "Cathal Kelly wins Leacock Medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', June 10, 2019.
65. Ryan Porter, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/shortlist-announced-for-stephen-leacock-medal/ "Shortlist announced for Stephen Leacock Medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', May 4, 2020.
66. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-thomas-king-wins-15000-stephen-leacock-medal-for-humour-writing/ "Thomas King wins $15,000 Stephen Leacock Medal for humour writing"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 4, 2021.
67. Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/shortlist-announced-for-stephen-leacock-medal-2/ "Shortlist announced for Stephen Leacock medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', May 3, 2021.
68. [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/09/17/rick-mercer-wins-the-leacock-medal-for-humour-for-memoir-talking-to-canadians.html "Rick Mercer wins the Leacock Medal for Humour for memoir ‘Talking to Canadians’"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 17, 2022.
69. [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/08/03/missing-woman-among-nominees-for-stephen-leacock-memorial-medal-for-humour.html "Missing woman among nominees for Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', August 3, 2022.
70. [https://quillandquire.com/omni/wayne-johnston-wins-stephen-leacock-medal/ "Wayne Johnston wins 2023 Stephen Leacock Medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', September 18, 2023.
71. [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/little-mosque-on-the-prairie-creator-among-finalists-for-leacock-medal-for-humour/article_dc0aff05-1315-5358-b501-feeb4a4f8470.html "‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’ creator among finalists for Leacock Medal for Humour"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', August 1, 2023.
72. Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/patrick-dewitt-wins-2024-leacock-medal/ "Patrick deWitt wins 2024 Leacock Medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', June 24, 2024.
73. David Friend, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/natalie-sue-wins-leacock-medal-for-humour-for-novel-i-hope-this-finds-you-well/article_c897b852-a003-55df-8cb7-d0b24b22c228.html "Natalie Sue wins Leacock Medal for Humour for novel ‘I Hope This Finds You Well’"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', June 21, 2025.
74. Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/three-books-shortlisted-for-2025-leacock-medal/ "Three books shortlisted for 2025 Leacock Medal"]. ''[[Quill & Quire]]'', May 20, 2025.