Photo: James Di Donato

Did you know that Canada is home to the world’s third largest population of Ukrainians? Neither did I, until I was approached by the Kobzar Literary Award to publicize their 2012 event.

A $25,000 prize that recognizes Canadian writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama or young people’s literature whose work centres on a Ukrainian Canadian theme, the Kobzar Literary Award is handed out every two years by the Shevchenko Foundation. This was the fourth awarding.

Thanks to everyone who supported the event. The dedicated core of literature lovers at the $250-a-ticket ceremony kept the winner and nominees signing books until at least an hour after the dinner was over.

Congratulations to Shandi Mitchell, who won for her debut novel, Under This Unbroken Sky, and to the nominees Laryssa Andrusyshyn, Myrna Kostash, Myroslav Shkandrij, and Rhea Tregebov.

Read and hear more about it at the CBC, National Post, Open Book: Toronto, Quill & Quire, and The 49th Shelf.

Looking forward to the next event in 2014!