Awards

  • Leo Award, Best Screenplay “Life, Above All: 2011
  • Leo Award, Best Screenplay “A Shine of Rainbows” 2010
  •  AATE Distinguished Play Award, “Kindness” 2009
  • Lifetime Membership, Playwrights Guild of Canada, for his “outstanding contribution to Canadian Playwrighting and Theatre”
  • Red Maple Honor Book “The Dirt Eaters” 2004
  • Sheila A. Egoff Award (BC Book Prize) “Skud” 2004
  • Writers Guild of Canada: Top Ten Award “Torso” 2003
  • VIFF Best Screenplay, “Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity” 2002
  • Robert Wagner Award, best screenplay, “White Lies” Columbus Int’l TV Festival 1998
  • Career Achievement Award, Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance 1998
  • Gemini Award, best writing in a Dramatic Program “Little Criminals” 1997
  • Writers Guild of Canada: Top Ten Award “Little Criminals” 1997
  • British Columbia Film Award “Leo” for best screenplay “Little Criminals” 1996
  • Chalmers Award for “The Short Tree” 1995
  • Scott Newman Award for “Maggie’s Secret” 1990
  • AYA (International Arts for Young Audiences) Award, 1989
  • Chalmers Award, 1987, for “Skin”
  • British Theatre Award, 1986, for “Invisible Kids”
  • Jesse Awards: director of four plays receiving “Best Production for Young Audiences” at the Vancouver Theatre Awards. 1984: One Thousand Cranes; 1985: Not So Dumb; 1986: Skin; 1987: Night Light.
  • CBC Literary Award, 1985, for “The Short Tree and the Bird That Could Not Sing.”
  • Hopwood Award, Fiction. University of Michigan, 1972
  • Writers Digest Award, 1973