What Is 2020 Governor General's Awards

Overview

The 2020 Governor General's Awards celebrated outstanding contributions to Canadian culture in the fields of literature, visual arts, and media arts. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General’s office, the awards are among the country’s most prestigious honors.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the 2020 ceremony adapted with virtual announcements and remote celebrations. The awards highlighted diverse voices and artistic excellence across English and French categories, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to cultural recognition.

• Fourteen literary categories were awarded in both English and French, including Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, reflecting Canada’s bilingual literary landscape.
• André Alexis won the Fiction award for his novel Ring, the final installment in his Quincunx cycle, praised for its philosophical depth and narrative ambition.
• Lisa Moore received the Non-Fiction prize for February, a novel based on the 1982 Ocean Ranger disaster, later adapted into a film, showcasing narrative non-fiction excellence.
• 14 additional awards were given in the Visual and Media Arts category, honoring artists like Rebecca Belmore and Kapwani Kiwanga for their innovative installations and performances.
• The $25,000 prize for each winner, funded by the federal government, has remained unchanged since 2007, though some advocate for increased support for artists.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards follow a rigorous selection process involving independent juries and national review panels. Submissions are evaluated based on artistic merit, originality, and cultural significance, ensuring a fair and transparent outcome.

• Term: The awards are presented annually, though eligibility periods may shift slightly due to administrative or global circumstances such as the 2020 pandemic. Each winner is selected through a multi-tiered jury system.
• Jury selection involves three-member panels of experts appointed by the Canada Council, ensuring impartiality and deep knowledge of each artistic discipline.
• Submission deadlines for the 2020 literary awards closed in May 2020, with publishers and institutions nominating eligible works published between specific dates.
• Eligible works must be authored by Canadian citizens or permanent residents and published in Canada between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020.
• Bilingual equity is maintained by awarding identical categories in both English and French, with separate juries to ensure fair representation of Canada’s official languages.
• Public recognition includes a formal investiture, which in 2020 was replaced by virtual events and media features due to public health restrictions.
• Winners receive a medal bearing the insignia of the Governor General, a $25,000 cash prize, and a commemorative certificate signed by the office.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key aspects of the 2020 Governor General's Awards across major categories:

The table illustrates the breadth of recognition in 2020, with literary awards emphasizing linguistic duality and the visual arts celebrating interdisciplinary innovation. While literary prizes are split by language, the visual and performing arts categories focus on individual achievement regardless of language, reflecting different models of cultural support.

Why It Matters

The 2020 Governor General's Awards played a vital role in sustaining morale and visibility for Canadian artists during a year of widespread cultural shutdowns. By honoring excellence, the awards reinforced the value of creativity in national identity and public discourse.

• Recognition during crisis provided validation for artists facing canceled exhibitions, performances, and book tours due to pandemic-related restrictions.
• Increased visibility for winners often leads to higher book sales, gallery attendance, and media coverage, amplifying their cultural impact.
• Bilingual structure of the awards supports linguistic diversity and promotes equity between English and French Canadian creators.
• International prestige enhances Canada’s cultural reputation, with past winners like Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje gaining global acclaim.
• Funding artists directly through the $25,000 prize helps offset financial instability common in creative professions.
• Historical continuity since the awards’ founding in 1936 underscores their enduring role in shaping Canada’s artistic legacy.

Ultimately, the 2020 awards demonstrated resilience and adaptability, ensuring that artistic achievement remained celebrated even in unprecedented times.