Selected by editor Emily Urquhart, the 2025 edition of Best Canadian Essays showcases the best Canadian nonfiction writing published in 2023.
Katherine Ashenburg • James Cairns • Mitchell Consky • Michelle Cyca • Sadiqa de Meijer • Ariel Gordon • Lana Hall • Helen Humphreys • Rebecca Kempe • Jiin Kim • Christine Lai • Jessica Moore • Tom Rachman • Leanne Betasamosake Simpson • Vance Wright
Great bunch of short reads! I especially enjoyed 'Found', 'Complimentary, Free of Charge' and 'Notes from Grief Camp' if you're just looking to read a few!
I have yet to access this entire anthology, so excuse my generalized rating.
I don't typically log shorter works, but I was absolutely captured by Jessica Moore's "Shadow Face." Moore beautifully explores ideas of motherhood and identity in relation to the body, discussing birth, sexuality, and maternal intimacy. I was especially interested in Moore's depiction of maternal anxiety and the ways it both seeps into and is triggered by everyday encounters, such as a child's remark about a mother's eyes revealing fears of monstrosity. Along with creating an evocative piece with enticing language, Moore has managed to touch on all of my personal interests as a reader in a span of 14 short pages. I wish that this piece was longer. I hope to return to this anthology and explore the rest of its contents, but for now, I will leave you with a lingering quote from Moore's captivating piece:
"How can you shield someone who's inside you from what's inside you?"
A book of short essays was a perfect launch for a summer reading blitz. While I enjoyed some more than others, of course, what I enjoyed most was a cross Canada survey of ideas. Who knew that Canadian pride would be so high in 2025?