Simone Dalton wins RBC Taylor Prize Emerging Writer Award

Alumna Simone Dalton has been announced as the winner of the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize Emerging Writer Award valued at $10,000. The slection was made by Mark Bourrie, who recently won the 2019 RBC Taylor Prize for his book Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson. Of his choice of recipient Bourie said:

“Simone Dalton is a vibrant new voice who has already shown readers some of her tremendous promise. Five talented, bright, charismatic writers were introduced to RBC Taylor Prize finalists and all of them will soon become well-known to Canadian readers. Simone will now have some financing to finish a very powerful, emotional work of non-fiction. Her experiences, so varied, adventurous and intense, give her the emotional depth to be a great writer. As well, her kindness, humour, and open-mindedness will make her work so very readable.”

Bourrie was introduced to Simone when they were paired through the RBC Taylor Prize Mentorship program, a program which gave five emerging writers the opportunity to work with Taylor Prize finalists and paticipate in industry events.

Congratulations, Simone, from everyone here at the program. Our alumni have also been recognized in conjunction with the Taylor Prize in the past: Adnan Khan was the winner of the Emerging Writer Award in 2016 and Becky Blake was selected as a Taylor Prize Mentorship participant in 2019.

You can read more about the prize and Simone's current work in the full press release on the Taylor Prize Website.