Winners of 2008 Governor General’s Literary Awards Announced

Montreal, November 18, 2008 – Two four-time winners are among the list of winners of the 2008 Governor General’s Literary Awards announced today by the Canada Council for the Arts. The awards are given in the categories of fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction, children’s literature (text and illustration) and translation, in English and in French.

Stéphane Jorisch, nominated in two categories in 2008, has won his fourth award as the winner in children’s literature ‑ illustration. Another previous winner is Janice Nadeau (children’s illustration - French).

“Reading is discovering that our roots encompass the world. It also means stepping outside of ourselves and reaching the Other. Reading allows us to find our truth and share it with all of humanity. We need to live to read and read to live,” said Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

Her Excellency will present the winners with their awards at Rideau Hall on December 10. This year marks the 72nd presentation of the Governor General’s Literary Awards, Canada’s oldest and most prestigious awards for English- and French-language Canadian literature.

The Canada Council funds, administers and promotes the awards. The value of each award is $25,000 and each winner will also receive a specially-bound 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 approximately $450,000.

BMO Financial Group has been the sponsor of the GGs since 1988, providing support for the promotion of the winners and finalists.

The names of the winners and titles of their works in the children category are listed below together with jury comments for each work.

Children’s Literature – English Text

John Ibbitson, Washington (D.C.), formerly of Ottawa and Toronto, The Landing (Kids Can Press)
A superbly crafted story, The Landing takes us to the Ontario Muskoka region of the 1930s. As an interpretation of a place and time and a young man’s coming-of-age, it never falters. It is a novel as timeless as the music and the adolescent imagination that lie at its centre.

Jury members: Michael Kusugak (Rankin Inlet, NU), Kevin Major (St. John’s, NL), Teresa Toten (Toronto

Children’s Literature – French Text

Sylvie Desrosiers, Longueuil, Quebec, Les trois lieues (Les éditions de la courte échelle)
Sylvie Desrosiers has written a profoundly moving story about the difficult relationship between a father and son. The book takes us on an extraordinary adventure in the far North, a place where magic is closely connected to reality. A gentle reflection on courage, forgiveness, life, love and death.

Jury members: Ginette Anfousse (Rivière-Rouge, QC), Édith Bourget (Saint-Jacques, NB), Michel Noël (Saint-Damien, QC)

Children’s Literature – English Illustration

Stéphane Jorisch, Montreal, The Owl and the Pussycat, text by Edward Lear (Kids Can Press)
Light, poetic, playful, imaginative, bizarre and ingenious illustrations match the text superbly. Stéphane Jorisch’s art brings new colour and depth to this well-known poem. Sit down in an armchair with this book and let it transport you into its magical world.

Jury members: Victor Bosson (Victoria), Jirina Marton (Colborne, ON.), Janie Jaehyun Park (Toronto)

Children’s Literature – French Illustration

Janice Nadeau, Montreal, Ma meilleure amie, text by Gilles Tibo (Québec Amérique)
Janice Nadeau uses a quiet, sober approach to illustrate the delicate subject of death. Her brushstroke evokes ashes and dust, and the restrained use of colour imbues Ma meilleure amie with an emotional charge that goes straight to the heart.

Jury members: Jean-Paul Eid (Montreal), Joanne Ouellet (Lac Beauport, QC), Christine Sioui (Odanak, QC)

For more information, please conact:

Grace Thrasher
Arts Promotion Coordinator
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5145

Carole Breton
Public Relations Officer
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523

Interviews with authors and illustrators:
English-language
Diane Hargrave, Diane Hargrave Public Relations
416-467-9954
dhprbks@interlog.com

In Montreal (English-language):
Christopher DiRaddo
Christopher DiRaddo Communications
514-842-5087
diraddo@videotron.ca

French-language:
Mireille Bertrand
Publicist
514-652-6085
mireillebertrand@sympatico.ca

Virginie Perron
Media assistant
450-933-3496
v.perron@videotron.qc.ca