Brian Brennan, 2004 Book Award Winner
Brian was the author of six critically acclaimed narrative non-fiction books about the colourful personalities of Western Canada's past. One of his titles, Scoundrels and Scallywags, was short-listed for the prestigious Grant MacEwan Author's Award. Brian's latest title, The Good Steward: The Ernest C. Manning Story, is the long-awaited first in-depth biography of the radio preacher who became Alberta's longest-serving premier.
His books included a biography of Canadian historian James H. Gray, and a biography of the nineteenth century Irish folk poet Mary O'Leary, which was nominated for the Irish Times Literary Prize. Brian has written freelance articles and columns for various publications including the New York Times, Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.
Mr. Brennan's winning submission was for the chapter What's in a Name?-1896, Ha Ling Finally Gets his Due Recognition, from his book, Romancing the Rockies, published by Fifth House Ltd., a Fitzhenry and Whiteside Company. The book introduces the daring men and women who found themselves attracted irresistibly to the Canadian Rocky Mountains over the last 250 years.
He served on the National Council of The Writers' Union of Canada. president of the Canadian Association of Journalists (Calgary chapter), a national board member chairing the CAJ ethics committee and past president of the Canadian Theatre Critics Association.
His awards included two Western Magazine Awards (Gold Award Alberta, Science and Technology Award), for stories on regeneration of animal brain cells, and the national Hollobon Award for medical writing in Canada.
Regrettably, Brian Brennan passed away in 2021.
Brian was very proud of being the first winner of the Dave Greber Writing Award.
