The Commonwealth Short Story Prize announced their 2016 shortlist on Thursday morning. Two Canadian writers have made the cut: Trent Lewin for "Vestigial" and Don McLellan for "Children of the Zocalo."
Lewin and McLellan join 24 other writers from 11 countries on the 2016 Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist. See the full shortlist here.
Currently in its fifth year, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded to a piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words). There were nearly 4,000 entries for the 2016 prize.

The jury was comprised of five writers, each who represented a different region of the Commonwealth: Pierre J. Mejlak represented Canada and Europe, Olive Senior - who lives in Toronto - represented the Caribbean, Patrick Holland represented the Pacific, Helon Habila represented Africa and Firdous Azim represented Asia.

The regional winners, who will receive £2,500 ($4,670 Cdn), will be announced on May 4. The overall winner will be announced in September and will receive £5,000 ($9,340 Cdn).
Trent Lewin was a finalist for the 2014 CBC Short Story Prize for his story "Saad Steps Out." Don McLellan, a Vancouver-based journalist, made the ReLit Award shortlist in 2009 for his story collection In the Quiet After Slaughter.