The jurors for the 2010 Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize were:
Tricia Kearns has managed The Children’s Bookshop in Sidney for the past 12 years. She earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science, worked for fifteen years as a Teacher Librarian in Honduras, Spain and California and also spent five years in New York City working in children’s publishing.
Julie Lawson is the author of numerous books for children, including the award-winning novel White Jade Tiger. Her most recent book Where the River Takes Me was a finalist for last year’s Bolen Book Children’s Book Prize. Her newest book, Ghost of the Titanic is due out in 2011.
A former teacher-librarian, Bobbie Turner is currently the co-owner of CanLit Books for Kids and Teens, a book wholesaler of Canadian children’s and young adult books to school libraries across Canada. She works and lives in North Saanich with her husband and three teenage children.
The jurors for the 2010 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize were:
Olivia Anderson has been an avid reader and bibliophile from day one. Beginning in 1980, she worked in a variety of bookstores while completing a BA in History from UBC until she took her MLIS from McGill in 1992. For the past 6 years she has been a Branch Head at Greater Victoria Public Library and is active in building the library’s adult fiction collection.
Harold Rhenisch has written poetry, fiction, essays, memoir and literary and scientific nonfiction. He won the Malahat Long Poem Prize, the CBC Literary Prize, Theatre BC’s National Playwriting Prize and the George Ryga Prize in 2007 for his prose memoir, The Wolves at Evelyn. His latest book Motherstone: British Columbia’s Volcanic Plateau is a collaboration with photographer by Chris Harris.
Jean Wilson began her career in publishing at the University of Toronto Press in 1968. After 8 years there, she moved west – working as a freelance editor in both Vancouver and Toronto for the next 12 years. In 1988 she became Managing Editor at UBC Press where she stayed until 2008. During these 20 years she held a variety of positions including Senior Editor, Associate Director and Acting Director.
The jurors for the 2009 Bolen Books Children‘s Book Prize were:
Thora Howell began her career as a librarian and then a teacher librarian. She was a bookseller in Nanaimo for over 20 years and remains very active in the book community.
Andrea Brimmell is a librarian at the Greater Victoria Public Library. She is the Branch Head of both the Juan de Fuca Library in Colwood and the Goudy Express Branch in Langford. She was a Children‘s Librarian for many years at the Central Library and at the Esquimalt Branch. Andrea is a storyteller who has performed in numerous schools and at community events.
Bill Valgardson has won multiple literary awards in multiple genres. He is a novelist, essayist, playwright, short fiction writer, and children‘s author. He recently retired from the University of Victoria‘s Creative Writing Department.
The jurors for the 2009 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize were:
Sandra Anderson is a librarian. Born and educated in Toronto, she has worked in libraries in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. She moved to Victoria in 1995 to accept the position of CEO of the Greater Victoria Public LIbrary. She served in that capacity until she retired in 2006.
Marlyn Horsdal is a respected publisher, editor and writer. She has been active in the book community of BC for over 30 years.
Brian Brett is the author of ten books of poetry and fiction. He writes, teaches and runs a working farm on Salt Spring Island.
Past Jurors
2008
Victor Bosson, children’s book illustrator
Megan Scott Owner, Ivy’s Bookshop
Abby Ranger assistant editor, Scholastic Press.
Jessica Walker buyer, Munro’s Books
Neil McAllister Branch Head, Oak Bay Library.
Kathryn Bridge archivist and manager, British Columbia Archives, Royal BC Museum Corporation.
2007
Jennifer Rowan, Youth Librarian at GVPL
Dave Hill, Manager, Munro’s
George McWhirter, Vancouver author
2006
Mel Bolen, CEO Bolen Books
Katherine Pearson, Victoria author
Henry Wetselaar, retired librarian
2005
Trevor Carolin, North Vancouver author
Mary Virtue, retired librarian
Neil Williams, owner Williams Books
2004
Barbara Greeniaus
John Moore
Yvonne Sharpe