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

2009: Brent MacLaine, Shades of Green. Acorn Press.

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

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

2009: William B. Naftel, Halifax at War: Searchlights, Squadrons, and Submarines 1939-1945. Formac.

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: Marq de Villiers and Sheila Hirtle, A Dune Adrift. McClelland & Stewart.
2004: Harry Thurston, Island of the Blessed: the Secrets of Egypt's Everlasting Oasis. Doubleday Canada.
2003: Stephen Kimber, Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War. Penguin Canada.
2002: Kent Thompson, Getting Out of Town by Book and Bike. Gaspereau Press.
2001: Joan Baxter, A Serious Pair of Shoes: An African Journal. Pottersfield Press.
2000: Robin Metcalfe, Studio Rally. Goose Lane Editions.
1999: Silver Donald Cameron, The Living Beach. Macmillan Canada.
1998: Harry Bruce, An Illustrated History of Nova Scotia. Nimbus Publishing.
1997: Harry Thurston, The Nature of Shorebirds: Nomads of the Wetlands. Greystone Books (A division of Douglas & McIntyre).
1996: Simone Poirier-Bures, That Shining Place. Ottawa, Oberon, 1995.
1995: Elizabeth Pacey, Landmarks: Historic Buildings of Nova Scotia. Nimbus Publishing.
1994: Peter Brock, Variations on a Planet. Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia, Pottersfield Press.
1993: Sally Ross and Alphonse Deveau, The Acadians of Nova Scotia: Past and Present. Nimbus Publishing.
1992: Robert Pope, Illness and Healing: Images of Cancer. Lancelot Press.
1991: Harry Thurston, Tidal Life: a Natural History of the Bay of Fundy. Camden House.
1990: Judith Fingard, Dark Side of Life in Victorian Halifax. Pottersfield Press.
1989: Dean Jobb, Shades of Justice: Seven Nova Scotia Murder Cases. Nimbus Publishing.
1988: Harold Horwood, Dancing on the Shore: A Celebration of Life at Annapolis Basin. McClelland and Stewart.
1987: Tony Foster, Meeting of Generals. Methuen.
1986: P. B. Waite, The Man from Halifax: Sir John Thompson, Prime Minister. University of Toronto Press.
1985: Lilias M. Toward, Mabel Bell: Alexander's Silent Partner. Methuen.
1984: Brian C. Cuthbertson, The Loyalist Governor: A Biography of Sir John Wentworth, Petheric.
1983: J. Murray Beck, Joseph Howe: Volume 1, Conservative Reformer, 1804-1848, McGill-Queen's University Press.
1982: Bruce Armstrong, Sable Island, Doubleday Canada.
1981: Kay Hill, Joe Howe: The Man Who Was Nova Scotia. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart.
1980: Joan and L.J. Payzant, Like a Weaver's Shuttle: A History of the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferries. Nimbus Publishing.
1979: Alden Nowlan, Double Exposure. Brunswick.
1978: Harry Bruce, Lifeline: The Story of the Atlantic Ferries and Coastal Boats. MacMillan.

Winners of the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize

2009: Douglas Arthur Brown, Quintet. Key Porter Books.

2008: Don Hannah, Ragged Islands. Knopf Canada.
2007: Linda Little, Scotch River. Penguin Canada.
2006: Donna Morrissey, Sylvanus Now. Penguin Canada.
2005: Edward Riche, The Nine Planets. Viking Canada.
2004: Kenneth J. Harvey, The Town that Forgot How to Breathe. Raincoast Books.
2003: Donna Morrissey, Downhill Chance, Toronto, Penguin Canada.
2002: Michael Crummey, River Thieves, Doubleday Canada.
2001: Carol Bruneau, Purple for Sky. Cormorant Books (Published in the United States as A Purple Thread for Sky by Carroll & Graff.).
2000: Alistair MacLeod, No Great Mischief. McClelland & Stewart.
1999: Wayne Johnston, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams. Knopf Canada.
1998: Shree Ghatage, Awake When All the World is Asleep. House of Anansi.
1997: Alfred Silver, Acadia. Ballantine Books.
1996: M. T. Dohaney, A Marriage of Masks. Ragweed Press.
1995: Bernice Morgan, Waiting for Time. Breakwater Books.
1994: David Adams Richards, For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down. McClelland and Stewart.
1993: John Steffler, The Afterlife of George Cartwright. McClelland and Stewart.
1992: Herb Curtis, The Last Tasmanian. Goose Lane Editions.
1991: Wayne Johnston, The Divine Ryans. McClelland and Stewart.

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

2009: Jill MacLean, The Nine Lives of Travis Keating, Fitzhenry & Whiteside.

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