The purpose of the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award is to give public recognition to the skill necessary to craft a story based on excellence of writing and research. Such recognition both honors the writer and recognizes the publisher. In the process of completing and bringing a manuscript to publication, writers must often focus their time exclusively on their writing. This can create extended personal and financial hardships. The Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award will help support a writer, prior to publication, to meet expenses related to living, writing and research. An award is presented to a B.C., Alberta or Saskatchewan freelance writer who has a contract for publication of a non-fiction magazine article or book. Projects that delve into issues associated with social justice, whether in the Canadian context or globally are strongly encouraged. Further, the hope that is woven through the creation and continuation of this writing award is always that people will expand their understanding of the world in which they live and may themselves in their own way become active advocates for change as was Dave Greber.

The Criteria found in the Call for Submissions identify which writers are qualified and invited to apply for the award. No other restrictions apply.

WINNERS OF THE DAVE GREBER FREELANCE WRITERS AWARD

The first award of $1000 was presented in 2004 to Brian Brennan for the chapter What's in a Name?-1896, Ha Ling Finally Gets his Due Recognition, from his book, Romancing the Rockies, published by Fifth House Ltd., a Fitzhenry and Whiteside Company.

The second award of $2000 was presented on September 25, 2005 at Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair in Calgary, Alberta. The winner of the award was Marcello Di Cintio. Mr. Di Cintio's successful submission, In the Holy City, Pilgrimage, is a chapter from his new book, Poets and Pahlevans: Travels in Iran, to be published in 2006 by Alfred A Knopf Canada, a division of Random House of Canada Ltd.

The 2006 winner of the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award was Gordon Laird, a Calgary freelance writer. The $2000 award was presented on September 24, 2006 at Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair in Calgary. Mr. Laird's successful submission, Empire of Bargains, How cheap stuff conquers nations, changes your life, owns your future, is a chapter from his new book, Passage to Wal- Mart: How Bargains Rule the World, to be published in 2006 by McClelland and Stewart Ltd.

The fourth (2007) recipient of the award is John Vigna, a Vancouver freelance writer. Mr. Vigna's successful submission, The Ballad of Big and Small, is a magazine article to be published in the fall of 2007 by Grain Magazine. Shirley Dunn, founder and fund developer for the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award presented the award and the $2000.00 prize to Mr. Vigna on September 30, 2007 at The Word on The Street, Book and Magazine Fair in Calgary.