Five writers, Rachel Foster, Laura MacGregor, Jennifer McGuire, Lena Palacios, and Crystal Semaganis, have been selected for the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize shortlist. Their nominated works include “Summer Ash” by Rachel Foster, “The Invisible Woman” by Laura MacGregor, “The First Apartment” by Jennifer McGuire, “Cancer Stage Exit 4: A Memoir” by Lena Palacios, and “In Case I Die” by Crystal Semaganis. The winner of the prize will be revealed on September 25 and will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts along with a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Additionally, the remaining four finalists will each be awarded $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts. All five finalists had their works published on CBC Books, accessible through the provided links. The longlist for the competition was chosen from over 1,300 submissions and underwent a rigorous two-tiered selection process by reading committees before being reviewed by a final jury.
The jury for this year’s finalists consists of Zoe Whittall, Danny Ramadan, and Helen Knott, who will also determine the ultimate winner. The works are evaluated anonymously based on language use, originality of subject, and writing style. For more information on the judging process for the CBC Literary Prizes, readers can visit the FAQ page provided.
The French-language competition shortlist has also been announced, and readers can explore more details on the Prix de la création Radio-Canada website. Last year’s winner was Aldona Dziedziejko for her essay “Ice Safety Chart: Fragments,” and the full 2024 shortlist can be accessed for further reading.
For those interested in other writing competitions, the CBC Literary Prizes website offers information on the upcoming 2026 CBC Short Story Prize, the 2026 CBC Nonfiction Prize opening in January, and the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize opening in April. To learn more about the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize English-language finalists and their works, readers can delve into their stories provided in the links.