Freehand Books was awarded the Mel Hurtig Publisher of the Year award at the 2026 Alberta Book Publishing Awards.
Congratulations to author Sharon Butala, editor Naomi Lewis, and How to Breathe Water winner of the Trade Non-fiction Book of the Year.
Congratulations to author Lauren Carter, editor Naomi Lewis, and The Longest Night winner of the Douglas Barbour Award for Speculative Fiction.
Congratulations to author Tim Bowling, editor Debora Willis, and Graveyard Shift at the Lemonade Stand winner of the Trade Fiction Book of the Year.
The Alberta Publishing Awards were presented in Edmonton on September 17, 2026. Thank you to the Book Publisher’s Association of Alberta, and congratulations to all of the winners and shortlisted publishers! You can see a full list of the winners here.