Praise and endorsements for Sheree Fitch

I had the pleasure of hearing Sheree Fitch speak at the Saint John Women's Wellness Conference in 2007. Sheree has a way of using the English language like no other! She's very funny, brilliant and compassionate. Her personal story was moving and uplifting for the women in the room that day. Here is a woman who experienced single motherhood, poverty and discrimination and managed to overcome these obstacles to find her purpose and live her dream. I still look back on my notes from her session for words of inspiration! If you have a chance to hear Sheree speak, jump at the opportunity.

~ Kim Houlahan, Community Coordinator

"Last November I attended a breakfast fundraiser for a local women’s shelter.The guest speaker at the event was Sheree Fitch.  Her words speak truth of what it means to be a child, to be a woman, to be free, to be lost, and to be found. I came away that day, feeling that I had discovered a kindred spirit."

~ The Rev. Margaret A. Bell, St. Thomas, Ontario

I have had the great fortune of working with Sheree Fitch as my instructor on several occasions. She is an incredibly generous teacher, offering herself and her knowledge fully to her students. Sheree’s energy and her passion for writing are contagious; under her mentorship I pushed myself far beyond what I thought myself capable of, and came away from the experience with a new belief in myself as a writer. I strongly recommend Sheree as an instructor to any type of writer at any stage of their development. (Maritime Writers’ Workshop, 2001 Tatamagouche Centre, 'Write Flow', 2007)

~ Binnie Brennan, writer, author of A Spider’s Tale with Nova Scotia Symphony

Eastern Counties Regional Library staff were thrilled to be able to host celebrated children's poet Sheree Fitch for a whirlwind tour to libraries and schools in our region in 2007 thanks to funding by The Canada Council of the Arts. Demand from our patrons and Library staff was so great that we had to host a contest to determine which of our branch libraries Sheree would visit! Her enthusiasm and positivity was seemingly endless, especially evident in the midst of her opening night which drew over 100 pajama-clad children for a special pajama party at the Mulgrave Library.

As she recited her poetry, she engaged each child, almost like a magnet, drawing them in to the story and delighting them with her tongue twisters and playful use of the English language. She is Canada's treasure in the world of children's poetry, inspiring the next generation of authors and storytellers as she winds her way through our communities.

~ Lesley Carruthers Deputy CEO/Manager of Community Outreach Services Eastern Counties Regional Library

She is open to everything, as only a child can be, and, as with any child, she plays with words and wisdom and a sense that the world can work. We should listen to her; she speaks for children everywhere. 

~ The late Peter Gzowski, former host of CBC Morningside in the Foreword to If You Could Wear My Sneakers , a book on Children’s Rights.

Academic Awards

Valedictorian, Fredericton High School 1974
Scoudouc Continuing Education Award, 1983
Fredericton Foundation Scholarship, 1983-84
President's Full Tuition Scholarship 1984-85
Frances M. McLaughlin Scholarship 1985-86
Prizes for first, second and third year English
Dr. Desmond Pacey Memorial Scholarship for excellence in literature for senior student (St. Thomas)
Dean's List, St. Thomas 1984-87 
O'Brien Foundation Fellowship in the amount of   7,000 towards graduate work.
Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Special Master of Arts Scholarship (SHRCC), 1987SHRCC), 1987
Queen's Fellowship, (one of three awarded in Canada),1987-88

Literary Awards & Grants

N.B. Writer's Federation President's Award for first prize for an unpublished collection of adult poetry 1988 (later to become basis for In this House Are Many Women)
Canada Council Arts Grant "B" (1988)
Atlantic Bookseller's Choice Award for Sleeping Dragons All Around, 1990
Mr. Christie's Children's Book Award for There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, 1993
Canadian Authors Association Mariana Dempster Award for contribution to Children's Literature, 1995
Anne Connor Brimer Award for Mabel Murple, 1996
Nova Scotia Arts Council Grant, 1997
Silver Birch Award Ontario's children's choice for If You Could Wear My Sneakers, 2000
Hackamatack Award (Atlantic children's choice award for If You could Wear My Sneakers) 2000
Queen's Medal
Vicky Metcalf Award for body of work in children's literature 2000 
Winner of the Saskatchewan Snow Willow Award for The Gravesavers
Winner, CBC Young Canada Reads for The Gravesavers

Honors

Honorary Doctor of Letters St. Mary's
Honorary Doctor of Letters Acadia/Honorary Doctor of Letters Saint Thomas

* Other books have been shortlisted for numerous other awards. In recent years, If I Had a Million Onions was nominated for the Silver Birch and the Hackmatack Awards, The Gravesavers was first runner up for the Ontario Red Maple Award, and was shortlisted and honored for CLA's Book of the Year Award, Manitoba Books for Children Award, and the Rocky Mountain Award. Many more have placed on the Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice List. In 1998, three Fitch books listed on top ten list of Canadian Children's Books, Ottawa Citizen.