Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Governor General’s Literary Awards were established in 1936. Today, the awards play an important role in showcasing Canadian literature by crowning winners in seven different categories. The 2022 nominees demonstrate the diversity and talent of Canada’s literary landscape. Here are the English-language winners.

Fiction: “Pure Colour” by Sheila Heti

“Pure Colour” is a novel that’s larger than life. Indeed, it tells the story of one life from beginning to end. The main character, Mira, struggles with the loss of her father and enters, through that loss, into a strange new dimension. More than a piece of fiction, this is a philosophical work in which Heti explores the themes of love, death, time, and art.

Non-fiction: “Aki-wayn-zih” by Eli Baxter

“Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth” is a memoir in addition to a deep look at Anishinaabay history, language, and culture. Baxter takes the reader back to Anishinaabay culture before European contact and explains how knowledge is embedded in Anishinaabay language. He also recounts his childhood memories of traditional life before entering the residential school system.

Poetry: “Shadow Blight” by Annick MacAskill

“Shadow Blight” combines myth and poetry to explore the emotions of isolation and pain following a pregnancy loss. MacAskill draws on the Greek mythological stories of Niobe, a mother who turned to stone after losing her children. With her beautiful words, she offers a new lens and new possibilities for those who are similarly suffering.

Drama: “The Piano Teacher” by Dorothy Dittrich

“The Piano Teacher” is a play about a classical pianist, Erin, whose life and musical expression are turned upside down. While trying to navigate her way past a family tragedy, she meets an unconventional piano teacher named Elaine. As Erin reacquaints herself with her music, she discovers the healing power of music and friendship, especially when it comes to moving through grief.

Young People’s Literature – Text: “The Summer of Bitter and Sweet” by Jen Ferguson

“The Summer of Bitter and Sweet” is a coming-of-age novel set in a small prairie town that follows Lou, a young woman who works at her family’s ice cream shack. In this tale of self-discovery, Lou strikes up a friendship that promises to turn into something more but, at the same time, her biological father, whom she would rather never see again, comes back into the picture.

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: “The Sour Cherry Tree” by Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi

In this illustrated book, Iranian-Canadian authors Hrab and Kazemi look at love and loss through the eyes of a child. “The Sour Cherry Tree” follows a young girl who wanders through her grandfather’s home following his death, discovering objects that stir up sweet memories they shared together despite not speaking the same language.

Translation (French to English): “History of the Jews in Quebec” translated by Judith Weisz Woodsworth

A sweeping social-historical work by author Pierre Anctil, “History of the Jews in Quebec” is translated flawlessly into English by Judith Weisz Woodsworth. Woodsworth maintains Anctil’s compelling and rigorous tone as the book goes back over four centuries of Jewish history and contributions in the province of Quebec.

Winter is a wonderful time of year to curl up with a good book, and you’ve got seven picks right here to choose your next read from — all with the Governor General’s Literary Awards stamp of approval.