FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Montreal, November 16, 2010) – The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the 14 winners of the 2010 Governor General’s Literary Awards, worth $25,000 each. This year, 11 of the 14 winners received the award for the very first time. The seven English and seven French awards are given to authors, illustrators and translators in the categories of fiction, poetry, drama, non‑fiction, children’s literature (text and illustration) and translation.
For the second time in the Awards’ history, the award for children’s literature text and illustration recognized the talents of the author and illustrator who worked on the same book. Author Élise Turcotte and illustrator Daniel Sylvestre each received an award for Rose : derrière le rideau de la folie.
“This year’s recipients are excellent representatives of the talent and immense creativity of Canadian writers, illustrators and translators. I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to these artists, people who –through their passion – ignite our love of reading with every new book,” said His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.
His Excellency will present the 2010 Governor General’s Literary Awards on Thursday, November 25 at 6 p.m. during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Media representatives wishing to cover the awards presentation should contact Marie‑Ève Létourneau at the Rideau Hall Press Office, at 613-998-0287 or marie-eve.letourneau@gg.ca.
The Canada Council funds, administers and promotes the Governor General’s Literary Awards, Canada’s oldest and most prestigious awards for English- and French-language Canadian literature. In addition to the cash award, each winner will receive a specially-bound copy of the winning book, created by Montreal bookbinder Lise Dubois, at the Rideau Hall ceremony. The publisher of each winning book receives $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non‑winning finalists receive $1,000 in recognition of their selection as finalists, bringing the total value of the awards to approximately $450,000.
The winners in each of the children’s categories are listed below.
Children’s Literature – Text
Wendy Phillips, Richmond (British Columbia), Fishtailing
(Coteau Books; distributed by Publishers Group of Canada; ISBN 978-1-55050-411-8)In this highly-inventive, poetic narrative, four compelling characters take the reader on a wild ride through the dangerous terrain of friendships threatened by manipulative acts. Deftly switching voices, Wendy Phillips creates a powerful momentum in Fishtailing that leaves the reader breathless.
Children’s Literature – Text committee: Cathy Beveridge (Calgary), Christopher Paul Curtis (Windsor, BC), Carmelita McGrath (St. John’s, NL)
Élise Turcotte, Montreal, Rose: derrière le rideau de la folie
(Les éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel; ISBN 978-2-89651-095-5)
Rose : derrière le rideau de la folie is a book that contradicts everything we thought we knew about young people’s literature, and renews the genre. Élise Turcotte’s style is polyphonic, rich, sensitive and intelligent. This album-poem, poem-story, story-testimonial reveals the pain of a disordered mind, and is told with enormous restraint and an honesty that is almost violent.
Children’s Literature – Text committee: Roger Des Roches (Montreal), Myriame El Yamani (Montreal), Denise Paquette (Moncton)
Children’s Literature – Illustration
Jon Klassen, Los Angeles [originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario], Cat’s Night Out, text by Caroline Stutson
(Simon & Schuster/A Paula Wiseman Book; distributed by Simon & Schuster Canada; ISBN 978-1-41694-005-0)
In Cat’s Night Out, Jon Klassen’s highly imaginative and clever illustrations, with their subdued, delicate colours and their minimal movement, mysteriously transform a smoky New York night into a grooving and pulsating background for his cool dancing cats.
Children’s Literature – Illustration committee: Joanne Fitzgerald (Orangeville, ON), Zhong-Yang Huang (Regina), Shawn O’Hagan (Corner Brook, NL)
Daniel Sylvestre, Montreal, Rose: derrière le rideau de la folie, text by Élise Turcotte
(Les Éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel; ISBN 978-2-89651-095-5)
Rose : derrière le rideau de la folie reveals a chaotic, complex and terrifying graphic universe. By mixing styles and techniques, Daniel Sylvestre plunges us into the very heart of the main character’s tormented world. Each element of this book comes together to eloquently create a demanding and masterly work, in which Rose’s madness is filled with meaning.
Children’s Literature – Illustration committee: Jocelyne Doiron (Bouctouche, NB), Gérard DuBois (Saint-Lambert, QC), Annouchka Gravel Galouchko (Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC)
Media contact:
Carole Breton
Communications Officer
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523
Heather McAfee
Communications Officer
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4166
Interviews with authors, translators and illustrators:
English-language:
National:
Diane Hargrave, Diane Hargrave Public Relations
416-467-9954
dhprbks@interlog.com
In Montreal:
Christopher DiRaddo, Christopher DiRaddo Communications
Office: 514-842-5087
Cell phone: 514-806-5087
cd@christopherdiraddo.com
French language:
Mireille Bertrand, Publicist
Office: 418-828-0481
Cell phone: 514-652-6085
mireillebertrand@sympatico.ca
Virginie Perron, Media Assistant
Office: 450-592-7158
Cell phone: 450-530-0642
v.perron@videotron.qc.ca