The George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature is a literary award given to a British Columbian author "who has achieved an outstanding degree of social awareness in a new book published in the preceding calendar year.
"[1] The prize was created in 2004 by Alan Twigg, publisher of BC Book World, along with John Lent of Okanagan College[2] and Ken Smedley, then working for the George Ryga Centre Society.
[3] In 2014 Alan Twigg took over responsibility for the award after the sale of Ryga House.
Originally the prize included a sculpture/plaque by sculptor, Reg Kienast, entitled The Censor's Golden Rope.
Now it includes a cash award of $2,500.