The Doug Wright Awards for Canadian Cartooning (established in December 2004) are literary awards handed out annually since 2005 during the Toronto Comic Arts Festival to Canadian cartoonists honouring excellence in comics (including webcomics) and graphic novels published in English (including translated works). The awards are named in honour of Canadian cartoonist Doug Wright. Winners are selected by a jury of Canadians who have made significant contributions to national culture, based on shortlisted selections provided by a nominating committee of five experts in the comics field. The Wrights are handed out in three main categories, "Best Book", "The Spotlight Award" (affectionately known as "The Nipper"), and, since 2008, the "Pigskin Peters Award" for non-narrative or experimental works. In 2020, the organizers added "The Egghead", an award for best kids’ book for readers under twelve. In addition to the awards, since 2005 the organizers annually induct at least one cartoonist into the Giants of the North: The Canadian Cartoonist Hall Fame. The Wright Awards are modeled after traditional book prizes, with the intention of drawing attention to the comics medium from a broad range of demographics inside and outside of its traditional fanbase. The Wrights have garnered acclaim as well as earning the support of a diverse range of participating artists and jurors including Scott Thompson, Don McKellar, Bruce McDonald, Jerry Ciccoritti, Bob Rae, Andrew Coyne, Sara Quin, Greg Morrison, Chester Brown, Lorenz Peter, and Nora Young.

Awards

The Best Book and The Spotlight awards are a large wood-and-glass trophies which are engraved with images from Wright's comic strip (the one difference being the images that are etched on the glass). The award was designed by the cartoonist Seth, who admitted to some embarrassment at being the inaugural winner of the trophy he designed. The Pigskin Peters Award, named in honour of a character from Jimmy Frise's Birdseye Center, is a custom, tailored derby hat with its own unique plaque that doubles as a hat post. It was also designed by Seth. Each recipient of a Doug Wright Award also receives a custom-bound copy of their winning work.

Nominees & Winners

2024

Source: The Doug Wright Award for best book Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper) The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book The Egghead Award

2023

Source: The Doug Wright Award for best book Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper) Pigskin Peters Award The Egghead Award

2022

Source: The Doug Wright Award for best book Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper) Pigskin Peters Award The Egghead Award

2021

The Doug Wright Award for best book The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

2020

The Doug Wright Award for best book The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

2019

Doug Wright Best Book Award Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. The Nipper) Pigskin Peters Award

2018

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2017

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2016

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2015

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2014

Best Book

Spotlight Award

Pigskin Peters Award

2013

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2012

Best Book

Spotlight Award (aka The Nipper)

Pigskin Peters Award

2011

(Jurists: Sara Quin, Michael Redhill, Anita Kunz, Marc Bell and Mark Medley)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

Pigskin Peters Award

2010

(Jurists: Matthew Forsythe, Geoff Pevere, Fiona Smyth, and Carl Wilson)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

Pigskin Peters Award

Winners of the 2010 Doug Wright Awards were announced on May 8, 2010 in the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon in the Toronto Reference Library, during a ceremony hosted by actor Peter Outerbridge.

2009

(Jurists: Bob Rae, Andrew Coyne, Martin Levin, Joe Ollmann and Diana Tamblyn)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

Pigskin Peters Award

Winners of the 2009 Doug Wright Awards were announced on May 9, 2009 at the Art Gallery of Ontario during a ceremony hosted by actor and director Don McKellar.

2008

(Jurists: Katrina Onstad, Ho Che Anderson, Marc Glassman, Mariko Tamaki and Helena Rickett)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

2008 saw the introduction of a new category dedicated to works that fall outside the bounds of traditional storytelling. Named after a character in the classic Canadian comic strip Birdseye Center, the Pigskin Peters Award recognizes experimental and avant-garde comics.

Pigskin Peters Award

2007

(Jurists: Bruce McDonald, Mark Kingwell, Judy MacDonald, Lorenz Peter and Jessica Johnson)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

2006

(Jurists: Justin Peroff, Alan Hunt and Ben Portis)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

2005

(Jurists: Chester Brown, Rebecca Caldwell, Nora Young, Jerry Ciccoritti and Don McKellar)

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent