To recognize the literature and writing of northwestern Ontario, NOWW bestows two awards annually.

The Elizabeth Kouhi Award is given in honour of local poet Elizabeth Kouhi to recognize a person whose portfolio of writing has made a significant contribution to the literature of northwestern Ontario.

Winners include Elizabeth Kouhi, Elinor Barr, Charles Wilkins, Thunder Bay Writers Guild, Rosalind Maki, Penny Petrone, Mary Frost, Jean E. Pendziwol, Dorothy Colby, and Joan Skelton.

The Sheila Burnford Award, new in 2009, recognizes the importance of individuals and organizations that support writing and literature. The first recipient of the Burnford award was the Thunder Bay Public Library.

The call for nominations for these awards is issued in January. The awards are presented at the annual Literary Awards Party, usually held in May.

To see the call for nominations for 2009-2010, go here.