About us
The Atlantic Book Awards Society (ABAS)
is a registered non-profit organization with the mandate “to promote and acknowledge excellence in Atlantic Canadian writing and book publishing through an annual awards ceremony and related events.”
Currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
with representation from all four Atlantic Provinces, the volunteer board of the Atlantic Book Awards Society is committed to being a truly regional organization. This year’s Gala will take place in Halifax June 5, 2025 and the Society is committed to rotating future awards ceremonies through New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, as well as Nova Scotia. Past events in St. John’s, NL , Charlottetown, PE and Moncton, NB were successful, highlighting the benefit of alternating locations for these ceremonies.
Current Board Members
(2025-2026)
President: Marilyn Smulders
Vice-President: Brian Rendell
Treasurer : Christie Mulcahy
Recording Secretary: Naomi McKinnon
Member at Large (NS): Joan McMullin
(representing Dartmouth Book Awards)
Member at Large (NS): Oriana Duinker
(representing Writers Federation of Nova Scotia)
Member at Large (NS): Rebecca Silver Slayter
(representing Cabot Trail Writers Festival)
Member at Large (NS): Joel R. Burton
Member at Large (NS): Aren A. Morris
Member at Large (New Brunswick): Danielle LeBlanc
(representing Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association)
Member at Large (PEI): Simon Lloyd
Member at Large (NL): Marnie Parsons
2025 Festival Marketing and Communications Coordinator: Lee-Anne Poole