News Releases - 2007
2007 Governor General’s Literary Awards presented by the Canada Council for the Arts
This year marks the 71st presentation of the Governor General’s Literary Awards, Canada’s oldest and most prestigious award for English- and French-language Canadian literature. More than 1,400 books have been submitted for the 2007 awards, in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature (text), children’s literature (illustration), and translation.
The Canada Council for the Arts funds, administers and promotes the Governor General’s Literary Awards. For the first time this year, the value of each award will be $25,000, increased from $15,000 in celebration of the Canada Council’s 50th anniversary. Each winner will also receive a specially-crafted copy of the winning book. 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 $400,000.
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.
Bookmark these dates!
Tuesday, October 16, 10 a.m. – Announcement of finalists
- All finalists, English- and French-language, will be announced at Ben McNally Books,
366 Bay St (at Richmond), Toronto.
- The list of finalists, together with downloadable images of the covers of the shortlisted books, will be posted on the Canada Council’s web site as of 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 16.
Monday, October 22, 8 p.m. – Reading at the International Festival of Authors
- The English-language fiction finalists will read from their shortlisted books as part of the International Festival of Authors at the Premiere Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.
- For more information about the reading, contact Becky Toyne, IFOA publicist,
at 416-973-5836.
Thursday, November 15, 7 p.m. – Salon du livre de Montréal
- In honour of the Canada Council’s 50th anniversary, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Salon du livre de Montréal, the Canada Council will hold a special reading featuring the GGLA French-language fiction finalists, hosted by BMO Financial Group. The reading will take place at Salon, in Place Bonaventure. It will be immediately followed by a reception at the Canada Council’s booth.
Tuesday, November 27, 10 a.m. – Announcement of winners
- All winners, English- and French-language, will be announced at La Grande Bibliothèque de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 475 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E., Montreal.
- The winners will speak at the news conference and will be available for in-person and telephone interviews immediately following the announcement.
- The list of winners, downloadable photographs and biographical information will be posted on the Canada Council’s web site as of 11 a.m. EST on November 27.
Wednesday, December 12, 7 p.m. – Public reading by all Award winners
- Reading by the winners of the 2007 Awards in the Library and Archives Canada Auditorium (395 Wellington St., Ottawa).
- Copies of the winning books will be on sale, and the winners will be available to sign their books immediately following the reading.
- For information about the reading, contact Library and Archives Canada, 613-996-5115.
Thursday, December 13, 6 p.m. – Awards presentation at Rideau Hall
- Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada,
will present the 2007 Literary Awards.
- The awards presentation will be followed by a reception, dinner and entertainment (by invitation only).
- Media representatives wishing to cover the awards presentation should contact Marie-Ève Letourneau at the Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-0287.
Interviews with authors:
Diane Hargrave
416-467-9954
dhprbks@interlog.com
In Montreal (English-language):
Christopher DiRaddo
514-842-5087
diraddo@videotron.ca
French-language:
Mireille Bertrand
514-278-6760
mireillebertrand@sympatico.ca