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Maggie Helwig’s Encampment has won the 2026 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
The $40,000 prize is awarded annually for a book of literary nonfiction that embodies a political subject relevant to Canadian readers and Canadian political life.
Encampment offers an in-depth look at the lives of unhoused individuals in Toronto, the challenges they face, and Helwig’s own work advocating for their rights and humanity.
It also won the 2025 Toronto Book Award.
The winner was chosen by jurors Norma Dunning, Chantal Hébert and Paul Wells, who were previously nominated for the prize.
“A necessary, on-the-ground view of Canada’s homelessness crisis,” said the jury in a press statement.
“Maggie Helwig never lets compassion impede lucidity, and her book avoids both cynicism and battle fatigue. The result: a clear-eyed call to not look away, but to deepen understanding of the issue. As more and more of our neighbours find themselves living unsheltered, this book is essential reading.”
The five-book shortlist also included Don Gillmor’s On Oil, Brian Stewart’s On the Ground, Ira Wells’ On Book Banning and Karin Wells’ Women Who Woke up the Law.
Helwig is a Toronto-based Anglican priest, activist and author. Her book, Girls Fall Down, was selected as the One Book Toronto in 2012.
LISTEN | Maggie Helwig reflects on the inspiration behind Encampment:
On The Island12:01 Encampment: Resistance, Grace and an Unhoused Community
The Shaughnessy Cohen Prize was established in honour of the outspoken and popular Member of Parliament from Windsor, Ont. It is sponsored by CN and supported by the Politics and the Pen gala.
Last year’s winner was Raymond B. Blake’s Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Shaping of a National Identity.
Other past winners include Kamal Al Solaylee, Beverley McLachlin, Jane Jacobs and Roméo Dallaire.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada is an organization that supports Canadian writers through 11 annual national literary awards, fellowships, financial grants, mentorships and more.
The titles are available in accessible formats through the Centre for Equitable Library Access.