Throughout the year, our partners organize events that feature the books of our Governor General’s Literary Awards finalists and winners. Whether it be readings, discussions or other original activities, they are all opportunities to discover the best of Canadian literature. Check out this list of events!
Many events have taken place virtually and are now available online. Watch them at your leisure from the comfort of your own home.
May 27–28, 2021
Celebrate the Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) with six virtual events featuring the finalists of the 2020 Young People’s Literature Award categories. The finalists in the “Young People’s Literature – Text” category are featured on May 27 and those in the “Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books” category are featured on May 28.
English Event
Virtual event
Visit the TIFA website for details
April 24, 2021
Two writers, two translators and two books that muddle fiction and reality. A conversation about carrying stories across languages and cultures and what it takes to create #GGBooks winners.
Bilingual event
Virtual event
Watch the video on the Frye Festival YouTube channel
December 3, 2020
The 2020 edition of our GGBooks celebration a livestreamed storytelling event featuring seven Wordfest alumni who are also past Governor General's Literary Awards nominees and winners. Each writer performs a 5–7 minute open mic-style monologue about a personal memory or backstory from the year they were nominated, as well as reflect on the impact the nomination had on their writing.
English Event
Virtual event
Visit the Wordfest website for details
September 24, 2020
Four GGBooks winners have corresponded with Katia Grubisic on the theme of being brutally hit by reality. These fascinating exchanges were captured in a blog post published on the Blue Metropolis website on September 24, 2020. Featuring: Gwen Benaway (English-language poetry), Catherine Leroux (translation into French), Linda Gaboriau (translation into English) and Joan Thomas (English-language fiction).
Bilingual Blog
Virtual event
Visit the Metropolis bleu website for details
May 8, 2020
Based on an annual event at the internationally renowned Edinburgh Book Festival, French-to-English translators Wayne Grady and Rhonda Mullins present and discuss their translations of an original work by Francophone author Edem Awumey with moderator Karen Richardson. Audience members follow along as the translators defend their work in the ultimate duel of words. This session is delivered in English. Though some conversations and discussions include French dialogue, you do not need to be bilingual to follow along.
Bilingual Event
Virtual event
Visit the FOLD website for details
The Canada Council thanks its media partners for helping to promote literature.
