The local literary community gathered at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Library on Friday, July 24, to celebrate two outstanding British Columbia writers whose work has profoundly shaped the province’s literature and culture. Presented in a ceremony from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., the annual George Woodcock Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement and the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature brought together readers, authors and supporters to recognize lifetime scholarship and compassionate street-level storytelling.

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The 2026 George Woodcock Award: Barry Gough

Historian Barry Gough received this year’s George Woodcock Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement in recognition of his lifetime of dedication to maritime history and Northwest scholarship.

Born in Victoria, Gough is widely regarded as one of British Columbia’s premier historians. His extensive body of work includes seminal titles such as Fortune’s a River, Juan de Fuca’s Strait and The Elusive Mr. Pond. Attendees got a glimpse into his ongoing work, including his upcoming book, Francis Drake and Nova Albion: Elizabeth Voyaging on the Far Side of the World (Harbour Publishing), slated for release in November 2026.

The 2026 George Ryga Award: Rodney DeCroo

The George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature was presented to Vancouver poet, singer-songwriter, playwright and photographer Rodney DeCroo for his photo collection Night Moves: The Street Photography of Rodney DeCroo (Anvil Press).

Born in a coal mining town outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DeCroo has built an acclaimed multi-disciplinary career in Vancouver spanning eight music albums, three poetry books, and two plays. Night Moves marks an expansion of his artistic repertoire into visual art, capturing the poignant, everyday realities of East Vancouver’s streets with raw empathy and acute social awareness.

Sponsored by Yosef Wosk, the Writers’ Trust of Canada, the Pacific BookWorld News Society, and the Vancouver Public Library, the annual event remains a cornerstone celebration of British Columbia’s vibrant writing community.