World Literary Awards

← Back to Governor General's Awards

Governor General's Awards

Edition 89 (2024)

English-language fictionFrench-language fictionEnglish-language non-fictionFrench-language non-fictionEnglish-language poetryFrench-language poetryEnglish-language dramaFrench-language dramaChildren's literature (English)Children's literature (French)Children's illustration (English)Children's illustration (French)Translation (English↔French)Visual and Media ArtsPerforming ArtsMedals in ArchitectureHistory AwardsInnovation AwardsAwards in Commemoration of the Persons CaseAward in Celebration of the Nation's TableAcademic Medal and other specialized awards

Winners

14 people
Jordan Abel Winner
Empty Spaces

A hypnotic and mystifying exploration of land and legacy, investigating what it means to be an intergenerational, Indigenous survivor of Residential Schools Jordan Abel’s new work grows out of the groundbreaking visual expression in his recently published NISHGA, a book that combined nonfiction with photography, concrete poetry, and literary inquiry. Whereas NISHGA integrated descriptions of the landscape from James…

A hypnotic and mystifying exploration of land and legacy, investigating what it means to be an intergenerational, Indigenous survivor of Residential Schools Jordan Abel’s new work grows out of the groundbreaking visual…

225 pages
Literary CriticismhistoryviolenceIndigenous experiencecolonialism
Scientific Marvel

Winner, 2024 Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry Winner, 2024 League of Canadian Poets Raymond Souster Award Finalist, 2024 League of Canadian Poets Gerald Lampert Memorial Award CBC Best Book of 2024 Marked by rhythmic drive, humour, and surprise, Undi’s poems consider what is left out from the history and ongoing realities of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Firmly grounded in the local, the arresting poems in Chimwem…

Winner, 2024 Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry Winner, 2024 League of Canadian Poets Raymond Souster Award Finalist, 2024 League of Canadian Poets Gerald Lampert Memorial Award CBC Best Book of 2024 Marked by…

100 pages
Poetryhistorylovequeer identitycolonialism
Caleigh Crow Winner

Grocery-store clerk Beth has had a hell of a week. A hell of a life, actually, full of people squashing her soul.

Grocery-store clerk Beth has had a hell of a week.

96 pages
DramapowerviolenceIndigenous experienceart

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Winner of the 2024 Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction • Named a Best Book of 2024 by Audible, Spotify, and Winnipeg Free Press • One of CBC's Best Canadian Nonfiction of 2024 From ground zero of this country's most important project: reconciliation. Niigaan Sinclair has been called provocative, revolutionary, and one of this country's most influential thinkers on the issues impact…

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Winner of the 2024 Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction • Named a Best Book of 2024 by Audible, Spotify, and Winnipeg Free Press • One of CBC's Best Canadian Nonfiction of 2024 From gro…

384 pages
Social SciencehistorypowerviolenceIndigenous experience
Crash Landing

Winner of the Governor General's Award This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends. Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different—to finally give her some stories worth telling.

Winner of the Governor General's Award This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends.

433 pages
Young Adult Fictionidentityqueer identitymigration

Skating Wild on an Inland Sea by Jean E. Pendziwol and Todd Stewart.

Skating Wild on an Inland Sea by Jean E.

32 pages
art
Nights Too Short to Dance

René suddenly feels like an old man. Recovering at home after an illness, his mind will not leave the past.

René suddenly feels like an old man.

179 pages
Fictionlovequeer identitymusic
Steve Poutré Winner
Lait cru

“The Quebec farm is neither green nor peaceful; she is haunted. By the missing, the stories of fear, the family secrets and the chicks dead in their shells.

“The Quebec farm is neither green nor peaceful; she is haunted.

family
névé dumas Winner
poème dégénéré

degenerate poem by Névé Dumas.

degenerate poem by Névé Dumas.

poetry
Wollstonecraft

Wollstonecraft by Sarah Berthiaume.

Wollstonecraft by Sarah Berthiaume.

literature
Hors jeu : Chronique culturelle et féministe sur l’industrie du sport professionnel

More and more women are visible in men's professional sport. From spectators, cheerleaders or spouses of athletes, they now reach the ranks of coaches, referees and even team directors.

More and more women are visible in men's professional sport.

art
Une bulle en dehors du temps

Océane is ugly. Roch, stoned.

Océane is ugly.

art

In the frozen Great North, winter is harsh for the Innu. The Great Manitu is looking for a tree to bring joy.

In the frozen Great North, winter is harsh for the Innu.

52 pages
Juvenile Fiction

along the wild river: story

along the wild river: story

Restigouche River (N.B. and Québec)