Date: September 23, 1999

It is with great pleasure that we announce the following winners/honourable mentions for their part in the Deaf Heritage Literature Awards and Illustrator Awards Programs. These programs are now formally called "The Ladder Awards" and it will be held every two years.

We want to thank everyone for making this possible. It is the first of its kind in Canadian history. Dare we say in the world?

The people listed below will be involved in a mentoring program that involves professional editors and illustrators. They are our winners and honorable mentions for 1999 and are very fortunate to be able to have this opportunity.

ASL Literature - ASL stories

Radomir Grela from Alberta
Joshua Laird from Ontario
Christopher Creighton from Ontario
Danielle Larocque from Ontario
Justin Butkans from Manitoba
Vladimir Rabinovitch from British Columbia
David Burke from Manitoba
Joyce McHugh from Ontario
Robyn Sandford from Ontario
Ken Roberts from Ontario
Eileen Edgar from British Columbia
Edward Tran from British Columbia
Danica Magundayo from Manitoba
Teresa Fleming from Manitoba

Deaf Literature - written stories

Jason Brace from Newfoundland
Sarah Saumier-Barr from Alberta
Kayla Bradford from Alberta
Symara Bonner from Ontario

Illustrations

Alan Yu from Quebec
Colleen Turner from Newfoundland
Cecilia Tung from British Columbia
Faim Poirier from Ontario, honourable mention
Edward Tager from Quebec, honourable mention

Keep your eyes peeled in the new year for the new Canadian ASL Literature, Deaf literature and Illustrations to be out in videotapes, newsletters, books, notecards or exhibits! Congratulations to all who participated in this important "first"!

Special thanks to Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf for making this possible and to Human Resources Development Canada for financial support.

Joanne and Anita