What Is 1959 Governor General's Awards

Overview

The 1959 Governor General's Awards celebrated excellence in Canadian literature across multiple categories, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translation. Administered by the Canada Council, these awards recognized writers whose works contributed significantly to the nation's literary culture during that year.

Although the awards were for works published in 1959, the winners were officially announced in May 1960. This delay was standard practice, allowing time for submissions, jury evaluations, and formal ceremonies. The awards continue to be among Canada’s most prestigious literary honors.

• Gabrielle Roy won the Fiction award for her novel The Tin Flute, a powerful depiction of working-class life in Montreal during World War II.
• Margaret Avison received the Poetry (English) award for her collection Winter Sun, praised for its spiritual depth and lyrical precision.
• No official winner was named in the English-language Drama category in 1959, reflecting inconsistent category availability in the early years of the awards.
• The Non-Fiction (English) award went to Harold A. Innis for The Bias of Communication, a seminal work on media and empire in history.
• French-language categories also recognized literary excellence, with André Giroux winning for poetry with Le Temps d’une chute.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards process involves submissions, peer assessment, and final selection by independent juries. Each category follows a rigorous evaluation to ensure literary merit and originality are central to the decision.

• Submission Period: Publishers and authors submit eligible works between June and September. For the 1959 awards, books had to be published in that calendar year.
• Jury Selection: Independent juries composed of writers and critics are appointed by the Canada Council to evaluate entries fairly and without conflict of interest.
• Eligibility Criteria: Works must be originally written in English or French and published by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Categories in 1959: Awards were given in Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry (English and French), and Translation, though Drama was inconsistently awarded at the time.
• Prize Value: In 1959, winners received a medal and a cash prize, though exact figures were not publicly standardized until later decades.
• Announcement Timing: Winners were typically announced the following spring; for 1959, the list was released in May 1960, consistent with past practice.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key details of the 1959 Governor General's Awards with later years to highlight evolution in structure and recognition.

While the 1959 awards laid the foundation for future recognition, later years expanded categories and increased prize money. The absence of a Drama winner that year underscores the evolving nature of the awards’ structure.

Why It Matters

The 1959 Governor General's Awards highlight a pivotal moment in Canadian literary history, showcasing authors who would become national icons. These honors helped elevate Canadian voices during a time when local literature often struggled for international attention.

• Gabrielle Roy became the first French-Canadian woman to gain widespread acclaim in English Canada, thanks in part to her 1959 win.
• Margaret Avison's Winter Sun marked a turning point in Canadian poetry, blending modernist technique with spiritual inquiry.
• The recognition of Harold Innis underscored the importance of scholarly non-fiction in national cultural discourse.
• Translation awards promoted linguistic unity, encouraging the exchange of ideas between English and French Canadian communities.
• Early inconsistencies, like the missing Drama award, led to reforms ensuring all categories were regularly judged by the 1970s.
• These awards set precedents for future literary recognition, influencing programs like the Giller Prize and Writers' Trust Awards.

Today, the Governor General's Awards remain a benchmark of excellence, with the 1959 edition remembered for honoring foundational works in Canada’s literary canon.