I have been involved with The Shuster Awards since they were established four years ago.It's an idea that was long over due- awards for Canadian creators in the comic book field.

This year I'm on the jury, and I am pleased to inform you that this year's awards, including the Hall of Fame Awards, will be held on Saturday, June 14th at the Lillian Smith Library Auditorium (239 College St., E. of Spadina Ave., Toronto). The ceremony will be co-hosted Rick Green (the Frantics, Prisoners of Gravity, and History Bites) and Rob Salem (Toronto Star and Drive-In Classics).

The Joe Shuster Award presentations will kick off in the evening at 8PM and will be preceded by a day long Sequential Art Symposium which, along with the awards, are free to the public. The Symposium will run from 10AM to 5PM and include participants such as Darwyn Cooke, Tom Grummett, and author John Bell (Invaders from the North).

This year the Hall of Fame Awards Inductees are Stanley Berneche, perhaps best known for his cartoons in the satirical journal Fuddle Duddle, John Byrne, who is best known for his work on the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Superman, Piere Fournier, who co-created and co-scripted the now legendary Michel Risque and Red Ketchup strips and created Les Aventures du Capitaine Kébec, and Edwin R. 'Ted' McCall, co-creator of Canada's most successful wartime comic book hero, Freelance.

This promises to be a watershed event for the Shuster Awards because this is the first time that the awards will not be held during a convention.

I hope that those of you interested in comic books, and canadian creators will take the time to join us for these special awards.

http://joeshusterawards.com/