Oscar-nominated Julian Brave NoiseCat, past winner Dan Werb vie for Writers’ Trust

TORONTO – An Oscar-nominated filmmaker and a past winner are among the finalists for Canada’s largest literary non-fiction prize.

Contenders for the Writers’ Trust award include Toronto’s Dan Werb, who won in 2022 for his look at the rise of coronaviruses and this time makes the cut with, “Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World.”

Meanwhile, Vancouver writer-filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat, who co-directed the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Sugarcane,” is up for his account of a quest to uncover his father’s story in “We Survived the Night: An Indigenous Reckoning. 

Also on the short list are Richard Kelly Kemick of Calgary for his collection of humorous personal essays in “Decadence;” Trina Moyles of Whitehorse for her memoir “Black Bear: A Story of Siblinghood and Survival;” and Robert Moor of Halfmoon Bay, B.C. for “In Trees: An Exploration,” which examines humanity’s relationship to trees and the natural world.

The $75,000 prize recognizes work that displays a distinctive voice and compelling tone, narrative and style. Finalists receive $5,000 each.

Organizers say a three-person jury of writers selected the finalists from 113 titles across 70 publishing imprints.

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The winner will be announced Nov. 10 in Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2026.