2015 City of Vancouver Book Award Finalists Announced

Four books that reflect Vancouver’s unique character, culture and history have been selected as finalists for the 2015 City of Vancouver Book Award. 

The books on this year’s shortlist cover a range of genres: non-fiction, short stories, poetry, and a children’s book. 

The 2015 finalists are: 

Live at the Commodore by Aaron Chapman (Arsenal Pulp Press), an homage to the  “Fabulous Commodore,” a music venue which for 85 years has served as a cultural barometer for Vancouver;

The Outer Harbour by Wayde Compton (Arsenal Pulp Press), a creative manifesto for a radical change in Vancouver’s attitude to its marginalized citizens and land use to avert a crash-course with a dystopian, very-near future;

Hastings-Sunrise by Bren Simmers (Nightwood Editions), a whimsical, yet political collection of poetry which balances vibrancy and eccentricity against the anxiety and despair of living amidst an affordability crisis in East Vancouver;

Mister Got To Go, Where are you? by Lois Simmie and Cynthia Nugent (Red Deer Press), a lovingly written and illustrated Vancouver-based children’s book featuring an impromptu journey by the iconic cat from the Sylvia Hotel.

The selections were made by a jury consisting of Anna Ling Kaye, editor of Ricepaper Magazine and 2015 Journey Prize Anthology author; Zoey Leigh Peterson, novelist and librarian; and Sirish Rao, artistic director and co-founder of the Indian Summer Festival.

The $3,000 prize is funded by the City's Publishing Reserve, which was established in 1977 as a permanent legacy for Vancouver writers and publishers.

The winner of the 27th annual City of Vancouver Book Award will be revealed at the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony, to be held at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre on November 12.