Natalie Sue's ‘I Hope This Finds You Well' among Leacock humour writing prize finalists
Calgary writer Natalie Sue's debut novel about the absurdities of office life is one of three finalists for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.
The $25,000 award, named for essayist and humorist Stephen Leacock, honours the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the past year.
Sue's 'I Hope This Finds You Well,' which centres on a burnt-out office worker whose unsent email drafts accidentally go public, is on the short list.
Also making the cut is Toronto author and playwright Greg Kearney's 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist revisiting his friendship with a washed-up pop idol.
Rounding out the list is Toronto writer Patricia J. Parsons' 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows a feuding family's Newfoundland road trip.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
The winner will be announced June 21 at a gala dinner in Orillia, Ont.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
24 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Stowers ends 31-game homer drought, Alcántara solid over 6 innings to help Marlins beat Braves 5-3
MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Stowers ended a 31-game home run drought, Sandy Alcántara pitched six strong innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series. Otto López had two hits and drove in two runs, and Xavier Edwards singled twice, doubled and had an RBI for the Marlins. Alcántara (4-8) allowed three runs and six hits, walked two and struck out four. The 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner has completed six innings in three of his last four starts. Anthony Bender tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Alcántara, Calvin Faucher got the last two outs in the eighth and Ronny Henriquez pitched the ninth for his second save. López and Dane Myers hit run-scoring singles off Braves starter Bryce Elder in the fifth to put the Marlins ahead 4-2. Elder (2-4) allowed five runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Braves struck quickly against Alcántara on Austin Riley's RBI single in the first. But Stowers tied it at 1 with a solo homer in the second. It was Stowers' 11th homer of the season and first since he went deep twice against the Chicago Cubs on May 14. Atlanta retook the lead on Drake Baldwin's run-scoring single in the third before Miami tied it again when López hit an RBI single in the bottom half. Key moment Edwards hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to give the Marlins another two-run lead after the Braves narrowed it on an RBI fielder's choice by Alex Verdugo in the top half. Key stat Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Marlins finished 6-4 in a 10-game stretch against NL East opponents. They are 12-12 against the division this season. Up next RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-4, 3.26) will start the opener of the Braves' four-game series at the New York Mets on Monday. The Marlins begin a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday with RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.68) scheduled to start the opener. — AP MLB:
Ottawa Citizen
38 minutes ago
- Ottawa Citizen
What do we know about the Ottawa Redblacks through one-sixth of the CFL season?
Article content Adeboboye rushed for 96 yards on 10 carries that included the biggest play of the game, a 52-yard burst up the middle that preceded him scoring the afternoon's only touchdown on a nine-yard reception. Article content A former Argo who already has two Grey Cup rings, Adeboboye received more work than he may have normally had because the ratio rule limits the number of snaps American William Stanback is in for while Ottawa is forced to start another American on the offensive line. Article content Stanback did enough with his time in the game – running nine times for 82 yards, including 76 on a key second-quarter drive that followed a goal-line stand and set up one of Lewis Ward's four field goals – to prove there's still plenty of life in his 30-year-old legs. Article content But also having a big day was the O-Line, which gave up one sack when it wasn't creating running holes. Article content 'It starts with those guys up front,' head coach Bob Dyce told Jakubec. 'I thought they were physical and they kind of imposed their will on (the Stampeders defensive front) with their physical (play) and pass protection too.' Article content Article content Dyce also threw accolades at his receivers – who dropped about five slippery balls thrown by Crum – for their contributions in the run game. Article content 'I have to give them credit, they do a great job,' said Dyce. 'They take their blocking seriously. You don't get those long runs if those guys aren't working. So it was a whole offensive unit (with the same) mindset.' Article content How bad is the Redblacks' injury situation? Article content For the Calgary game, Ottawa had 11 players on its one-game injured list and three more on the six-game. The Stamps, by comparison, had nine on the one-game list and eight on the six-game. But hitting the Redblacks hardest is that of their 14 injured players, 10 are Canadians. Calary's list of injured Canadians is at an easier-managed seven. Article content 'We've talked about that fact,' said Dyce. 'Even though we've got some guys down, we have faith in everybody in the room. 'Those (Canadian replacements) have stood up all year, and they showed it today.' Article content Article content If the Redblacks can get one of their three injured Canadian O-lineman back – and it sounds like Eric Starczala is the closest to returning – then he can move in at centre and Jacob Ruby can slide down to right tackle, to replace American Darta Lee. Article content That would allow the Redblacks to utilize Stanback and Adeboboye as they wish and not have their decision dictated by the ratio rule. Article content Who has been the most pleasant surprise on defence? Article content While Charlie Ringland did a nice job as a fill-in for fellow Canadian Alonzo Addae (season-ending elbow injury) at safety with an interception (on a pass he should have dropped as it came on a Stampeders third down game and gave the Redblacks worse field position than they otherwise would have had) and five defensive tackles, American Adrian Frye has solidified the strong-side cornerback spot. Article content Frye, a 26-year-old Texas Tech product who made his first CFL start last Oct. 25, had five defensive tackles and a tackle for a loss on the goal-line stand that rates as Saturday's defensive play of the game. He also had another forced fumble, giving him three in two road games to go along with the fumble recovery he had in Saskatchewan. Article content 'At the goal line, it's just who wants it more,' Frye told Jakubec when asked about stopping former NFL quarterback P.J. Walker, who had nine starts with the Carolina Panthers (2020-23) and is now a Calgary backup. 'When it came down to it, I just flew off the edge and figured he was gonna try to get to the perimeter, find one of them, B or C gap holes. I just flew down there and hoped I could fill it for him.'
Calgary Herald
39 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
What do we know about the Ottawa Redblacks through one-sixth of the CFL season?
Article content Adeboboye rushed for 96 yards on 10 carries that included the biggest play of the game, a 52-yard burst up the middle that preceded him scoring the afternoon's only touchdown on a nine-yard reception. Article content A former Argo who already has two Grey Cup rings, Adeboboye received more work than he may have normally had because the ratio rule limits the number of snaps American William Stanback is in for while Ottawa is forced to start another American on the offensive line. Article content Stanback did enough with his time in the game – running nine times for 82 yards, including 76 on a key second-quarter drive that followed a goal-line stand and set up one of Lewis Ward's four field goals – to prove there's still plenty of life in his 30-year-old legs. Article content But also having a big day was the O-Line, which gave up one sack when it wasn't creating running holes. Article content 'It starts with those guys up front,' head coach Bob Dyce told Jakubec. 'I thought they were physical and they kind of imposed their will on (the Stampeders defensive front) with their physical (play) and pass protection too.' Article content Article content Dyce also threw accolades at his receivers – who dropped about five slippery balls thrown by Crum – for their contributions in the run game. Article content 'I have to give them credit, they do a great job,' said Dyce. 'They take their blocking seriously. You don't get those long runs if those guys aren't working. So it was a whole offensive unit (with the same) mindset.' Article content How bad is the Redblacks' injury situation? Article content For the Calgary game, Ottawa had 11 players on its one-game injured list and three more on the six-game. The Stamps, by comparison, had nine on the one-game list and eight on the six-game. But hitting the Redblacks hardest is that of their 14 injured players, 10 are Canadians. Calary's list of injured Canadians is at an easier-managed seven. Article content 'We've talked about that fact,' said Dyce. 'Even though we've got some guys down, we have faith in everybody in the room. 'Those (Canadian replacements) have stood up all year, and they showed it today.' Article content Article content If the Redblacks can get one of their three injured Canadian O-lineman back – and it sounds like Eric Starczala is the closest to returning – then he can move in at centre and Jacob Ruby can slide down to right tackle, to replace American Darta Lee. Article content That would allow the Redblacks to utilize Stanback and Adeboboye as they wish and not have their decision dictated by the ratio rule. Article content Who has been the most pleasant surprise on defence? Article content While Charlie Ringland did a nice job as a fill-in for fellow Canadian Alonzo Addae (season-ending elbow injury) at safety with an interception (on a pass he should have dropped as it came on a Stampeders third down game and gave the Redblacks worse field position than they otherwise would have had) and five defensive tackles, American Adrian Frye has solidified the strong-side cornerback spot. Article content Frye, a 26-year-old Texas Tech product who made his first CFL start last Oct. 25, had five defensive tackles and a tackle for a loss on the goal-line stand that rates as Saturday's defensive play of the game. He also had another forced fumble, giving him three in two road games to go along with the fumble recovery he had in Saskatchewan. Article content 'At the goal line, it's just who wants it more,' Frye told Jakubec when asked about stopping former NFL quarterback P.J. Walker, who had nine starts with the Carolina Panthers (2020-23) and is now a Calgary backup. 'When it came down to it, I just flew off the edge and figured he was gonna try to get to the perimeter, find one of them, B or C gap holes. I just flew down there and hoped I could fill it for him.'
