Georges Ajami has made the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for Sandwiches.

The winner of the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and have the opportunity to attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The shortlist will be announced on Sept. 22 and the winner will be announced on Sept. 29.

If you're interested in the CBC Literary Prizes, the 2022 CBC Short Story Prize is open for submissions until Oct. 31.

Georges Ajami was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He moved to Canada in 2017 and changed careers from graphic design to carpentry. He is currently building his family a cottage in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec. He enjoys reading and writing in different styles, but this is the first time he has ever submitted one of his works.

"War memories are never forgotten."

"Moving to Canada made me realize how important it is to provide safety and dignity to one's family. Growing up in Lebanon and going through many political and social instabilities made me swear to never start a family there. Now my son Marco, and my second son, who's on the way, can hopefully experience a better life than I had ― if the effects of climate change do not get them first."

It was a pleasant and relatively quiet sunny day, which was an opportunity for me to get outside and play with my young son while there were still pleasant days to be had. It was late fall, but still the brilliant colours and the warm air were last reminders of the hotter months past. There's a spot in the forest between Lachute and Mont Tremblant, Que., that's our family's favourite little getaway. We drove there, my wife and Marco and I, stocked up with hiking gear and picnic supplies and diaper bags and sunglasses.

It's not a forest actually, but a series of treed patches and open meadows along a relatively small but very full river. My son can walk and even run now, and he was up ahead frolicking with my wife, picking up coloured leaves, and occasionally stopping to admire the mushrooms on fallen branches and tree trunks. I followed, gazing in wonder. Canadian falls are definitely a sight to behold.

The winner of the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The 2022 CBC Short Story Prize is currently open for submissions until Oct. 31, 2021. The 2022 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January and the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize will open in April.