Winner: Fiction

Sheila Heti's Pure Colour (Knopf Canada)

"Pure Colour is a work of genius, juxtaposing the profound and the everyday to tell the story of Mira struggling with the death of her beloved father. In familiar yet philosophical language, Heti presents art-making, love, and solitude in a stunningly original work. Renewing our sense of the world-changing power of art, the writing is gorgeous, poetic, funny, and ‘more than here.'"

—Peer assessment committee: Norma Dunning, Thea Lim and John Steffler

Read The Chat with Sheila Heti!

**

Winner: Nonfiction

Eli Baxter's Aki-wayn-zih: A Person as Worthy as the Earth (McGill-Queens University Press)

"Eli Baxter’s indelible memoir, Aki-wayn-zih, takes readers deep into Anishinaabay culture, language and history to reveal a rich and complex world, while showing how the link between language and land is crucial for survival and growth. At a time when he worries that the fires of Indigenous languages are going out, his simple and beautiful book, written across languages, cultures, and generations, radiates a radical kind of hope."

—Peer assessment committee: Will Aitken, Madhur Anand and Jenna Butler

**

Winner: Poetry

Annick MacAskill's Shadow Blight (Gaspereau Press)

"MacAskill brings the mythological Niobe back from the contempt of history to play the role of emissary. It is a book about how mothers become what they love, as well as a survival story: how not to turn to stone. The stolen child haunts the lines, a deep defiance burdened by hope. This rare achievement combines formal poetic mastery with honesty and vulnerability."

—Peer assessment committee members: Joe Denham and Stewart Donovan

Read The Chat with Annick MacAskill!

**

Winner: Drama

Dorothy Dittrich's The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key (Talonbooks)

"Moving and compelling. With this gorgeously written play, Dittrich has accomplished the remarkable. She brilliantly delves into a multi-layered exploration of love, loss, isolation and friendship, reaching beyond words to reveal the healing and redemptive power of music. She holds our hand on an unexpected journey through grief towards hope.”
—Peer assessment committee: Keith Barker, Marie Leofeli Romero Barlizo and Alex Poch Goldin

Read The Chat with Dorothy Dittrich!

**

Winner: Young People's Literature (Text)

Jen Ferguson's The Summer of Bitter and Sweet (HarperCollins)

“A timely novel that flows from the author’s Métis and Canadian roots, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet features vibrant prose, real family conflict and a raw and evocative commentary on the struggles of being different in a small-town, prairie setting. Touching on subjects that speak to today’s challenges for 2SLGBTQI+ youth, the complex story delivers an emotional impact. The recipe notes about ice cream add a scoop of sweetness to level out Lou’s sometimes bitter realities.”
—Peer assessment committee: Michael Hutchinson, Sharon Jennings and Wesley King

**

Winner: Young People's Literature (Illustrated Books)

Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi's The Sour Cherry Tree (Owlkids Books)

"A moving reflection of love and loss through the eyes of a child, The Sour Cherry Tree is a tender story about family and culture that is portrayed with subtlety and thoughtfulness. Memories of childhood and bereavement feel tangible and are softened by Kazemi’s gentle artistry. Hrab and Kazemi’s work evokes the depth of love we share through little gestures. This beautifully crafted book will linger long after you have finished reading."
—Peer assessment committee: Kate Beaton, Nhung N. Tran-Davies and Frank Viva

**

Winner: Translation

Pierre Anctil's History of the Jews in Quebec, translated by Judith Weisz Woodsworth (University of Ottawa Press)

"Judith Weisz Woodsworth’s flawless translation renders Pierre Anctil’s formidable socio-historical work accessible to an English-speaking audience. It replicates the engaging style of the original with enthusiasm and rigour. Weisz Woodsworth fully captures the scholarly but compelling prose of this essential overview. Her translation of the extensive documentation is equally masterful.”
—Peer assessment committee: Anita Anand, Chantal Bilodeau and Steven Urquhart