What Is 1978 Governor General's Awards

Overview

The 1978 Governor General's Awards celebrated excellence in Canadian literature, recognizing authors who published outstanding works in 1977. These awards are among Canada's oldest and most prestigious literary honors, established in 1936 to promote homegrown talent across multiple genres.

Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the awards spanned seven categories, including English and French divisions for Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, plus one for Non-Fiction. The 1978 ceremony highlighted a vibrant era in Canadian letters, reflecting the nation’s growing cultural identity.

• Margaret Atwood won the English Fiction category for her satirical novel Lady Oracle, published by Little, Brown and Company in 1976.
• Michael Ondaatje received the English Poetry award for There's a Trick with a Knife I'm Learning to Do, a collection blending personal and mythic themes.
• The English Drama prize went to John Herbert for Fortune and Men's Eyes, a powerful play addressing incarceration and identity.
• In French Fiction, Hubert Aquin was honored posthumously for Prochain épisode, a politically charged novel reflecting Quebec nationalism.
• Each winner received a medal and a cash prize of $1,000, standard for the era, symbolizing national recognition more than financial reward.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards follow a rigorous annual selection process involving independent juries, publisher submissions, and administrative oversight by the Canada Council. Authors must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and works must be originally written in English or French or translated into one of Canada’s official languages.

• Term: The 1978 awards honored books published between January 1 and December 31, 1977. Eligibility required first publication in Canada during that calendar year.
• Jury Panels: Each category had a three-member jury of writers, critics, or academics who evaluated submissions anonymously and independently.
• Submission Process: Publishers submitted up to five titles per category, paying a filing fee of $25 per book to cover administrative costs.
• Translation Rules: Translated works were eligible if the translator was Canadian or a permanent resident, promoting bilingual literary exchange.
• Announcement Timing: Winners were publicly revealed in November 1978, typically at Rideau Hall or another official venue in Ottawa.
• Recognition: The Governor General personally presented medals, underscoring the awards’ status as a national honor endorsed by the Crown’s representative.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1978 Governor General's Awards can be better understood by comparing them to other years and major literary prizes.

This comparison shows that while the Governor General's Awards were foundational in Canadian literature, their monetary value in 1978 was modest compared to later prizes like the Giller. However, their cultural weight and longevity give them enduring prestige.

Why It Matters

The 1978 awards marked a pivotal moment in Canadian cultural history, spotlighting authors who shaped the nation’s literary canon. Recognition from these awards often led to increased readership, international attention, and long-term career advancement.

• Margaret Atwood’s win solidified her status as a leading voice in Canadian fiction, preceding her global acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s.
• The recognition of Quebecois authors like Hubert Aquin highlighted the bilingual and diverse nature of Canadian literature.
• Winning a Governor General's Award often led to translation into multiple languages, expanding Canadian works globally.
• Many recipients, such as Michael Ondaatje, later won international awards, including the Booker Prize and the Griffin Poetry Prize.
• The awards encouraged literary publishing in Canada, motivating publishers to invest in high-quality, original works.
• By honoring both English and French writers, the awards reinforced Canada’s official bilingualism and cultural duality.

Today, the Governor General's Awards remain a benchmark of excellence, with the 1978 edition remembered for its influential winners and reflection of a maturing national literature.