January / February 2001 Vol. 33, no. 1

An Evening with the Governor General’s Literary Award Winners

Randall Ware
Research and Information Services

For the ninth consecutive year, the National Library hosted a reading by the winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards on the day after the official ceremony. This year’s version, which took place on Wednesday, November 15, 2000, was greatly enhanced by the presence of Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency, John Ralston Saul.

The capacity audience was treated to an evening of readings by the winners which demonstrated the talent and diversity of our writers. From Nega Mezlekia’s moving account of his Ethiopian boyhood, to the elegant reflections of Gérard Bouchard on the history of Quebec, to Marie-Louise Gay’s fascinating explanation of the relationship between words and images, the winners demonstrated why their books had been chosen as the best of the year.

National Librarian Roch Carrier thanked our sponsor, the Gale Group, and re-affirmed the Library’s commitment to the printed word.

The long line-ups at the autographing tables attested the public’s interest; the booksellers reported record sales.

Their Excellencies took the opportunity to chat informally with audience members. Their warmth and interest did much to make this evening a success.

		National Librarian Roch Carrier looks on as Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, C.C., C.M.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada, congratulates children’s author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay.

WINNERS - Governor General's Literary Awards 2000

Roch Carrier with some of this year's Governor General's Literary Award winners.

English Nonfiction

Nega Mezlekia
Notes from the Hyena’s Belly
(Penguin Books Canada)

French Nonfiction

Gérard Bouchard
Genèse des nations et cultures du Nouveau Monde
(Les Éditions du Boréal)

English Drama

Timothy Findley
Elizabeth Rex
(Blizzard Publishing)

French Drama

Wajdi Mouawad
Littoral
(Leméac Éditeur / Actes Sud)

English Children’s Literature  -  Text

Deborah Ellis
Looking for X
(Groundwood Books)

French Children’s Literature  -  Text

Charlotte Gingras
Un été de Jade
(Les éditions de la courte échelle)

English Children’s Literature  -  Illustration

Marie-Louise Gay
Yuck, A Love Story
(Stoddart Kids)

French Children’s Literature  -  Illustration

Anne Villeneuve
L'Écharpe rouge
(Les éditions Les 400 coups)

Translation (from English to French)

Lori Saint-Martin et Paul Gagné
Un parfum de cèdre
(Flammarion Québec)

Translation (from French to English)

Robert Majzels
Just Fine
(House of Anansi Press)

French Poetry

Normand de Bellefeuille
La Marche de l'aveugle sans son chien
(Éditions Québec Amérique)

English Poetry

Don McKay
Another Gravity
(McClelland & Stewart)

French Fiction

Jean Marc Dalpé
Un vent se lève qui éparpille
(Éditions Prise de parole)

English Fiction

Michael Ondaatje
Anil's Ghost
(McClelland & Stewart)