The Board of Directors of the Stephen Leacock Associates works to preserve the literary legacy of Stephen Leacock, oversee the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour award and encourage the growth of Canadian humour writing.
The prestigious Memorial Medal, now accompanied by a $25,000 prize generously sponsored by the Dunkley Charitable Foundation, has been awarded annually since 1947 for the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the previous year. The award has attained an international reputation and is the only one of its kind for Canadian humour writing.
The board also administers an annual Student Award for humour writing, to encourage young writers. This is also sponsored by the Dunkley Charitable Foundation.
Stephen Leacock Associates is registered as a non-profit charitable corporation. Our registration number is 11917 2922 RR0001.
Distilled from the November 2017 (current) revision of the Constitution:
The objects of the association are:
(a) to honour and perpetuate the name and memory of Stephen Leacock, humourist, author, economist and lecturer;
(b) to arrange for the annual award and presentation of The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, also known as the Leacock Medal;
(c) to encourage the growth of Canadian humour writing;
(d) to initiate and support activities which widen interest in Leacock and his writings;
(e) to widen public interest in the Leacock Museum and National Historic Site, and in the Leacock legend;
(f) to raise such funds as are necessary to achieve these objectives;
and
(g) such other objects as, in the opinion of the Executive or members, may be in the best interests of the association.
This association shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or accretions to the organization shall be used in promoting its objectives.
This association requires that its Board and members always act with fairness, honesty, integrity and openness; provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment; respect the opinions of others and treat all with equality and dignity without regard to gender, race, colour, creed, ancestry, place of origin, political beliefs, religion, marital status, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
Stephen Leacock Associates was founded in 1946 and began awarding the Leacock Medal for Humour in 1947. The number of entries has continually grown — 84 books were put forward by publishers and writers for 2020. An anonymous panel of judges, appointed from across Canada by the Leacock Associates’ Board of Directors, vets all entries and selects the long and short lists and the final winner.
Previously, the shortlist of five books was typically announced on April 1st, the winning book announced at the end of April at a luncheon, and the Leacock Memorial medal and a cash award presented to the winner in June at the Leacock gala dinner at Geneva Park Conference Centre in Orillia, Ontario.
In 2015, the Leacock Associates added a long list announcement.
In 2021, the dates of announcement of the long and short lists, and the winner were adjusted for a September announcement of the winner.
In 2024, the announcement format reverted back to its present form:
The Dunkley Charitable Foundation's generous sponsorship allows us to award $25,000 each year to the Leacock Medal winner, cash prizes to the runners-up, prizes for our student humorous essay award competition, and to cover administrative costs for the two award programs.
The Dunkley Charitable Foundation supports many charities with an emphasis on education, museums, community assistance and support for soldiers and their families.
The glasswaters foundation is generously supporting our endowment fund with grants of $20,000 a year for five years.
glasswaters foundation is a private foundation working in the service of local and global communities. Their mandate is to support the arts, protect the environment, promote health and education, and alleviate poverty locally and globally. Their focus is on self-determined, community based projects.
Reception Sponsored by:
Matthew and Kathy Webb
We also thank the following supporters for their generous donations of products and services:
Stephen Leacock Associates is a recipient of a Google Ad Grant. The Google Ad Grants program supports registered nonprofit organizations, including many that share Google's philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts. Google Ad Grants is an in-kind advertising program that awards free online advertising to nonprofits.
Contact us at sponsorship@leacock.ca if you or your organization are interested in becoming a sponsor.
Roundtable members are people who have committed to contribute $1,000 annually to Stephen Leacock Associates.
If you wish to become a Roundtable member, you may donate by cheque and mail it to us at P. O. Box 854, Orillia, On, L3V 6K8. Alternatively, you may donate online by debit or credit card using the "Donate" option on the menu above. A monthly payment of $88 will result in a net donation of just over $1,000 a year, and will cover card transaction fees.
Jim Harris
Bette Walker
The medal, cast in silver and designed by Canadian sculptor Emanuel Hahn, is two inches (5.08 cm) in diameter and approximately 0.125 inches (.32 cm) thick. It weighs 3.125 ounces (88.59 g).
On the obverse is a profile of Stephen Leacock’s head and the dates of his lifespan (1869–1944). The words "Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal Founded 1946" are worked around the perimeter.
The reverse side features the words "Orillia “The Sunshine Town” Award for Canadian Humour". A jolly face represents the sun resting on waves, and the latitude and longitude of Orillia, Ontario, Canada, appear in small figures at the top. Two small fish swim beneath the waves, and two large mosquitoes are depicted — one on the sun, the other in the water. Below the design, there is room for the winner’s name and date to be inscribed, and below that is a small maple leaf emblem.
| President | Daphne Mainprize |
| Vice-President | Lisa Brown |
| Secretary | Anne Kallin |
| Treasurer | Josh Milligan |
Jay Dickson
Jay Fallis
Kim Gardiner
Jim Harris
David Mallinson
Ann Parker
Christine Spear
George Vanderburgh
Bette Walker
| Awards | Bette Walker |
| Gala Event | Daphne Mainprize, |
| Membership | Jim Harris |
| Newsletter | Ann Parker |
| Publicity, PR | David Mallinson |
| Social Media | Jay Fallis |
| Special Projects | Bette Walker |
| Sponsorship | Lisa Brown |
| Student Award | Christine Spear, Registrar |
| Webmaster | David Mallinson |