(Lou Allin receives the Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to the Crime Writers of Canada.)
I found myself both honoured
and terrified to be asked to be the emcee at this year’s Arthur Ellis Awards for Canada’s
best crime writing.
Ellis was the nom de plume of
Canada’s last hangman, and the little wooden hanging man statue is a unique,
hand-made prize. When the string is pulled, Arthur jumps up and down.
At the Hilton Toronto on
Richmond Street on May 31, a near record crowd of about 140 had gathered in the
ballroom. One glitch was that due to the special dessert “event,” the evening
wouldn’t begin until 8:00 pm, so when introductions were made by our president
Garry Ryan , I told the group that they would be served their salad and entrée
first. The huge laugh disconcerted me for a moment. When you’re not trying to
be funny…
Forty minutes later, it was
on to my commentary, which included a “rally the troops” beginning, citing our
origins in 1982 when a few founders hoisted drinks to a new organization. The
awards were begun shortly after with a few categories, including best first
novel, best short story, and best novel. As the years passed, the group moved
forward with a website, the catalogue, Cool Canadian Crime, Word on the Street
and other events to celebrate National Canadian Crime-Writing Month, the
mentorship program, the Unhanged Arthur Sponsorship as well as recent
initiatives with the CBC, Zoomer
magazine, and the National Post. Our
membership has reached 340! These are amazing numbers for a small country.
But since I was asked to
speak for twelve minutes, I decided to offer a few suggestions for the future.
Not long before, I had read an Icelandic book and came across this sentence:
“Before going downstairs, he telephoned Sigurdur Oli and told him to go with
Elinborg to Hafnarfjordur to take Gudlaugur’s sister in for questioning. I
found myself staring at the sentence and repeating it as if I had entered a new
country. I had invested in this book, and not merely because of its constant
mention of needing to boil smoked lamb for the upcoming Christmas holidays. A month
later at Left Coast Crime, a conference in Sacramento, I heard Helene Turstan,
a prominent Swedish crime writer, asked what made the Scandinavian mysteries so
popular. She replied, “Ve are exotic.” Now I had my topic. Canada needs to
capitalize on its differences, not its similarities, especially to our elephant
neighbour down south.
And we have the tools to be
exotic.
Let’s start with names. Colin
and Siobhan have always flummoxed me.
Geography is even better.
Moving from Dildo to Conception Bay and jumping to Climax, SK. There are also
Quispamsis, Ecum Secum, St. Louis de Ha Ha, Buzwah, Wawa, Pickle Lake, Medicine
Hat, Moose Jaw, and Spuzzum. No need to set the book in these places. Just drop
a name now and then. “Got to call Mom in Buzwah. It’s her birthday.”
As for foods, we can do as
well as that boiled smoked lamb. How about cod tongues, jellied moose nose,
scrunchins, or candied salmon?
We’re not much on guns, but
Off insect repellent and Bobex deer repellent could turn back a villain or a
neighbour. Icicles can do damage, too.
Exotic history? The
Diefenbaby, Prime Minister King’s dog, mother, and séances, and the Pig War in
the San Juans.
International plots? Suppose
the REAL Jesuit Relations were discovered in a revelation that could bring down
the Papacy? A plot to kidnap Justin Bieber could expand the audience to tens of
millions of pre-pubescent girls.
Then as stomachs rumbled and
wine flowed, the awards took center stage.
Don Graves and Catherine Astolfo received the Derrick Murdoch
Award for their incomparable contributions to the CWC.
The Best Unpublished First
Novel went to Sam Wiebe for Last of the
Independents.
Astolfo also won the Best
Crime Short Story for “What Kelly Did,” a double night for her.
Best Crime Non-Fiction went
to Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and
Detectives Through the Secret World of Stolen Art by Joshua Knelman.
Best Juvenile went to Tim
Wynne-Jones for Blink & Caution.
Best Crime Book in French
found La Chorale de Diable by Martin
Michaud.
Best First Novel named Ian Hamilton for The Water Rat of Wanchai.
Peter Robinson took home the
Arthur once again for Best Novel, Before
the Poison.
At last the special dessert
event was ready, created by the Sugarstars from the Food Channel. They ushered
us into an autopsy room filled with sweet temptations. A covered body lay on
the gurney, and all around were jars and plates and cupboards of organs.
Eyeball lollipops, pounds of brains being weighed, platters of kidneys, vials
of blood and other amazing creations. Everyone dug in as directed. The event
was being filmed and will air in August. So be sure to tune in!
