The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is proud to present the Freedom to Read Award as part of the celebration of Freedom to Read Week across Canada in February of each year. The award recognizes work in support of freedom of expression.
Previous winners have included author Lawrence Hill for his response to the threat to burn his novel The Book of Negroes, Quebec writer Charles Montpetit for his tireless work to help preserve the freedom to read and write in this country, Janine Fuller of Little Sisters bookstore in Vancouver for her ongoing challenges to Canada's ability to ban books at the border, and Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby for his many years of working to fight censorship.
TWUC is pleased to announce that author and activist Farzana Doctor is the recipient of the 2023 Freedom to Read Award. Farzana Doctor is the author of four novels and a recent collection of poetry. For many years, she curated the Brockton Reading Series in her west Toronto neighbourhood. A long-time volunteer with The Writers’ Union of Canada, Doctor also volunteers with WeSpeakOut, a global group that is working to ban female genital cutting in her Dawoodi Bohra community. She co-founded the End FGM Canada Network. Doctor is also a professional psychotherapist. Read the full press release here.
Freedom to Read Award Winners
- 2023: Farzana Doctor
- 2022: Anjula Gogia
- 2021: David A. Robertson
- 2020: Ivan Coyote
- 2019: Jael Richardson and the Festival of Literary Diversity
- 2018: Gary Geddes
- 2017: Deborah Campbell
- 2016: Mohamed Fahmy
- 2015: Ron Brown
- 2014: Eric Marshall and Chris Turner
- 2013: Patsy Aldana
- 2012: Lawrence Hill
- 2011: John Raulston Saul
- 2010: Alan Borovoy
- 2009: Nancy Fleming
- 2008: Derek Finkle
- 2007: Evie Freedman
- 2006: Charles Montpetit
- 2005: Wendy Lill
- 2004: Peter Carver
- 2003: Clayton C. Ruby
- 2002: Janine Fuller
- 1999: Senator Lorna Milne
- 2023: Farzana Doctor
- 2022: Anjula Gogia
- 2021: David A. Robertson
- 2020: Ivan Coyote
- 2019: Jael Richardson and the Festival of Literary Diversity
- 2018: Gary Geddes
- 2017: Deborah Campbell
- 2016: Mohamed Fahmy
- 2015: Ron Brown
- 2014: Eric Marshall and Chris Turner
- 2013: Patsy Aldana
- 2012: Lawrence Hill
- 2011: John Raulston Saul
- 2010: Alan Borovoy
- 2009: Nancy Fleming
- 2008: Derek Finkle
- 2007: Evie Freedman
- 2006: Charles Montpetit
- 2005: Wendy Lill
- 2004: Peter Carver
- 2003: Clayton C. Ruby
- 2002: Janine Fuller
- 1999: Senator Lorna Milne