Saskatoon author Meredith Hambrock has been awarded the $25,000 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for her novel 'She's a Lamb!', the judges announced last Saturday. The prize, presented in Orillia, Ontario, recognizes the best Canadian humour book of 2025.
Winner's Surprise and Novel's Theme
“I didn’t actually think I would win,” Hambrock said from Toronto, three days after accepting the medal. Her novel follows Jessamyn, a young actor who obsessively avoids doubt as she pursues the role of Maria in a theatrical production of 'The Sound of Music'. The title references a lyric from the song 'Maria'. Denied the part and relegated to babysitting child actors, Jessamyn decides this will be her big break and stops at nothing to claim her perceived rightful role.
“I was really interested in studying the relationship between self-delusion and making art,” said Hambrock. “I think if you knew the odds, you probably wouldn’t do it if you had really sat down and thought logically about it. It seems pretty impossible, but at the same time, I think making great art is about telling the truth, and so there’s some interesting conflict there.”
Artistic Delusion and Gradual Success
Hambrock noted that the concept of a 'big break' is largely mythical, with most successful artists breaking gradually. The Leacock Medal is among several career milestones for Hambrock, who previously worked on 'Corner Gas Animated' as an executive story editor. The animated series, based on the live-action Saskatchewan sitcom set in the fictional town of Dog River, ran from 2018 to 2021.
“They’re like the greatest, nicest guys I’ve ever worked with in comedy,” she recalled of the 'Corner Gas' team. “Brent Butt is the funniest guy in any room he’s ever went into. He’s just the best, and I learned a lot from them.”
From Toronto to Saskatoon
Born and raised in Toronto, Hambrock credits her family of “lovable goofs” for instilling a fascination with flawed but funny characters. After earning a Master of Fine Arts from UBC in Vancouver, she began writing for television around 2011. Following stints on various shows, she joined 'Corner Gas Animated' as an assistant and later became an executive story editor.
Her debut novel, 'Other People's Secrets', earned accolades including a positive review in The New York Times. Hambrock believes her work on 'Corner Gas' may have helped her secure the writer-in-residence role at the Saskatoon Public Library in 2023. She applied because Saskatchewan offers two nine-month-long writing residencies in public libraries, one in Saskatoon and one in Regina.
Impact of the Prize
The Leacock Medal, valued at $25,000, is awarded annually by the Stephen Leacock Associates. Hambrock's win highlights the vibrant literary community in Saskatchewan and the enduring appeal of humour in Canadian literature. Her novel 'She's a Lamb!' continues to receive critical acclaim for its sharp examination of ambition and self-deception in the arts.
