Awards
Atlantic Poetry Prize, 2013.
Finalist for the Governor General’s Award, 2014.
Finalist for the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Award, 1981.
First place in short fiction and the novel: Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards.
Pierian Spring Editor's Award for poetry.
The Order of St. John Award of Merit.
Short-listed for The Stephen Leacock Medal, 1987.
The Dartmouth Book Award, 1990, 1995; short-listed 1991, 1992, 1993.
Event magazine's Creative Nonfiction Competition, winner 1990.
Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature, 1994, 2003; short-listed 1992, 1993.
Manitoba's Young Reader's Choice Award, finalist, 1994, 2008.
Authors Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters, co-winner, 1995.
Short-listed for the Hackmatack Award for children’s writing, 2000.
Short-listed for White Pine Award, 2004, 2008, 2010.
Finalist for Canadian Librarians Association Young Adult Award, 2005.
Short-listed for Stellar Book Awards, 2007.
American Library Association Quick Pick, 2008.
Short-listed for the Foreword Magazine Book Award, 2008
Finalist for the Alberta Book Award, 2008.
First Place: Canadian Surfing Championships, 1995.
Landmark East Literacy Award, 2000.
Poet Laureate for the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament, 2000.
Best Writer of Halifax (Coast Magazine): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Finalist: Book of the Year Award –ForeWord Magazine
Teaching Excellence Award – Dalhousie University Student Union, 2009.
Short-listed for Red Cedar Award, 2009.