The Sondra Kelly Award

The Sondra Kelly Award provides $5,000 to a female screenwriter in mid-career for research/development on a self-initiated project. This is the 5th year since its inception, and past recipients include Karen Walton, Mina Shum, Barbara Haynes and Colleen Murphy.
 
This year’s recipient of the Sondra Kelly Award is Cheryl Foggo. Cheryl was chosen for her documentary project “Dear John”. She will use the award to finance original historical research into the life of John Ware, Canada’s legendary Black cowboy who lived and died in southern Alberta between 1882 and 1905. The jury noted that Cheryl has been building a file on John Ware for 28 years and her passion and commitment make her the ideal film-maker to cast light on this little know corner of our history.  Congratulations to Cheryl, we wish her all the best on her project “Dear John”.
 

About The Sondra Kelly Award

Sondra Kelly was a longtime member of the Writers Guild of Canada. In 2007, she received the WGC Writers Block Award for her record of exceptional service to the WGC and her strengthening of the Canadian screenwriting community as a whole. In addition to serving on the WGC Council from January 1997 to December 2003, Sondra occupied the first WGC-designated seat on the Actra Fraternal Benefits Society (AFBS) board (1998 to 2003). Hers was the first writer’s voice on a board made up of actors, producers and broadcasters at a time when a writer’s voice was much needed.
 
This Award in her memory honours Sondra’s dedication and contribution. We thank all those that entered to help us celebrate Sondra’s life and achievements through this award.