Winners of the 2024 Alberta Book Publishing Awards
The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) announced the winners of the 2024 Alberta Book Publishing Awards. These awards celebrate the essential role Alberta book publishers play in supporting authors and telling Alberta’s Story.
The awards gala was hosted at the Varscona Theatre in Edmonton, and delegates from across Canada gathered to celebrate the Alberta book publishing industry. The Special Achievement in Publishing Award went to Kate Edwards, CEO of Access Copyright, for her exceptional leadership and dedication during her tenure as Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Publishers and her continued contributions to the Canadian independent publishing industry. Laberinto Press was awarded the Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year Award for their strong commitment to their authors and dedication to promoting underrepresented stories. A total of 16 awards were presented.
Congratulations to all of the winning and shortlisted publishers, authors, and designers!
Children’s & Young Adult
Brenda Joyce Leahy 
Published: May 15, 2023 by Red Barn Books Inc.
ISBN: 9781989915110
Trade Non-Fiction
Cherie Dimaline 
Published: Feb 15, 2023 by Canadian Literature Centre / Centre de littérature canadienne
ISBN: 9781772126822
Learning
Leslie Vermeer 
Published: Dec 11, 2023 by Brush Education
ISBN: 9781550597875
Robert Kroetsch Award for Poetry
David Martin 
Published: Sep 01, 2023 by NeWest Press
ISBN: 9781774390771
Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction
Super-Earth Mother
Guy Immega 
Published: June 1, 2023 by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
ISBN: 9781770532274
Mystery and Thriller
Bill Slavin 
Published: May 17, 2023 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781989754269
Publisher of the Year
Special Achievement in Publishing Award
Kate Edwards, CEO of Access Copyright
Scholarly & Academic
Graham McDowell, Madison Stevens, Shawn Marshall
Published: Nov 17, 2023 by University of Calgary Press
ISBN: 9781773855097
Graphic Novel
Bill Slavin 
Published: May 17, 2023 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781989754269
Trade Fiction
Regional
Eveline Kolijn
, Alice Major
, Larry Kapustka 
Published: Apr 30, 2023 by Durvile Publications
ISBN: 9781990735134
Book Cover Design
Alex Soop 
Published: Oct 01, 2023 by Durvile Publications Ltd.
ISBN: 9781990735301
Book Design
Joshua Whitehead 
Published: Apr 25, 2023 by Athabasca University Press
ISBN: 9781771993913
Book Illustration
Bill Slavin 
Published: May 17, 2023 by Renegade Arts Entertainment
ISBN: 9781989754269
Lois Hole Award for Editorial Excellence
Kay Rollans for:
Leslie Vermeer 
Published: Dec 11, 2023 by Brush Education
ISBN: 9781550597875
“No Definition of Alberta Culture is complete without recognizing the herculean efforts of Alberta publishers to bring the prodigious talents of Canadian writers to eager readers everywhere.”
~ Steve Budnarchuk, Audreys Books