Political satirist and TV personality Rick Mercer has won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.

The CBC star captured the $25,000 prize for his memoir 鈥淭alking to Canadians,鈥� published by DoubleDay Canada.

The book charts the Newfoundland and Labrador native鈥檚 rise to TV stardom and details behind-the-scenes moments from small-screen hits including 鈥淩ick Mercer Report,鈥� 鈥淭his Hour Has 22 Minutes鈥� and 鈥淢ade in Canada.鈥�

Mercer edged out fellow nominee and CBC star Mark Critch, who was up for his memoir 鈥淎n Embarrassment of Critch鈥檚,鈥� published by Viking Canada and the inspiration for CBC鈥檚 鈥淪on of a Critch.鈥�

Saskatchewan writer Dawn Dumont was also up for her novel 鈥淭he Prairie Chicken Dance Tour,鈥� published by Freehand Books, about an unlikely group of Indigenous dancers who embark on a tour of Europe.

As runners-up, Critch and Dumont each win $4,000.

The winner was announced Saturday at a 75th anniversary gala dinner at the Leacock Museum in Orillia, Ont. Because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted previous events, the bash also celebrated the winners and runners-up of 2020 and 2021.

The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .