Accepting the unknown … and a giant flock of crows

The winner of the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize is the Vancouver-based writer Larah Luna. Larah’s story, A Season of Crows, is about a small town learning to live with a huge murder of crows that passes through the town. Born in the Philippines and raised in Manitoba, Larah grew up surrounded by prairie landscapes that shaped the emotional setting of her story. A Season of Crows explores the wonder of the natural world and accepting the unknown … but it’s also based on Larah’s own experiences with grief and loss, and how the environment can hold the emotions that we struggle to convey. You can read Larah’s story here.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Meet the winner of the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize  What does dystopia look like in the suburbs?  Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks