The Alcuin Ceremony 2024
Written by Chester GryskiSince 2006, The Alcuin Society and the Arts & Letters Club have together annually celebrated the winners of Awards For Excellence In Book Design in Canada. This year we added an addition celebration. The Robert R. Reid Award was presented to Michael Torosian of the Lumiere Press.
One room on the main floor of the Club was dedicated to a display of the winning books laid out on tables for the visitors to pick up and peruse and understand the judge’s reasoning. The exception to the rule about handing the books was the winners in the Limited editions category. These were displayed but protected from handling. Also, displayed were some of the Lumiere Press books. These included but were not limited to the six books which received Firsts in the Limited Editions category through the years.
After dinner in the Great Hall, there was a conversation between Michael and John Shoesmith, Alcuin member and Outreach Librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. The conversation touched on the history and influences on Michael’s design and printing. This was followed by the formal presentation of the Robert R. Reid Medal and Certificate to Michael Torosian by Chester Gryski.
The Certificates to Excellence In Design Award winners were then presented by Grant Hurley, Toronto Liaison for the Alcuin Society and Canadiana Librarian at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and Hayleigh Giesbrecht, Alcuin member and student of Archives and Records Management at the Faculty of Information at U of T.
Photo by Emma Dolan
Gallery photos by Don McLeod
