News Releases - 2005
Media Advisory - 2005 Governor General’s Literary Awards presented by the Canada Council for the Arts
Ottawa, September 27, 2005
Announcement of finalists – Monday, October 17
For the first time since the 1990s, the Canada Council will be holding a special event to announce the finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Up to five finalists will be announced in each of the 14 categories (English-and French-language fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, translation, children’s literature – text and children’s literature – illustration).
The announcement will take place at Nicholas Hoare, 45 Front St, E, Toronto on Monday, October 17 at 10 a.m. Publishers, writers, jury members and members of the literary and arts community will be on hand to react to the news and refreshments will be served.
The list of finalists, together with downloadable images of the covers of the shortlisted books, will also be posted on the Canada Council’s web site as of 10:30 a.m. EDT on October 17.
The English-language fiction finalists will read from their works at the International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto on Monday, October 24 at 8 p.m. This is the first time the IFOA has devoted a special evening to the Governor General’s Literary Awards. For information about the reading, contact Steve Myers, IFOA publicist at (416) 973-4147 or smyers@harbourfrontcentre.com.
Announcement of winners – Wednesday, November 16
In honour of the designation of Montreal as World Book Capital 2005-2006 by UNESCO, the winners of this year’s Governor General’s Literary Awards will be announced and presented at a news conference at La Grande Bibliothèque du Québec, 475 boulevard de Maisonneuve E., Montreal, on Wednesday, November 16 at 10 a.m. The winners will be available for in-person and telephone interviews immediately following the news conference.
The names, biographies and downloadable photos of the winners will be posted on the Canada Council web site at as of 10:30 a.m. EST on November 16.
Winners’ reading – Wednesday, November 16
A public reading by the winners of the 2005 Awards (all categories, English and French) will take place at La Grande Bibliothèque du Québec, 475 boulevard de Maisonneuve E, Montreal on Wednesday, November 16 from 7- 9 p.m. The reading will be presented by the Canada Council for the Arts and Blue Metropolis Foundation. Tickets, which will be sold at the door, will be $8 general admission and $5 for Blue Metropolis members.
Copies of the winning books will be on sale, and the winners will be available to sign their books immediately after the reading. For more information about the reading, contact Christopher DiRaddo, Media Relations, Blue Metropolis Foundation at (514) 842-5087 or diraddo@videotron.ca.
Awards presentation: children’s literature – Tuesday, November 22
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will present the awards to the four winners of the children’s literature categories (text and illustration, in English and in French), at a special ceremony and event at Rideau Hall (the residence of the Governor General in Ottawa) on Tuesday, November 22 at 10 a.m.
The purpose of this special event is to highlight the important contribution made by Canada’s children’s book writers and illustrators, and to involve children directly in the presentation of the awards. Children from across the National Capital Region will be invited to attend the event, which will also include readings and workshops by the award winners.
Media representatives wishing to cover this event should contact France Langlois at the Rideau Hall Press Office at (613) 993-8157.
Awards presentation: fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry and translation – Wednesday, November 23
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will present the 2005 Awards in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry and translation (in English and in French) at Rideau Hall on Wednesday, November 23 at 6 p.m. Media representatives wishing to cover the ceremony should contact France Langlois at the Rideau Hall Press Office at (613) 993-8157. A reception and dinner in honour of the winners will be held that evening (by invitation only).
General information
2005 marks the 69th presentation of the Governor General’s Literary Awards. This year, 1,488 books were submitted for the 14 awards.
The Canada Council for the Arts funds, administers and promotes the Governor General’s Literary Awards, worth $15,000 each. Each winner will also receive a specially-crafted copy of the winning book bound by Montreal bookbinder Lise Dubois. The publisher of each winning book will receive $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non-winning finalists will each receive $1,000 in recognition of their selection as finalists, bringing the total value of the Awards to more than $300,000.
BMO Financial Group has been the generous sponsor of the Governor General’s Literary Awards since 1988. The Canada Council for the Arts is grateful to BMO Financial Group for its support.
Interviews with authors:
Diane Hargrave
Diane Hargrave Public Relations
(416) 467-9954
dhprbks@interlog.com
Interviews with authors in Montreal:
Rita Schaffer
Rita Schaffer Publicity
(514) 937-1039
ritapublicity@videotron.ca