Our Photo and Non-Fiction Story contest ran from October 30/16 to April 30/17, seeking stories and photos that reflect aspects of the culture, energy and spirit of the Gerrard India Bazaar from 1975 to present day. Our jury included independent representatives from TVO, the City of Toronto Archives and the Gerrard/Ashdale Library. We are proud of the excellent nominees who were selected for Best Non-Fiction Story and Best Photo.
On July 22, 2017 at 10:30am the Gerrard/Ashdale library and the Ashdale Writers Group hosted a reading of the three short story finalists by their authors. The shortlisted photos were also available for viewing.
On July 22, 2017 at 6:30pm, the contest winners were announced on the main stage as a part of the 2017 Festival of South Asia program. The two winners each receive a $500 cash prize.
WINNER, BEST NON-FICTION STORY Story: OLD CREATION It was always the summer. At least, that’s how I remember it. On that street, all I can recall is the heat, the green leaves overhead, and the whirring of the streetcar as it blurred everything outside on its path to the bazaar. I hated it. The heat…
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NOMINEE, BEST NON-FICTION STORY Story: MY NICEST BAZAAR MEMORY Being an older, white male working in an immigrant women’s centre in the Gerrard India Bazaar was never part of my life plan. It just sort of happened when I was my 40s back in the 1990s. It was the most enriching few years of my…
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NOMINEE, BEST NON-FICTION STORY Story: TANGERINE SUN “Funnel down straight through the clouds Like an ever flowing stream Like an ever flowing stream Take a bite of the fruit of life Cause the fruit of life is sweet Cause the fruit of life is sweet” I was walking along Gerrard Street listening to the song…
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NOMINEE, BEST PHOTO Photo: RED DANCE © Sunny Arora Photo: STREET-NO-CAR © Sunny Arora Photo: INDEPENDENCE DAY © Sunny Arora About Sunny Arora I moved to Canada from the cool city of Ludhiana in India. I am a Web Developer student who fell in love with concept of capturing light…
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WINNER BEST PHOTO, FOR “COLLECTED ANTICIPATION” Photo: COLLECTED ANTICIPATION © Lara O’Keefe Photo: BEST FOOT FORWARD © Lara O’Keefe About Lara O’Keefe Lara O’Keefe is a freelance writer/photographer with a love for urban landscapes. A born and raised country girl, she is consistently delighted and surprised by all of the diverse…
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