Ottawa, October 14, 2021 ― It is with great pleasure that the Canada Council for the Arts revealed today the 2021 finalists in the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks).
Each time we prepare to unveil the Governor General’s Literary Awards, which recognize and celebrate some of the year’s greatest works of literature from Canada, I am struck by the talent, imagination and creativity of the individuals who bring these books into our lives. Given the many challenges we’ve all faced over the past nineteen months, I am especially grateful and humbled to honour these authors and their work. Literature can serve many purposes and in the midst of these uncertain times, as we witness the ongoing transformation of our society, I trust in the power of these incredible books to heal, connect and continue to move us forward.
Simon Brault, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts:
“Following a rigorous process, the Canada Council’s peer assessment committees determined that these 70 books were the best to have been published in Canada in 2021, across seven categories, in both French and English.”
This is the second release of its kind this year because, due to the pandemic, the announcement of the 2020 winners had to be postponed and was only issued this past June. In 2022, the Canada Council expects to return to its regular announcement schedule.
Mark your calendars: the 14 winners for 2021 will be announced on ggbooks.ca on November 17, 2021.
About the GGBooks
- Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are some of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious prizes, with a total annual prize value of $450,000.
- The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.
- Finalists are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French), who consider eligible books published between September 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021, for English-language books and between July 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021, for French-language books.
- Each winner receives $25,000, with the publisher receiving $3,000 to promote the winning book. Finalists receive $1,000 each.
English-language finalists for 2021
Young People’s Literature – Text
- Blood Like Magic – Liselle Sambury (Timmins, Ontario)
Margaret K. McElderry Books / Simon & Schuster
- Firefly – Philippa Dowding (Toronto, Ontario)
DCB / Cormorant Books
- Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field – Angela Ahn (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Tundra Books / Penguin Random House Canada
- The Fabulous Zed Watson! – Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester (Toronto, Ontario – both)
HarperCollins Publishers
- Unravel – Sharon Jennings (Toronto, Ontario)
Red Deer Press
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
- Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know – Brittany Luby and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Guelph, Ontario / Victoria, British Columbia)
Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press
- On the Trapline – David A. Robertson and Julie Flett (Winnipeg, Manitoba / Vancouver, British Columbia)
Tundra Books / Penguin Random House Canada
- Out Into the Big Wide Lake – Paul Harbridge and Josée Bisaillon (Toronto, Ontario / Saint-Hubert, Quebec)
Tundra Books / Penguin Random House Canada
- The Library Bus – Bahram Rahman and Gabrielle Grimard (Toronto, Ontario / Waterville, Quebec)
Pajama Press
- The Wind and the Trees – Todd Stewart (Montréal, Quebec)
Owlkids Books
French-language finalists for 2021
Young People’s Literature – Text
- Comme un ouragan – Jonathan Bécotte (Montréal, Quebec)
Les éditions Héritage
- Le Dernier Viking – Mario Fecteau (Beaulac-Garthby, Quebec)
Les Éditions du Boréal
- Les avenues – Jean-François Sénéchal (Saint-Lambert, Quebec)
Leméac Éditeur
- Stella, qu’est-ce que tu fais là? – Tome I – Sandra Sirois (Montréal, Quebec)
Éditions Hurtubise
- Tara voulait jouer – Frédérick Wolfe (Montréal, Quebec)
Leméac Éditeur
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
- À qui appartiennent les nuages? – Mario Brassard and Gérard DuBois (Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Lanaudière, Quebec / Saint-Lambert, Quebec)
Les Éditions de la Pastèque
- Bouées : dérives identitaires, amours imaginaires et détours capillaires – Catherine Lepage (Montréal, Quebec)
Les Éditions de la Pastèque
- La langue au chat et autres poèmes pas bêtes – François Gravel and Laurent Pinabel (Montréal, Quebec – both)
Éditions Les 400 coups
- Le tricot – Jacques Goldstyn (Mont-Royal, Quebec)
Les Éditions de la Pastèque
- Ma maison-tête – Vigg (Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Quebec)
Fonfon
Composition of the 2021 English-language peer assessment committees
Young People’s Literature – Text: Aviaq Johnston, Karen Rivers, Ken Setterington
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Kyrsten Brooker, Catherine Hernandez
Composition of the 2021 French-language peer assessment committees
Young People’s Literature – Text: Diane Lavoie, Dynah Psyché, Pierre Roy
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Qin Leng, Luc Melanson, Christine Sioui Wawanoloath
About the Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts contributes to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and supports its presence across Canada and around the world. The Council is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.”
The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments support Canadian artists, authors, and arts groups and organizations. This support allows them to pursue artistic expression, create works of art, and promote and disseminate the arts and literature.
Through its arts funding, communications, research, and promotion activities, the Council fosters ever-growing engagement of Canadians and international audiences in the arts.
The Council’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program makes annual payments to creators whose works are held in Canadian public libraries.
The Council’s Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts through exhibition and outreach activities.
The Council is responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO to contribute to a future of peace, reconciliation, equity, and sustainable development.
Media Relations Contacts
For interviews with the finalists:
Charlene Coy, C2C Communications
416-451-1471
charlene@c2ccommunications.com
Canada Council for the Arts
Communications and Engagement
media@canadacouncil.ca
613-239-3958
1-800-263-5588, ext. 5151