The Lieutenant-Governor’s
Medal for Historical Writing

Each year, the British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions for its Annual Historical Writing Competition to authors of British Columbia history; and the winning author is awarded the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing.

Eligibility
    • To be eligible, a book must be about BC history and be published within the
       competition year
    • Non-fiction books representing any aspect of BC history are eligible.
    • Reprints or revisions of books are not eligible
    • Books may be submitted by authors or publishers
    • Deadline for submission is December 31 of the year in which the book was published

Submission Requirements
    • For information about making submissions contact
              Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Historical Writing
    • Deadline: December 31st of the year in which the book was published
    • Authors/Publishers are required to submit three copies of their book
    • Books are to be accompanied by a letter containing the following:
       1. Title of the book submitted
       2. Author’s name and contact information
       3. Publisher’s name and contact information
       4. Selling price
    • Books entered become the property of the BC Historical Federation
    • By submitting books for this competition, the authors agree that the BC Historical
       Federation may use their name(s) in press releases and in its publications

Judging Criteria
Judges are looking for quality presentations and fresh material. Submissions will be evaluated in the following areas:
    • Scholarship: quality of research and documentation, comprehensiveness,
       objectivity and accuracy
    • Presentation: organization, clarity, illustrations and graphics
    • Accessibility: readability and audience appeal

Publicity
All winners will receive publicity and an invitation to the Award’s Banquet at the Federation’s annual conference in May following the year of publication.

Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal and Other Awards
The BC Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing will be awarded together with $600 to the author whose book makes the most significant contribution to the historical literature of British Columbia. The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $400 and $200 respectively. Certificates of Honourable Mention may be awarded to other books as recommended by the judges.

Historical Note
A proposal to initiate a BC history writing competition was approved at the Federation’s annual conference in 1983 and the Lieutenant Governor, as Honorary Patron, agreed to the awarding of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing. On five occasions His/Her Honour has presented this medal: Victoria (1989), Richmond (2001), Prince George (2003), Victoria (2007), and Nelson (2009).

Awards for 2010
Winner: Sylvia Olsen, Working with Wool: a Coast Salish Legacy and the Cowichan
                Sweater.
2nd Place: Dan Savard, Images from the Likeness House.
3rd Place: Dorothy Faulkner, Elaine Park and Cathy Jenks, Women of Pender Harbour:
                Their Voices, Their History.
Honourable Mentions:
        • Alan Twigg, The Essentials: 150 Great BC Books & Authors.
        • Robert Budd, Voices of British Columbia: Stories from Our Frontier.
        • Jane Stevenson, The Railroader's Wife: Letters from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

Past Winners