Awards

Honorary degree (Doctor of Laws), Dalhousie University, 2011

Member of the Order of Canada, 2010

Dartmouth Book Award for Non Fiction winner for Witch in the Wind: The True Story of the Legendary Bluenose

Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non Fiction winner for Witch in the Wind: The True Story of the Legendary Bluenose

Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non Fiction, winner for A Dune Adrift: The Strange Origins and Curious History of Sable Island (written with Sheila Hirtle)

Writers Trust of Canada Pearson Writers Trust Non Fiction Awards: finalist for Sahara: The Life of the Great Desert

Banff Mountain Book Festival, Adventure Travel category: finalist for Sahara: The Life of the Great Desert

Saskatchewan Showcase Awards winner, Documentary Science/Technology/Nature category: Water Water, 3-hour television documentary. Also won for Best Editing

Canadian Science Writers Award: for Water

Governor General’s Award for Non Fiction, for Water: The Fate of Our Most Precious Resource

James Beard Award, Wine & Spirits category: shortlist nomination for The Heartbreak Grape

Julia Child Award for Literary Food Writing: short list nomination for The Heartbreak Grape

Governor General’s Award for Non-fiction, shortlist nomination for The Heartbreak Grape

Alan Paton Award for Non-Fiction Writing About South Africa: inaugural year award for White Tribe Dreaming