Sharon McKay's Enemy Territory wins 2013 Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award

The 2013 Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards were presented on June 6th at the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library. Sharon E. McKay won in the Children’s Literature category for her novel Enemy Territory. The action-packed novel tells the remarkable story of two teens – one Palestinian and one Israeli – who must overcome their deep-seated distrust and learn to rely on each other. Fast-paced and entertaining, the Jury recognized the important message about how conflict is passed down from generation to generation, and how it can be overcome. Enemy Territory is McKay’s 12th book – she has won close to 20 awards including the Arthur Ellis Award and UNESCO International Youth Library Award, and has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award twice.

“The Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards honour important contributions to writing on Jewish-related subjects, stimulate publishing in Canada on Jewish subjects, and advance the careers of writers of Jewish themes and content,” said Edward Trapunski, Chair of the 2013 Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards Jury. “This year’s eight award-winning books truly reflect the impact Jewish culture has had on all aspects of Canadian society,” added Trapunski.

This year’s distinguished Jury is comprised of writers, academics, editors and experts in the literary field, and includes Barbara Berson, Adam Fuerstenberg, Judith Ghert, Alain Goldschläger, Sara R. Horowitz, Carla Lancit, Michael Posner, Judy Stoffman, and Edward Trapunski.

Support for the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards is provided by the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto.

ABOUT THE KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS
Koffler Centre of the Arts is Canada’s only multidisciplinary, contemporary Jewish cultural institution. It has a broad mandate to welcome all and present a wide range of artistic programs, through a global lens, in a distinctly Canadian context.

As part of its effort to serve the GTA with its unique brand of arts and culture, the Koffler Centre of the Arts is expanding to Artscape Youngplace in fall 2013. Koffler Gallery exhibitions and related programs will be based at Artscape Youngplace, in the vibrant downtown Queen West art and design district, as the new Koffler building at Bathurst and Sheppard awaits construction. Koffler visual art, ceramic and music classes will continue at the Prosserman JCC on Sherman Campus and at the Schwartz/Reisman Centre on Lebovic Campus in Vaughan. The Koffler also offers family arts programming presented in partnership with The Leo Baeck Day School (South Campus).

Koffler Centre of the Arts acknowledges the support of Cultural Season Sponsor CIBC Wood Gundy, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council through the Community and Multidisciplinary Arts Organizations Program, our patrons and members. The Koffler Centre of the Arts is an agency of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

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