Victoria Book Prizes announce nine finalists

Nine finalists have been selected for the 2026 City of Victoria Book Prizes after a pool of fifty local books was reviewed. The finalists are competing across three distinct categories: the City of Victoria Book Prize, the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize, and the DC Reid Poetry Prize.

Each winner in these categories will receive a $5,000 cash prize. The winners are scheduled to be announced on November 14. The competition evaluated works published between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, with selections made by independent juries from the local library and literary arts communities.

Finalists for the City of Victoria Book Prize include Dennis E. Bolen, Tracey Lindberg, and Terence Young. The Children’s Book Prize finalists are Mike Deas, Mike and Nancy Deas, and Uma Krishnaswami. The DC Reid Poetry Prize shortlist features John Barton, Marilyn Bowering, and Arleen Paré.