The Governor General's Literary Awards was established in 1987 as an annual book award for works that recognize and celebrate literary and artistic excellence in English-language and French-language Canadian books for children and adults.

… this is Canada's premier literary award and an indication to readers that, if a books has won it, it's well-worth reading.

• Established by the Canada Council for The Arts in 1987, the awards are sponsored by BMO Financial Group and given annually.
• The award is divided into seven categories, two of them for children's books: Children's Literature-Text, and Children's Literature-Illustration (both in English and French).
• All genres written for ages up to 13 are eligible, provided they were written by a Canadian and first published in Canada.
• Finalists and winners are chosen by independent peer juries in each category, appointed by the Canada Council for the Arts.
• The Cash Prize of $15,000 for each winner is presented in November at the Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.
• Publishers of the winning books receive $3,000 to assist with promotion and finalists receive $1,000 to mark their achievement.
• Past winners include: Deborah Ellis and Rachna Gilmore.

Janet Riedel Pigott
Acting Director, Endowments & Prizes
(613) 566-4414, ext. 5041

Phone: 1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5041

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