The Department of English Language and Literature at Saint Mary’s University is proud to celebrate more than four decades of commitment to creative writing in Atlantic Canada through its sponsorship of the 2026 Atlantic Book Awards Festival, held in Halifax from May 27 to June 3.
For over forty years, Saint Mary’s has played a vital role in fostering literary culture across the region by supporting writers at every stage of their careers. This year's sponsorship reflects the Department’s enduring belief that literature is essential to the cultural, intellectual, and civic life of our communities.
Since 2018 alone, sixteen winners of Atlantic Book Awards have been associated with Saint Mary’s as faculty members, alumni, collaborators, or featured readers in the Saint Mary’s Reading Series. Among this year's nominees was Saint Mary’s alumnus Danny Jacobs, shortlisted for the prestigious Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize for his novel The Ignis Psalter.
The Department’s faculty includes an accomplished and diverse community of poets, fiction writers, playwrights, librettists, songwriters, and literary scholars whose work has received national and international recognition such as Soji Cole, Luke Hathaway, Gugu Hlongwane, Alexander MacLeod, and Ray Sewell. Their work has been translated into multiple languages and published around the world, helping to bring Atlantic Canadian stories to global audiences.
Our commitment to literary culture extends beyond the classroom. For decades, Saint Mary’s has organized the Saint Mary’s Reading Series, the longest-running literary reading series in Nova Scotia. The series has welcomed many of Canada's most celebrated writers while providing a platform for emerging voices from Atlantic Canada and beyond. Together, our creative writing courses, public programming, and community partnerships have helped establish Saint Mary’s as a hub for literary excellence in the region.
As part of this year's Atlantic Book Awards Festival, the Department proudly sponsored the Atlantic Poetry Prize event held at The Carleton in downtown Halifax. The evening brought together an exceptional group of finalists whose books demonstrate the remarkable breadth and vitality of contemporary poetry in Atlantic Canada and beyond:
Department Chair Dr. Tatjana Takševa attended the event and joined the finalists in celebrating their achievements and the important role literary communities play in supporting writers throughout their careers. The competition embodied the Department’s long-standing commitment to fostering literary dialogue, championing artistic excellence, and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement between writers and readers.
"The Atlantic Book Awards remind us that literature flourishes through community," said Dr. Takševa. "At Saint Mary’s, we are proud to support writers not only through our teaching and mentorship, but also through partnerships that strengthen the literary ecosystem of Atlantic Canada. Events such as the Atlantic Poetry Prize create vital spaces where emerging and established voices can be heard, celebrated, and connected."
The Department extends its warmest congratulations to Sue Goyette on receiving the 2026 Atlantic Poetry Prize and to all finalists, publishers, organizers, and participants whose work contributed to an outstanding festival.
As we celebrate forty years of creative writing at Saint Mary’s, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing new talent, supporting literary organizations, and promoting the vibrant culture of reading and writing that enriches our communities. Literature remains one of the most powerful ways we understand ourselves and one another, and Saint Mary’s will continue to champion Atlantic Canadian writers every step of the way.
Photo: Dr. Tatjana Takseva, Chair of the Department of English Language and Literature, with finalists for the 2026 Atlantic Poetry Prize at The Carleton during the Atlantic Book Awards Festival.