Islands Short Fiction Review

Our annual celebration of literature and writing by all ages in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island

What is ISFR?

The Islands Short Fiction Review (ISFR) is an annual literary event hosted by the Nanaimo Arts Council. It is open to writes of all ages from across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

The ISFR encourages the development of creative writing skills and recognizes young authors with a certificate of achievement for their portfolio. It is unique in welcoming writers of all ages.

The Arts Council will publish the winning entries in each age category in the Sea Wolf Literary Review. This annual magazine is a free publication, registered with Library and Archives Canada and distributed by the Vancouver Island Regional Library and various private bookstores.

How does it work?

Submissions open in early February and welcomes submissions to the Junior, Youth, and Adult categories. These submissions are reviewed by jurors and winners are selected from each category, culminating in an awards ceremony hosted in May.

First, second, and third placements from each category are awarded their share of cash prizes, receive a certificate, and get feedback from the expert judges to feed into their ongoing writing careers.

ISFR 2026 Winners

The 2026 ISFR award ceremony was a major success! Winners and their families and friends came together in the North Nanaimo Library to celebrate the achievements of all the writers. Each winner from the three categories (Junior, Youth, and Adult) received feedback from the judges on their stories, learned their placements (1st, 2nd, 3rd), and received their share of $2,200 of cash and prizes.

Special thanks to our Program Coordinator – Amelia Watford, Judges – Jessie Burgess (Youth), and Robert Weirsema (Adult).

Our biggest congratulations to all the winners! Click on the blue titles to read the poems