FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (May 24, 2012) – The Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) has announced their shortlists for the 2012 CBA Libris Awards. On Sunday, June 3, at 5:30 pm in the Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, the CBA Libris Awards 2012 Dinner & Presentation will bring all facets of the book industry together to celebrate their collective achievements and a year in which Canadian books dominated the literary scene the world over.
“CBA’s Libris Awards are a “must attend” event for anyone who is passionate about the future of Canada’s booksellers and their vital role in our country’s literary landscape,” comments CBA President Mark Lefebvre. “Celebrating those authors, editors, sales reps, distributors, publishers and booksellers who delivered exceptional books to Canadian readers in 2011, the Awards spotlight the collaborative nature of the industry’s most successful creative and commercial efforts.”
The emcee for this year’s ceremony is award-winning author Terry Fallis, whose debut novel, The Best Laid Plans, won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. The pre-ceremony reception starts at 5:30 pm, then the winners are announced live during our CBA Libris Awards Dinner & Presentation at 6:30 pm. A highlight of this year’s Libris Awards ceremony is the presentation of a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Margaret Atwood, who will be on hand to receive the award.
Booksellers vying for CBA Libris Awards 2012 include trade and campus bookstores from all over the country in the running for Bookseller of the Year category are Bryan Prince Bookseller (Hamilton, ON), Mabel’s Fables (Toronto, ON) and Blue Heron Books (Uxbridge, ON). This year’s Campus bookselling candidates are: Queen’s University, York University, and University of King’s College (Halifax).
The publishers nominated this year are Coach House Books, Nimbus Publishing, Arsenal Pulp Press, HarperCollins, Penguin Group (Canada), Scholastic Canada and Dundurn
Press.
Nominees in the Young Reader category include Deadly Voyage by Hugh Brewster (Scholastic Canada), This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada) and The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock (Tundra Books). The Picture Book nominees are I Want My Hat Back, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press); Picture a Tree, written and illustrated by Barbara Reid (Scholastic Canada); and Ten Birds, written and illustrated by Cybèle Young (Kids Can Press).
Voted on by members of the Canadian book industry, CBA Libris Awards honour not only the talented authors whose works were embraced by book-buyers during the previous year, but all of the dedicated professionals who ensured those authors’ books connected meaningfully with readers.
Finally, included in the Editor category is Lynne Missen, Publishing Director of Penguin Canada Young Readers.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact:
Jodi White | CBA Senior Manager | Tel: (416) 467-7883, ext. 227 | jwhite@cbabook.org
A limited number of media passes for the Dinner & Presentation are available. If you’re interested in covering the event, please email jwhite@cbabook.org to register.