The deadline for the Peter Gzowski Literacy Award of Merit is fast approaching.
The deadline for submissions to the award is April 18. The competition is open to all professional journalists working and residing in Canada. Entries may be of either a local or national interest, and may be based on reporting analysis.
Entries will be accepted from several categories, including a community newspaper category.
The Peter Gzowski Literacy Award of Merit was developed by ABC CANADA in 1993, in honour of the late broadcaster and writer, Peter Gzowski — a passionate champion for literacy — to recognize the talent, effort and commitment required to achieve quality reporting on issues related to literacy.
By honouring journalists for truly outstanding achievements in enhancing public understanding, support for and awareness of the literacy cause, The Peter Gzowski Literacy Award of Merit memorializes Peter’s remarkable work in this field, and his strong belief that such understanding is critical to moving this issue forward and ultimately, to improving the literacy rates of all Canadians.
The late Peter Gzowski, former journalist, broadcaster and long time Board member of ABC CANADA was a dedicated supporter of the literacy cause. Peter grew up in the small town of Galt, Ontario. At the University of Toronto, he edited The Varsity and acquired a passion for journalism which took him to jobs in Timmins, Moose Jaw and Chatham. In 1962, he became managing editor of Maclean’s. Peter also worked as entertainment editor of the Toronto Star, as editor of Star Weekly and as editor of Maclean’s. He became a household name as the host of CBC Radio’s This Country in the Morning. An accomplished author, he wrote several nonfiction books before returning to CBC Radio as host of Morningside, in 1982. A project Peter took great pride in was the series of golf tournaments which he founded in aid of literacy. In 1986, Peter vowed to raise $1 million in his lifetime to benefit community-based literacy organizations. To date the PGI Golf Tournaments for Literacy have raised over $7 million, making this initiative the most successful fundraiser for literacy in Canada. There is now a PGI tournament in every province and territory — including Nunavut.
You can view the entry form at www.abc-canada.org/public_awareness/pga_entry.asp .