Writer, editor, and publisher Stuart Ross has been named the recipient of the 2019 Harbourfront Festival Prize. Ross, who currently resides in Coburg, Ontario, is a prolific author of poetry, fiction, short stories, and memoirs, most recently this spring’s poetry title Museum of the Opposable Thumbs (Anvil Press). A former editor at Mansfield Press, Ross now spearheads the poetry imprint A Feed Dog Book at Anvil. He is well known as a teacher and mentor to young Canadian writers, maintaining strong connections in the industry.
The Harbourfront Festival Prize, now in its 35th year, comes with a $10,000 purse. This year’s recipient was decided by a three-person jury comprising Toronto International Festival of Authors artistic director Geoffrey E. Taylor, Toronto Star books editor Deborah Dundas, and Q&Q publisher Alison Jones.
Ross will be presented with the award at a TIFA event on Oct. 27, featuring readings by the authors on the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language Fiction shortlist. The event will be moderated by Carol Off. A longtime advocate for small presses in Canada, Ross will also participate in TIFA’s small-press market and a roundtable discussion about small presses, both of which take place on Oct. 26.