Waterloo, Ontario resident Laura MacGregor clinched the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize with her piece, “The Invisible Woman.” The award includes a $6,000 grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and a two-week writing retreat at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. MacGregor’s winning work was featured on CBC Books.
For those keen on literary contests, the call for submissions for the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize is now open until November 1 at 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Writers can submit original, unpublished short fiction of up to 2,500 words.
Laura MacGregor, a writer and former academic, is a mother of three sons, one of whom faced profound disabilities and extensive medical requirements for twenty years. Seeking solace from her caregiving journey, Laura pursued a Ph.D. in her fifties. Following her son’s passing in 2020, she enrolled in The Writer’s Studio (SFU) with hopes that writing could guide her through grief.
She has authored numerous academic pieces on caring for a disabled child and is set to co-edit “Disrupting Stories and Images of Church,” slated for publication by Bloomsbury in 2026. The judging panel for this year’s winner and finalists consisted of Zoe Whittall, Danny Ramadan, and Helen Knott.
Described as a poignant, intricate, and lyrical reflection on the challenges of nurturing a medically vulnerable child into adulthood, MacGregor’s “The Invisible Woman” resonated with the jury. The narrative sheds light on the burdens faced by caregivers, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The Invisible Woman” narrates MacGregor’s experiences caring for her son Matthew, shedding light on the immense responsibilities many mothers bear to ensure their child’s well-being. The story reflects on the unseen efforts and sacrifices caregivers make for their loved ones to thrive.
Joining a prestigious list of CBC Literary Prize winners, Laura MacGregor expressed gratitude for being acknowledged by the diverse Canadian writing community. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the labor and narratives of caregivers.
The other four finalists, Rachel Foster, Jennifer McGuire, Lena Palacios, and Crystal Semaganis, each received $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts. The longlist was curated by a group of editors and writers from over 1,300 submissions.
Entries for the CBC Literary Prizes are evaluated anonymously based on language use, originality of content, and writing style. The judging process aims to provide a platform for writers to share their unique stories and grow within the Canadian literary landscape.
For those interested in literary competitions, the CBC Literary Prizes offer opportunities for writers to showcase their talent. The forthcoming editions of the CBC Nonfiction Prize and the CBC Poetry Prize will open in January and April 2026, respectively.
