The Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, colloquially called the Vicky, is given annually at the Writers' Trust Awards to a writer or illustrator whose body of work has been "inspirational to Canadian youth". It is a top honour for Canadian children's writers and Canadian children's book illustrators.
Vicky Metcalf, a Canadian librarian,[1] established the award "in 1963 to stimulate the writing of literature for Canadian children."[2][3] Before 2013, the prize was known as the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature. The award is sponsored by the Metcalf Foundation,[3] whose objective "is to enhance the effectiveness of people and organizations working together to help Canadians imagine and build a just, healthy and creative society."[2] In 2002, the award was taken over by the Writers' Trust of Canada from the Canadian Authors Association.[2][3]
To be eligible for the award, recipients must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, have published a minimum of four English-language children's book, and have published at least one first-edition book in the previous three years.[2][3] Winners are selected by a three-person jury[3] and receive $25,000 CAD.[2]