Nancy Flight (photo courtesy the Writers’ Trust of Canada)

The Writers’ Trust of Canada announced a new $25,000 prize for excellence in nonfiction editing – the largest prize for editors in Canada.

The Nancy Flight Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction Editing, named for the long-time nonfiction editor who is funding the prize from 2026 to 2033, will be awarded annually to shine a light on the unique and important role editors play in bringing books to life.

Flight, who worked as a nonfiction editor for more than 45 years, and counts David Suzuki, Evelyn Lau, and Wade Davis among the authors she has worked with, is herself a recipient of the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence and the Karen Virag Award for raising the profile of editors and editing, both presented by Editors Canada.

She first started to think about creating a new substantial prize that would recognize the important and unique role of book editors. (Although she officially retired from her role as associate publisher at Greystone Books in 2017, she stayed on as editor emerita and continued to work on select projects for several more years.)  She wanted to create a legacy that would honour the work in which she found so much value and meaning over the decades.

“I hope that we get rid of this idea that editors should be anonymous and they should not toot their own horns – they really should be acknowledged much more than traditionally they have been,” Flight told Q&Q. “There’s no one else – except perhaps the author’s spouse – who cares as much about this book, who knows it as well, who wants the author to look good, and wants it to sell.”

After consulting with several others in the industry, including Rob Sanders, her former publisher at Greystone Books, and Patsy Aldana, Flight decided to approach the Writers’ Trust about partnering on a prize. The nonprofit was immediately interested.

The award is being launched this year as part of the Writers’ Trust’s 50th anniversary. The inaugural winner will be selected by a three-person jury comprised of both writers and editors, and will be announced at the Writers’ Trust’s annual awards in November.

“Supporting writers takes many forms, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to recognize the partnership that writers and editors have in bringing great nonfiction to Canadian readers,” Writers’ Trust executive director David Leonard said in a press release. “The Canadian books ecosystem is multi-faceted, and we’re looking forward to spotlighting even more great books and talent through this new prize.”

Flight has been surprised by the enthusiasm for this idea from others in the book business, from publishers to authors to other editors, and is proud to celebrate the work she enjoyed.

“I’m glad that I somehow fell into this role. It’s been very meaningful and important to me and I have loved every minute of it,” Flight said. “I respect and like my authors so much and feel that I’ve learned from them; it’s just been a wonderful career.”