Full list of 2006 Governor General's Literary Awards

ABRIDGED NEWS RELEASE

CANADA COUNCIL
FOR THE ARTS

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The Canada Council for the Arts announces the winners of the 2006 Governor General's Literary Awards

OTTAWA, ONTARIO -(Nov. 21, 2006) - The Canada Council for the Arts announced today the names of the winners of the 2006 Governor General's Literary Awards, in English and in French, in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, children's literature (text and illustration) and translation.

The winners were announced by Robert Sirman, director of the Canada Council, and Laurent Lapierre, a member of the Canada Council's board, at simultaneous news conferences in Toronto and Montreal.

They will be presented with their awards by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall on December 13.

This year marks the 70th presentation of the Governor General's Literary Awards, Canada's oldest and most prestigious award for English- and French-language Canadian literature.

"Books are what remain. If I were asked what books mean for me, I would respond solitude, freedom and sharing", said the Governor General. "Authors choose to isolate themselves at first in order to share their dreams, images and knowledge. And I, like many other readers, choose to change this moment of solitude into an intimate exchange that makes me dream, learn, laugh and reflect. Year after year, our authors enrich and renew our cultural heritage and it is my pleasure to invite all Canadians to celebrate the winners of the Governor General's literary awards. I salute and warmly congratulate them."

BMO Financial Group has been the sponsor of the Governor General's Literary Awards since 1988.

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FICTION

Peter Behrens, Brooklin, Maine (formerly of Montreal), for The Law of Dreams

(House of Anansi Press; distributed by HarperCollins Canada) (ISBN 0-88784-207-0)

The Law of Dreams is an epic novel populated by extraordinary characters traversing the bleak moment of famine in Irish history. Peter Behrens [shown in photo above], with authorial imagination and a wealth of historical detail, guides us through the blight with unparalleled intimacy.

Andree Laberge, Quebec City, for La riviere du loup

(XYZ editeur; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 2-89261-445-7)

In an enchanting style, the author creates a universe that is inhabited - or, more accurately, possessed - by individuals who are larger than life, all in search of the absolute. This polyphonic tale originates in the depths of the subconscious. Andree Laberge gives us a meditation on culture and nature in a magnificent novel whose voice, like a raging river, resonates for a long time.

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POETRY

John Pass, Madeira Park (BC), for Stumbling in the Bloom

(Oolichan Books; distributed by University of Toronto Press) (ISBN 0-88982-201-8)

John Pass's poems are luminous meditations engaging us in form and style with emotion, spirit and thought. Stumbling in the Bloom approaches the world's beauty with awe and tenderness, celebrating all that engulfs and eludes us.

Helene Dorion, Saint-Hippolyte (QC), for Ravir: les lieux

(Editions de la Difference; distributed by Socadis; Diffusion Dimedia as of December 1, 2006) (ISBN 2-7291-1575-7)

The poetry of Helene Dorion is shot through with images and elements from nature. This meditation seeks to measure the meaning of the world "in the resting place of time." Helene Dorion explores the paths of a writing of darkness in search of its own light.

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DRAMA

Daniel MacIvor, Halifax, for I Still Love You

(Playwrights Canada Press; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 0-88754-858-X)

A dazzling display of virtuosity and honesty, these plays demonstrate the author's consummate theatricality, as well as his compelling humanity. Journeying from the archetypal male world of Never Swim Alone to the dynamic female world of A Beautiful View, this collection is quintessential MacIvor, breathtakingly innovative and overwhelmingly recognizable.

Evelyne de la Cheneliere, Montreal, for Desordre public

(Editions Fides; distributed by Socadis) (ISBN 2-7621-2683-5)

Evelyne de la Cheneliere closely observes her characters, and with small, delicate touches, extracts pieces of their souls with the delicacy of a lacemaker. In mellifluous and astonishingly precise language she traces the contours of a fragile humanity with infinite compassion.

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NONFICTION

Ross King, Woodstock, Oxon, UK (formerly of Saskatchewan), for The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism

(Bond Street Books, an imprint of Doubleday Canada, a division of Random House of Canada; distributed by the publisher) (ISBN 0-385-66102-9 (bound) / (0-385-66103-7 (paper))

The Judgment of Paris is nonfiction at its best. Ross King's narrative, which evokes the rise of Impressionism, is layered with intrigue and high politics. He uses the artist Ernest Meissonier's mastery of detail to create a sweeping portrait of a revolutionary decade.

Pierre Ouellet, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (QC), for A force de voir: histoire de regards

(Editions du Noroit; distributed by Diffusion Dimedia) (ISBN 2-89018-563-X)

Pierre Ouellet's book is a major contribution to the reading of contemporary art. His vast culture subtly reveals the works studied, and his precise use of language wonderfully combines the lyrical and the informative. The boldness of his corpus and the level of the discourse are astonishing. This book speaks of the relevance of contemporary art and opens the way to a better understanding with generosity and conviction.

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CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - TEXT

William Gilkerson, Mahone Bay (NS), for Pirate's Passage, illustrated by the author

(Trumpeter Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Shambhala Publications; distributed by Random House of Canada) (ISBN 1-59030-247-8)

Steeped in wit, philosophy and mystical ambiguity, William Gilkerson's Pirate's Passage takes a maverick approach to history. A challenging children's novel with a dangerous edge, Pirate's Passage is a work of genius, a benchmark in Canadian literature.

Dany Laferriere, Montreal, for Je suis fou de Vava, illustrations by Frederic Normandin

(Les Editions de la Bagnole; distributed by Diffusion du livre Mirabel) (ISBN 2-923342-03-8)

With Je suis fou de Vava, Dany Laferriere delves into the heart of his childhood and the culture of Haiti for an innocent and sensitive evocation of love. His poetry-filled text has the added merit of bringing cultures together. The perfect balance between text and illustration make for a book that is as deliciously appealing as a basket of fresh fruit.

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