Chris Turner's book on climate change wins $25K Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for political writing
Bridget Raymundo | CBC Books | Posted: May 11, 2023 1:05 PM | Last Updated: May 11, 2023
The annual prize is for literary nonfiction that embodies a political subject relevant to Canadians
Chris Turner has won the 2023 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing for his book How to Be a Climate Optimist.
The Calgary-based author and climate activist was awarded the $25,000 prize on May 10 in Ottawa at the 35th annual Politics and the Pen gala, a fundraiser to support the Writers' Trust of Canada's literary programs.
Now entering its 23rd year, the $25,000 prize is awarded annually for a book of literary nonfiction that embodies a political subject relevant to Canadian readers and Canadian political life.
In How to Be a Climate Optimist, Turner combines original reporting with personal reflection to write about the history and current realities of climate change. Turner simplifies the first quarter century of the global energy transition for readers and offers his own reflections and methodology to how we may build towards a sustainable future.
"Winning the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize among such a talent-packed list of finalists is an enormous honour and one of a precious few remaining avenues remaining to gain attention for a Canadian non-fiction book. I'm feeling, well, optimistic that this award will help my book to reach new readers who don't hear often enough that the solutions to the climate crisis are now ready to go and already building a better Canada and a better world," Chris Turner said via email to CBC Books.
LISTEN | Chris Turner on The Sunday Magazine:
"The climate debate is inherently pessimistic, and while Chris Turner doesn't pretend that crafting policy to slow global warming is easy, he presents a compelling argument: gloom and doom is not an effective strategy. How to Be a Climate Optimist is a self-help guide for the planet and a masterclass in brisk, vivid storytelling. Turner gives us a crisp, upbeat tour d'horizon of gee-whiz innovation coupled with a strongly argued case that we — politicians, voters, and citizens — just need the will to reach for the solutions taking shape before our eyes," the jury said in a statement.
The jury was comprised of political science professor Teri E. Givens, Canadian pollster and data scientist Nik Nanos and journalist Jacques Poitras.
WATCH | Chris Turner on winning the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize
The remaining finalists were Kinauvit? by Inuk writer Norma Dunning, From Left to Right by Dale Eisler, Sideways by Josh O'Kane, and Valley of the Birdtail by Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii). They will each receive $2,500.
The Shaughnessy Cohen Prize was established in honour of the outspoken and popular Member of Parliament from Windsor, Ont. It is sponsored by CN and supported by the Politics and the Pen gala.
Last year's winner was Joanna Chiu for her debut book China Unbound. Other past winners include Kamal Al Solaylee, Beverley McLachlin, Jane Jacobs and Roméo Dallaire.
The Writers' Trust of Canada is an organization that supports Canadian writers through fellowships, financial grants, mentorships and more. It was founded in 1976 by Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laurence and David Young.
It also gives out 11 prizes in recognition of the year's best in fiction, nonfiction and short story, as well as mid-career and lifetime achievement awards.