Hungarian-born Toronto author Joseph Kertes, former dean of creative and performing arts at Humber College, has been named the recipient of this year’s Harbourfront Festival Prize, a $10,000 award administered by the International Festival of Authors in recognition of an individual’s contribution to Canadian literature.

Kertes was selected by a jury comprising IFOA director Geoffrey E. Taylor, 2016 Festival Prize recipient Miriam Toews, and Toronto Star books editor Deborah Dundas, who says in a press release:

Kertes was front of mind when we sat down to discuss who might be this year’s honoree. He’s not only a brilliant author himself, but a dedicated educator and mentor to so many young writers – exactly the type of person the Harbourfront Festival Prize is meant to recognize.

Kertes will be honoured at IFOA on Oct. 23.