Martyn Godfrey Young Writers Award
We know there are a lot of awesome young writers in Alberta.
We think they deserve a little extra recognition, and the Martyn Godfrey Award is just the thing! This is an annual, juried short story contest open to all Albertan students in grades 4 through 9. Entries can be sent in from January 1-March 31 each year.
Are there prizes?
You bet! Three fabulous writers from each grade will be selected to win a collection of books, a certificate, and a place in the Winners’ Circle: an exclusive, online writing workshop with a professionally published author.
We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the 2023 Martyn Godfrey Award. Congratulations to all and keep writing!
2023 Elementary Winners
Grade 4
- Matthew Leong of Calgary for The Boy and The Sword
- Emilia Kovaliv of Edmonton for Saving Planet X
- Amelia Hurley of Fort Saskatchewan for It’s My Turn
Grade 5
- Hailey Lanovaz of Calgary for Little Green Riding Hood
- Violet Vizena Selfors of Red Deer for The Dragon
- Ewa Olaniyan of Calgary for Dealing with Different
Grade 6
- Violet Sylvestre of Camrose for A Witch’s Storm
- Amara Archer of Calgary for The Tale of the Coffee Shop
- Freja Bekkering Van Damme of Calgary for The Music Box
2023 Junior High Winners
Grade 7
- Ella Abebe of Calgary for Beyond the Gates
- Chloe Chan of Edmonton for The Ghostly Soldier
- Areeba Haque of Edmonton for The Cloth of New Beginnings
Grade 8
- Ava Serena Jivraj of Edmonton for Hide And Seek
- Sofia Nenshi Nathoo of Calgary for Lucky
- Kaylene Lugay of Edmonton for Dancing Among the Stars
Grade 9
- Pierce Ror of Fort Saskatchewan for Broken
- Sarathi Gunarathna of Edmonton for Without Marianna
- Genavieve Myson of Calgary for Credo
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Who was Martyn Godfrey?
Martyn Godfrey (1949-2000) was born in England and raised in Toronto. Initially a school teacher in Ontario and Alberta, he became a full-time writer for young adult and juvenile fiction in 1985. He had more than 40 books published, and he toured with the Young Alberta Book Society for many years. One of the things he enjoyed most about his career was laughing over the creative and hilarious letters he received from kids. It was his joy in reading those letters that inspired us to create this award in his honour.