Missing Saskatoon woman announced as finalist for prestigious humour writing award

Almost two weeks after Dawn Dumont Walker was last seen in Saskatoon, the missing woman has been nominated for a literary humour award.

Walker, who has authored four books, is shortlisted for the 2022 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The award comes with a $25,000 prize, and other shortlisted authors include Canadians Rick Mercer and Mark Critch.

Her book, ‘The Prairie Chicken Dance Tour,’ tells the story of an unlikely group of Indigenous dancers who are put together unexpectedly for a performance tour through Europe.

Walker and a seven-year-old boy have not been seen for 13 days. Searches and a police missing persons investigation continue in and around Saskatoon.

Following their announcement of the shortlist on Thursday morning, the award organizers shared a statement about Walker’s disappearance.

“While the Leacock Associates are happy and proud to include Dawn Dumont as one of the finalists for the Leacock Medal in 2022, we are extremely concerned for the current safety of Ms. Dumont, who also goes by the name Dawn Walker,” the statement on their website read.

Walker is from Okanese Cree Nation, a First Nation community in southern Saskatchewan. She has been recognized as a comedian and an award-winning author before, and her other works include ‘Nobody Cries at Bingo,’ ‘Rose’s Run’ and ‘Glass Beads.’ She has also written for Eaglefeather News and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

Books chosen for the Leacock medal must be well-written as well as humorous.

“The three finalists this year meet those criteria without question,” said Michael Hill, Leacock Associates president, in a release. “It will be exciting to see which one was determined to be the most humorous of the year.”

The winner of the award will be announced Sept. 17 at the Leacock Medal Gala Dinner.