The 2017 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour has been won by Hamilton author Gary Barwin for his novel “Yiddish For Pirates.”

The book was also a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize last year as well as the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction.

“Yiddish For Pirates” is set in the years around 1492.  It’s about a young boy who leaves home to join a ship’s crew and meets a multilingual parrot that becomes his companion.

The award is named for legendary Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock, and goes to the book named best in Canadian literary humour.  The winner also receives a $15,000 prize from TD Bank Financial Group.

The award was presented to Gary Barwin at a gala Saturday night in Orillia, Ontario, Stephen Leacock’s home town.