The jurors for the award described Gagné’s short story as “a compelling and surreal story of a love that was not. ‘Echoes of Leïla’ brilliantly and poetically captures the longing of wanting to know without ever being known through the mysteryous meeting of two strangers. Each other’s nightime confidantes, their unique relationship temporarily offers solace in the void of loneliness and solitude.”
During his first two years at Champlain, Gagné’s served as a jury member in the Prix littéraire des collégiens and the Prix collegial du cinema québécois.
As a writer, he is mostly influenced by the novels and films of French author Marguerite Duras. He also recognizes the influences of Milan Kundera and Marcel Proust on his work.
Congratulations to Maxence Gagné for this great achievement.
