WFNS administers three annual prizes for published works: the Atlantic Poetry Prize, for the best book of poetry by an Atlantic Canadian; the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award for the best book of non-fiction by a Nova Scotian; and the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award for the best novel or collection of short stories by an Atlantic Canadian.

Winners of the Atlantic Poetry Prize

2008: Don Domanski, All Our Wonder Unavenged. Brick Books.

2007: Steve McOrmond, Primer on the hereafter. Wolsak & Wynn.
2006: Anne Compton, Processional. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005.
2005: David Helwig, The Year One. Gaspereau Press, 2004.
2004: Brian Bartlett, Wanting the Day. Goose Lane Editions, 2003.
2003: Anne Compton, Opening the Island. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Toronto,2002.
2002: M. Travis Lane, Keeping Afloat. Guérnica, Toronto, 2001.
2001: Anne Simpson, Light Falls Through You. McClelland & Stewart, 2000.
2000: Ken Babstock, Mean. Anansi, 1999.
1999: John Steffler, That Night We Were Ravenous. McClelland & Stewart, 1998.
1998: Carmelita McGrath, To the New World. Killick Press, 1997.

Winners of the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Prize for Non-fiction

2008: Marq de Villiers, The Witch in the Wind: The True Story of the Legendary Bluenose. Thomas Allen Publishers.

2007: Linden MacIntyre, Causeway: A Passage from Innocence. McClelland & Stewart.
2006: Linda Johns, Birds of a Feather: Tales of a Wild Bird Haven. Goose Lane Editions, 2005.
2005: Marq de Villiers and Sheila Hirtle, A Dune Adrift. McClelland & Stewart, 2004.
2004: Harry Thurston, Island of the Blessed: the Secrets of Egypt's Everlasting Oasis. Doubleday Canada, 2003.
2003: Stephen Kimber, Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War. Toronto, Penguin Canada, 2002.
2002: Kent Thompson, Getting Out of Town by Book and Bike. Wolfville, Gaspereau Press, 2001.
2001: Joan Baxter, A Serious Pair of Shoes: An African Journal. Pottersfield Press, 2000.
2000: Robin Metcalfe, Studio Rally. Goose Lane Editions, 1999.
1999: Silver Donald Cameron, The Living Beach. Macmillan Canada, 1998.
1998: Harry Bruce, An Illustrated History of Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing, 1997.
1997: Harry Thurston, The Nature of Shorebirds: Nomads of the Wetlands. Vancouver, Greystone Books (A division of Douglas & McIntyre), 1996.
1996: Simone Poirier-Bures, That Shining Place. Ottawa, Oberon, 1995.
1995: Elizabeth Pacey, Landmarks: Historic Buildings of Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing, 1994.
1994: Peter Brock, Variations on a Planet. Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia, Pottersfield Press, 1993.
1993: Sally Ross and Alphonse Deveau, The Acadians of Nova Scotia: past and present. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing, 1992.
1992: Robert Pope, Illness and healing: images of cancer. Hantsport, Nova Scotia, Lancelot Press, 1991.
1991: Harry Thurston, Tidal Life: a natural history of the Bay of Fundy. Camden East, Ontario, Camden House, 1990.
1990: Judith Fingard, Dark side of life in Victorian Halifax. Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia, Pottersfield Press, 1989.
1989: Dean Jobb, Shades of Justice: seven Nova Scotia murder cases. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing, 1988.
1988: Harold Horwood, Dancing on the Shore: a celebration of life at Annapolis Basin. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1987.
1987: Tony Foster, Meeting of Generals. Toronto, Methuen, 1986.
1986: P. B. Waite, The Man from Halifax: Sir John Thompson, Prime Minister. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 1985.
1985: Lilias M. Toward, Mabel Bell: Alexander's silent partner. Toronto, Methuen, 1984.
1984: Brian C. Cuthbertson, The Loyalist Governor: biography of Sir John Wentworth. Halifax, Petheric, 1983.
1983: J. Murray Beck, Joseph Howe: Volume 1, conservative reformer, 1804-1848. Kingston, Ontario, McGill-Queen's University Press, 1982.
1982: Bruce Armstrong, Sable Island. Toronto, Doubleday Canada, 1981.
1981: Kay Hill, Joe Howe: the man who was Nova Scotia. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1980.
1980: Joan and L.J. Payzant, Like a Weaver's Shuttle: a history of the Halifax-Dartmouth ferries. Halifax, Nimbus Publishing, 1979.
1979: Alden Nowlan, Double Exposure. Fredericton, Brunswick, 1978.
1978: Harry Bruce, Lifeline: the story of the Atlantic ferries and coastal boats. Toronto, MacMillan, 1977.

Winners of the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize

2008: Don Hannah, Ragged Islands. Knopf Canada.

2007: Linda Little, Scotch River. Penguin Canada.
2006: Donna Morrissey, Sylvanus Now. Penguin Canada, 2005.
2005: Edward Riche, The Nine Planets. Viking Canada, 2004.
2004: Kenneth J. Harvey, The Town that Forgot How to Breathe. Raincoast Books, 2003.
2003: Donna Morrissey, Downhill Chance, Toronto, Penguin Canada, 2002.
2002: Michael Crummey, River Thieves, Toronto, Doubleday Canada, 2001.
2001: Carol Bruneau, Purple for Sky. Cormorant Books, 2000. (Published in the United States as A Purple Thread for Sky by Carroll & Graff.)
2000: Alistair MacLeod, No Great Mischief. McClelland & Stewart, 1999.
1999: Wayne Johnston, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams. Knopf Canada, 1998.
1998: Shree Ghatage, Awake When All the World is Asleep. Concord, Ontario, House of Anansi, 1997.
1997: Alfred Silver, Acadia. New York, Ballantine Books, 1996.
1996: M. T. Dohaney, A Marriage of Masks. Charlottetown, Ragweed Press, 1995.
1995: Bernice Morgan, Waiting for Time. St. John's, Breakwater Books, 1994.
1994: David Adams Richards, For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1993.
1993: John Steffler, The Afterlife of George Cartwright. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1992.
1992: Herb Curtis, The Last Tasmanian. Fredericton, Goose Lane Editions, 1991.
1991: Wayne Johnston, The Divine Ryans. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1990.

Winners of the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature

2008: K.V. Johansen, Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin. Orca Books.

2007: Budge Wilson, Friendships. Penguin Canada.
2006: Kevin Major - "Aunt Olga's Christmas Postcards"
2005: Alice Walsh , Pomiuk, Prince of the North. Beach Holme, 2004.
2004: Don Aker, The First Stone. HarperCollins Canada, 2003.
2003: Lesley Choyce, Shoulder the Sky. Boardwalk, 2002.
2002: Francis Wolfe, Where I Live. Tundra Books, 2001.
2001: Janet McNaughton, The Secret Under My Skin. HarperCollins Canada, 2000.
2000: David Weale, The True Meaning of Crumbfest.The Acorn Press, 1999.
1999: Janet McNaughton, Make or Break Spring. Creative, 1998.
1998: Kevin Major, The House of Wooden Santas. Red Deer, 1997.
1997: Janet McNaughton, To Dance at the Palais Royale. Creative, 1996.
1996: Don Aker, Of Things Not Seen. Stoddart, 1995.
1995: Sheree Fitch, Mabel Murple. Doubleday Canada, 1995.
1994: Lesley Choyce, Good Idea Gone Bad. Formac, 1993.
1993: Budge Wilson, Oliver's Wars. Stoddart, 1992.
1992: Kevin Major, Eating Between the Lines. Doubleday, 1991.
1991: Joyce Barkhouse, Pit Pony. Gage Educational Publishing Co., 1990.