This award commemorates the life and legacy of Shelley Fralic (1953 – 2021) the beloved Vancouver Sun columnist and Jack Webster Foundation Trustee.
The Shelley Fralic Award honours a B.C. journalist who identifies as a woman, and who exemplifies Shelley’s legacy of concern for excellence in journalism and making her community a better place. In choosing the recipient of the Fralic Award, judges will consider both early-career and seasoned journalists on the impact they have had, through their commitment to journalism and to their communities.
Winners of this award are chosen from nominations submitted by members of the media and the community at large, and will be celebrated at the annual Webster Awards gala.
Announcements
Nominations for the 2025 Shelley Fralic Award are no longer being accepted, however you may nominate someone for the 2026 award. The 2025 recipient will be announced this summer.
Eligibility
How To Nominate Someone
Judging of Shelley Fralic Award
About Shelley Fralic
Shelley Fralic was a consummate journalist, a fierce champion of the media, and staunch defender of the fundamental right to free expression. She was a trailblazer in the newsroom at a time when most newsroom leaders were men, and she understood more than most the challenges of competing on a playing field that was never really level. Shelley’s first job at The Vancouver Sun was in human resources, but she was destined for the newsroom. She was hired as a reporter in 1979, fresh out of Langara journalism school. She ultimately worked her way up to executive editor, a rare accomplishment for a woman in what was then a highly male-dominated business. In 2003 she landed her own column and for the next dozen years built a huge following as a columnist of the people.
Shelley’s commitment to social justice for the most vulnerable drove her to dedicate countless hours to The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund Adopt-a-School Initiative, and The Vancouver Sun Raise-a-Reader program, which have made a difference in the lives of many B.C. children growing up in poverty.
