2010 Governor General's Literary Awards

His Excellency honoured the laureates of the 74th edition of the Literary Awards at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall. They are Canada’s oldest and most prestigious awards for English- and French-language Canadian literature.

Wendy Phillips, Richmond (British Columbia), won the award for children’s literature - text, for the book Fishtailing.

In this highly-inventive, poetic narrative, four compelling characters take the reader on a wild ride through the dangerous terrain of friendships threatened by manipulative acts.

Allan Casey, Saskatoon, won the award for non-fiction, for Lakeland: Journeys into the Soul of Canada .

This book takes readers on an enchanting and enlightening journey across Canada, exploring a quintessential element of the Canadian landscape and its very soul – lakeland.

Each recipient received a specially bound copy of their book made by Montréal master bookbinder Lise Dubois.

Kim Thúy, Longueuil (Québec), won the award for fiction, for the book Ru.

This is an exemplary autobiographical novel. Never is there the slightest hint of narcissism or self pity. The major events in the fall of Vietnam are painted in delicate strokes, through the daily existence of a woman who has to reinvent herself elsewhere.

David Paquet, Montréal, won the award for drama, for his work Porc-épic .

Lightly, yet without losing any of its depth, Porc-épic describes an absurd universe where vulnerable people feel a burning desire to be guided by their intuition. David Paquet has created a darkly comic and profoundly touching work.

Danielle Fournier, Montreal, won the award for poetry, for the book effleurés de lumière.

In an age when narration is increasingly present in poetry and the novel has appropriated every form and subject, Danielle Fournier succeeds, with extreme subtlety, in bestowing the most demanding narrative form upon poetry in effleurés de lumière.

Jon Klassen, Los Angeles [originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario], won the award for Children’s Literature – Illustration, for the book Cats’ Night Out.

In Cat’s Night Out, Jon Klassen’s highly imaginative and clever illustrations, with their subdued, delicate colours and their minimal movement, mysteriously transform a smoky New York night into a grooving and pulsating background for his cool dancing cats.

Daniel Sylvestre, Montréal, won the award for Children’s Literature – Illustration, for Rose : derrière le rideau de la folie.

Daniel Sylvestre plunges us into the very heart of the main character’s tormented world. Each element of this book comes together to eloquently create a demanding and masterly work, in which Rose’s madness is filled with meaning.

Robert Chafe, St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), won the award for drama, for his work Afterimage .

Afterimage is the remarkable story of Lise Lacoeur and her struggle with a gift for seeing into the future. This play digs deep into our universal desire to connect with those around us, and with our own personal vision.