Timeline and key facts about the Governor General Literary Awards

OTTAWA – This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Governor-General Literary Awards. Here is a timeline of key events:

1937:First Governor General Literary Awards handed out, Gov. Gen Lord Tweedsmuir attends award ceremony.

1937: Poetry or drama added as category.

1949: Juvenile category added.

1957: Canada Council of the Arts is launched.

1959: First French-language awards for fiction and other genres.

1960: Canada Council for the Arts takes over administration of the awards.

1975: Inauguration of the Canada Council Children’s Literature Awards in French and English.

1981: Poetry and drama are split into separate categories.

1987: Translation categories added (English-to-French, French-to-English).

2005: Award ceremony is held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, the official residence of the Governor General.

___

2016 BY THE NUMBERS

— 1,458 eligible books (892 English, 566 French) were evaluated by 14 peer assessment committees.

— 68 books shortlisted.

— 78 nominees, 43 men and 35 women.

— 37 first-time finalists.

— 4 indigenous finalists.

Source: Canada Council for the Arts