Alex Barris Mentorship Award

Alex Barris was a writer, broadcaster, and journalist, as well as a leader in Canadian television and a proud member of the WGC. Throughout his career, Alex always gave his time and talent to help others get a start in the industry he loved. After his death in 2004, his family, friends, and the WGC decided to keep his name and spirit alive by sponsoring the Alex Barris Mentorship Award.

The award acknowledges one person who has made an outstanding commitment to help a writer — or several writers — get ahead in the business. While the nominator must be a WGC member, the recipient need not be. It could be a teacher or producer or a story editor who stepped out of the traditional job description and did something extraordinary to help kickstart someone else's career.

Past recipients of the Alex Barris Mentorship Award are Ben Joseph (2024), Matt Huether (2022), Nathalie Younglai (2020), Sherry White (2018), Clive Endersby (2016), Susin Nielsen (2014), Barbara Samuels (2012), Peter Mitchell (2010), Allan Magee (2008), Ilana Frank (2007), Josh Miller (2006), and David Peddie (2005).