Michael Crummey, author of Sweetland and Galore, was awarded the first-ever Writers' Trust Fellowship on Wednesday night at its annual gala in Toronto.

The Writers' Trust Fellowship was established to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017. Crummey is the first of three writers to receive the $50,000 fellowship over the next three years. He will also receive a two-week residency at The Banff Centre, a nationally renowned arts organization.

"The Writers' Trust Fellowship was so unexpected, so extravagant and unlikely, that I'm still in shock," said Crummey in a news release. "It means time to work of course, something all writers fight for. And, given the literary talent in this country, it's a huge honour even to have been considered."

Crummey, a critically acclaimed poet and author from Newfoundland and Labrador, is no stranger to Canada's most prestigious literary awards. His latest novel, Sweetland, is currently on the 2016 International DUBLIN Literary Award longlist and was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award.

Crummey's next work will be a collection of poetry entitled Little Dogs published by House of Anansi Press.

Nominations for next year's fellow will be accepted starting in early 2016. A winner will be chosen by an anonymous panel of Canadian literature experts.