Canada Council for the Arts announces the finalists for the 75th Governor General’s Literary Awards

 October 11, 2011 | News Release

The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the 68 finalists for the 2011 Governor General’s Literary Awards. The GGs, Canada’s national book awards celebrate the excellence of Canadian writers, illustrators and translators. The English and French awards are in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature (text and illustration) and translation. 

Territory, identity and winter are recurrent themes in the books chosen by the Canada Council’s juries who selected the GG shortlist after reading, between them, a total of 1,684 eligible books submitted for this year’s awards. 

The GGs always generate excitement,” said Robert Sirman, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. “The Canada Council has administered these awards for more than five decades, and the shortlisted and winning books have had tremendous influence not just in Canada but around the world.”

Celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Governor General’s Literary Awards by displaying your favourite GG books with the new Canada Council Facebook application “My GG Top Reads.” Information on how to participate and a complete list of GG-winning books can be found on the Canada Council website.

The Canada Council’s national partner, Indigo Books & Music, is offering the chance to win a trip to Ottawa to attend the Governor General’s Literary Awards ceremony, at Rideau Hall. Details of the contest can be found on Indigo Books & Music’s website. Our national partner CBC/Radio-Canada invites book lovers to participate in a radio and online quiz to win GG books or a Sony e-Reader on CBC Books and on Radio-Canada’s Zone d’écriture.

The names of the 2011 finalists and the titles of their books are listed below, followed by the names of the members of the 14 juries (seven English and seven French).

Downloadable images of the shortlisted books, together with additional information about the 2011 Awards are available on our website.

English-language finalists

Fiction

• David Bezmozgis, Toronto, The Free World
  (HarperCollins Publishers; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-44340-399-3)

• Patrick deWitt, Portland (Oregon) [originally from Vancouver Island], The Sisters Brothers
  (House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88784-289-4)

• Esi Edugyan, Victoria (British Columbia), Half-Blood Blues: A Novel
  (Thomas Allen Publishers; distributed by Thomas Allen & Son) (ISBN 978-0-88762-741-5)

• Marina Endicott, Edmonton (Alberta), The Little Shadows
  (Doubleday Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-385-66891-0 )

• Alexi Zentner, Ithaca (New York) [originally from Kitchener, Ontario], Touch
  (Alfred A. Knopf Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-307-39944-1)

 

Poetry

• Michael Boughn, Toronto, Cosmographia: A Post-Lucretian Faux Micro-Epic
  (BookThug; distributed by Literary Press Group) (ISBN 978-1-897388-69-3)

• Kate Eichhorn, New York City and Montreal, Fieldnotes, A Forensic
  (BookThug; distributed by Literary Press Group) (ISBN 978-1-897388-66-2)

• Phil Hall, Perth (Ontario), Killdeer
  (BookThug; distributed by Literary Press Group) (ISBN 978-1-897388-81-5)

• Garry Thomas Morse, Vancouver, Discovery Passages
  (Talonbooks; distributed by Publishers Group) (ISBN 978-0-88922-660-9 )

• Susan Musgrave, Sidney and Masset (British Columbia), Origami Dove
  (McClelland & Stewart; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-7710-6522-4)

 

Drama

• Brendan Gall, Toronto, Minor Complications: Two Plays
  (Coach House Books; distributed by LitDistCo ) (ISBN 978-1-55245-237-0)

• Jonathan Garfinkel, Toronto, House of Many Tongues
  ( Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press
  (ISBN 978-0-88754-960-1)

• Erin Shields, Toronto, If We Were Birds
  (Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press
  (ISBN 978-1-77091-012-6)

• Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Toronto, Gas Girls
  ( Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press
  (ISBN 978-0-88754-966-3)

• Vern Thiessen, Astoria (New York) and Winnipeg (Manitoba), Lenin’s Embalmers
  (Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press
  (ISBN 978-0-88754-970-0)

 

Non-fiction

• Charles Foran, Peterborough (Ontario), Mordecai: The Life & Times
  (Alfred A. Knopf Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada ) (ISBN 978-0-676-97963-3)

• Nathan M. Greenfield, Ottawa (Ontario), The Damned: The Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong and the POW Experience, 1941-45
  (HarperCollins Publishers; distributed by HarperCollins Canada (ISBN 978-1-55468-219-5)

• Richard Gwyn, Toronto, Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times, Volume Two: 1867-1891
  (Random House Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-307-35644-4)

• J.J. Lee , New Westminster (British Columbia), The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, a Son, and a Suit
  (McClelland & Stewart; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-7710-4647-6 )

• Andrew Nikiforuk , Calgary (Alberta), Empire of the Beetle: How Human Folly and a Tiny Bug Are Killing North America’s Great Forests
  (Greystone Books, an imprint of D&M Publishers / David Suzuki Foundation; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-55365-510-7)

 

Children’s Literature — Text

• Jan L. Coates, Wolfville (Nova Scotia), A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk
  (Red Deer Press; distributed by Fitzhenry & Whiteside) (ISBN 978-0-88995-451-9)

• Deborah Ellis , Simcoe (Ontario), No Ordinary Day
  (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada)
  (ISBN 978-1-55498-134-2)

• Christopher Moore, Toronto, From Then to Now: A Short History of the World
  (Tundra Books; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-88776-540-7)

• Kenneth Oppel, Toronto, This Dark Endeavour
  (HarperCollins Publishers; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-55468-339-0 )

• Tim Wynne-Jones, Perth (Ontario), Blink & Caution
  (Candlewick Press; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-7636-3983-9)

 

Children’s Literature — Illustration

• Isabelle Arsenault, Montreal, Migrant, text by Maxine Trottier
  (Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada )
  (ISBN 978-0-88899-975-7)

• Kim La Fave, Roberts Creek (British Columbia), Fishing with Gubby, text by Gary Kent
  (Harbour Publishing; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 978-1-55017-497-7)

• Renata Liwska, Calgary (Alberta), Red Wagon, text by Renata Liwska
  (Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group; distributed by Penguin Group Canada) (ISBN 978-0-399-25237-2)

• Frank Viva , Toronto, Along a Long Road, text by Frank Viva
  (HarperCollins Publishers; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-1-44340-620-8)

• Cybèle Young, Toronto, Ten Birds, text by Cybèle Young
  (Kids Can Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-55453-568-2)

 

Translation – French to English

• Judith Cowan, Trois-Rivières (Quebec), Meridian Line
  (Signal Editions, an imprint of Véhicule Press; distributed by LitDistCo) (ISBN 978-1-55065-295-6)
  English translation of Origine des méridiens by Paul Bélanger (Éditions du Noroît)

• David Scott Hamilton, Vancouver, Exit
  (Anvil Press; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 978-1-897-53566-0)
  English translation of Paradis, clef en main by Nelly Arcan (Les Éditions Les 400 coups)

• Lazer Lederhendler, Montreal, Apocalypse for Beginners
  (Vintage Canada; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 978-0-307-39941-0)
  English translation of Tarmac by Nicolas Dickner (Éditions Alto )

• Lazer Lederhendler, Montreal, Dirty Feet
  (House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 978-088784-244-3)
  English translation of Les pieds sales by Edem Awumey (Les Éditions du Boréal)

• Donald Winkler, Montreal, Partita for Glenn Gould
  (McGill-Queen’s University Press; distributed by Georgetown Terminal Warehouses)
  (ISBN 978-0-7735-3810-8)
  English translation of Partita pour Glenn Gould by Georges Leroux (Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal)
  

French-language finalists

Fiction

• Alain Beaulieu, Quebec, Le postier Passila
  (Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0656-3)

• Jean-Simon DesRochers, Chambly (Quebec), Le sablier des solitudes
  (Éditions Les Herbes rouges; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89419-313-6 )

• Perrine Leblanc, Montreal, L’homme blanc
  (Le Quartanier; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-923400-71-6)

• Tassia Trifiatis, Montreal, Mère-grand
  (Leméac Éditeur; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7609-3323-1)

• Mélanie Vincelette, Montreal, Polynie
  (Éditions Robert Laffont; distributed by Messageries ADP, Groupe Sogides) (ISBN 978-2-221-12387-4)

 

Poetry

• Martine Audet, Montreal, Je demande pardon à l’espèce qui brille. Les grands cimetières II
  (Éditions de L’Hexagone; distributed by Messageries ADP, Groupe Sogides) (ISBN 978-2-89006-845-2)

• Roger Des Roches, Pointe-aux-Trembles (Quebec), Le nouveau temps du verbe être
  (Éditions Les Herbes rouges; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89419-317-4)

•  Louise Dupré, Montreal, Plus haut que les flammes
  (Éditions du Noroît; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89018-681-1)

• Patrick Lafontaine, Montreal, Grève du zèle
  (Éditions du Noroît; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89018-685-9)

• Jean-François Poupart, Montreal, L’Or de Klimt
  (Les éditions Poètes de brousse; distributed by ADP Sogides) (ISBN 978-2-923338-39-2)

 

Drama

• Normand Chaurette, Montreal, Ce qui meurt en dernier
  ( Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud; distributed by Socadis ) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0697-6 )

• Steve Gagnon, Quebec, La montagne rouge (SANG)
  (Les éditions de L’instant même; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia ) (ISBN 978-2-89502-303-6 )

•  Pier-Luc Lasalle, Montreal, Judith aussi
  (Éditions Théâtrales; distributed by Gallimard Export) (ISBN 978-2-84260-416-5)

• Étienne Lepage, Montreal, L’enclos de l’éléphant
  (Dramaturges Éditeurs; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89637-042-9 )

• Wajdi Mouawad, Ottawa (Ontario), Journée de noces chez les Cromagnons
  (Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud; distributed by Socadis ) (ISBN 978-2-7609-0699-0 )
  

Non-fiction

• Karine Cellard, Chelsea (Quebec), Leçons de littérature  : un siècle de manuels scolaires au Québec
  (Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-7606-2256-2)

• Henri Dorion, Quebec, and Jean-Paul Lacasse, Ottawa (Ontario), Le Québec : territoire incertain 
  (Les éditions du Septentrion; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia ) (ISBN 978-2-89448-661-0)

• Catherine Leclerc, Montreal, Des langues en partage? Cohabitation du français et de l'anglais en littérature contemporaine
  (Les Éditions XYZ; distributed by Distribution HMH) (ISBN 978-2-89261-597-5)

• Georges Leroux, Montreal, Wanderer : essai sur le Voyage d’hiver de Franz Schubert
  (Éditions Nota bene; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 978-2-89518-362-4)

• Patrick Tillard, Montreal, De Bartleby aux écrivains négatifs : une approche de la négation
  (Le Quartanier; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-923400-79-2)

 

Children’s Literature — Text

• Anne Bernard-Lenoir, Montreal , Enigmae.com - 3. L’orteil de Paros
  (Les éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel) (ISBN 978-2-89651-433-5)

• Camille Bouchard, Quebec, Un massacre magnifique
  (Éditions Hurtubise; distributed by Distribution HMH) (ISBN 978-2-89647-292-5)

• Mario Brassard, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Quebec), La saison des pluies
  (Soulières éditeur; distributed by ERPI / Diffusion du livre Mirabel) (ISBN 978-2-89607-127-2)

• Martin Fournier, Quebec, Les aventures de Radisson -1. L’enfer ne brûle pas
  (Les éditions du Septentrion; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89448-647-4)

• Pierre Marmiesse, Montreal, Sous le signe d’Exu -1. Initiation
  (Les éditions de la courte échelle; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel ) (ISBN 978-2-89651-348-2)

 

Children’s Literature — Illustration

• Sophie Casson, Montreal, Quelle pagaille! , text by Laurence Aurélie et Danielle Marcotte
  ( Les éditions de la courte échelle ; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel (ISBN 978-2-89651-243-0 )

• Shea Chang , Toronto, Tarentelle, text by Mélanie Tellier
  ( Marchand de feuilles ; distributed by Socadis ) (ISBN 978-2-922944-62-4 )

• Élisabeth Eudes-Pascal, Montreal, Bill Chocottes, le héros qui avait peur, text by Dominique Watrin
  ( Les Éditions Les 400 coups; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia ) (ISBN 978-2-89540-478-1 )

• Caroline Merola , Montreal, Lili et les poilus, text by Caroline Merola
  ( Dominique et Compagnie, a division of Éditions Héritage; distributed by Messageries ADP, Groupe Sogides (ISBN 978-2-89512-904-2 )

• Rogé (Roger Girard), Montreal, Haïti, mon pays, poems by students from Camp-Perrin, Haïti
  ( Les Éditions de la Bagnole; distributed by Messageries ADP, Groupe Sogides )
  (ISBN 978-2-923342-50-4 )

 

Translation – English to French

• Geneviève Letarte, Montreal, Le week-end en Bourgogne
  (Les éditions Les Allusifs; distributed by Socadis ) (ISBN 978-2-923682-16-7)
  French translation of stories from the collection The Cost of Living: early and uncollected stories and from Going Ashore, stories by Mavis Gallant (McClelland & Stewart)

• Sophie Voillot , Montreal, Le droit chemin
  (Leméac Éditeur/Actes Sud; distributed by Socadis ) (ISBN 978-2-7609-2992-0)
  French translation of Mid Way by David Homel (Cormorant Books)

• Maryse Warda , Montreal, Toxique ou L’incident dans l’autobus
  ( Dramaturges Éditeurs; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 978-2-89637-038-2)
  French translation of The Toxic Bus Incident by Greg MacArthur

 

The juries

The finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards are chosen by juries of peers (seven English and seven French categories) appointed by the Canada Council. The jurys, which meet separately, consider all eligible books published between September 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011 for English-language books and between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 for French-language books. This year, 1002 titles in the English-language categories and 682 titles in the French-language categories were submitted.

English-language juries

Fiction: Douglas Arthur Brown (Ross Ferry, Nova Scotia), Peter Oliva (Calgary), Kerri Sakamoto (Toronto)

• Poetry: Joanne Arnott (Richmond, British Columbia), Stephen McCaffery (Buffalo, New York), Douglas Burnet Smith (Antigonish, Nova Scotia)
• Drama: Christian Barry (Halifax), Lisa Codrington (Toronto), Eugene Stickland (Calgary)
• Non-fiction: Emma LaRocque (Winnipeg), Philip Lee (Fredericton), John Terpstra (Hamilton, Ontario)
• Children’s Literature – Text: Maureen Hull (Pictou Island, Nova Scotia), Darcy Tamayose (Lethbridge, Alberta), Richard Scarsbrook (Toronto)
• Children’s Literature – Illustration: Murray Kimber (Nelson, British Columbia), Susan Tooke (Halifax), Ange Zhang (Toronto)
• Translation – French to English: Jo-Anne Elder (Fredericton), Hugh Hazelton (Montreal), Maureen Ranson (Calgary)

French-language juries

• Fiction:  Salah Benlabed (Montreal), Nadine Bismuth (Montreal), Alain Bernard Marchand (Ottawa)
• Poetry: André Brochu (Montreal), Nadine Ltaif (Montreal), Alain Raimbault (Longueuil)
• Drama: Sounia Balha (Montreal), Marc Prescott (Winnipeg), Pierre-Michel Tremblay (Montreal)
• Non-fiction: Joël Des Rosiers (Charlemagne), Daniel Jacques (Quebec), Claudine Potvin (Vernon, British Columbia)
• Children’s Literature – Text: Bertrand Laverdure (St-Liguori, Quebec), Diane Carmel Léger (Moncton), Hada L ó pez (Quebec)
• Children’s Literature – Illustration: Naomi Mitcham (Whitehorse), Janice Nadeau (Montreal), Pierre Pratt (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Translation – English to French: Laurent Chabin (Montreal), Patricia Godbout (Sherbrooke), Louise Ladouceur (Edmonton, Alberta)

Governor General’s Literary Awards

The Canada Council for the Arts funds, administers and promotes the Governor General’s Literary Awards.  Each winner will receive $25,000 and a specially-bound copy of the winning book. The publisher of each winning book will receive $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non-winning finalists each receive $1,000 in recognition of their selection as finalists, bringing the total value of the awards to approximately $450,000.

Winners’ announcement

The winners will be announced Tuesday, November 15 at 10 am at the Enwave Theatre at Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay West, in Toronto.

Awards presentation at Rideau Hall

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2011 GG Literary Awards on Thursday, November 24, at 6 p.m. at Rideau Hall. Media representatives wishing to cover the awards presentation should contact Christelle Legault at the Rideau Hall Press Office, (613) 998-7280 or christelle.legault@gg.ca

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Media contacts:

              

Heather McAfee

(613) 566-4414 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4166

E-mail: heather.mcafee@canadacouncil.ca

Grace Thrasher

(613) 566-4414 ext. 5145 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 5145

E-mail: grace.thrasher@canadacouncil.ca

To book interviews with authors, illustrators and translators:

English-language:

Diane Hargrave Public Relations

416-467-9954, ext. 104

dhprbks@interlog.com

Chris DiRaddo Communications
514-806-5087
cd@christopherdiraddo.com

French-language:

Mireille Bertrand
418 829-0543 (bureau) ou 514 652-6085 (cell.)
mireillebertrand@sympatico.ca

Virginie Perron
(450) 592-7158
v.perron@videotron.qc.ca

Tous les documents du Conseil des Arts du Canada sont disponibles en français et en anglais.