Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stephen Leacock Associates have announced the cancellation of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour gala weekend, which was scheduled to be held in Orillia, Ontario, during the first week of June. The winner of the prize recognizing Canadian humour writing is traditionally announced as part of the weekend. The winner will still be announced on June 5.

This year’s winner and fellow shortlisted authors will instead be invited to attend the gala weekend in 2021. The longlist for the prize will be announced on April 19 and the shortlist will be announced on May 1. Eighty-four books have been submitted for the $15,000 prize. The submitted titles are listed on the Stephen Leacock Associates’s website.

The annual Student Humorous Essay Award has also been cancelled while school is suspended for Canadian students.