Charles Taylor Prize Ceremony

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston attended the 2012 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction award ceremony, in Toronto, on March 5, 2012.

The Charles Taylor Prize commemorates Charles Taylor’s pursuit of excellence in the field of literary non-fiction. The prize is awarded to the author whose book best combines a superb command of the English language, an elegance of style, and a subtlety of thought and perception.

His Excellency had the opportunity to engage with the authors.

On this occasion, the Governor General addressed guests on how great Canadian non-fiction books entertain and enlighten us: "I am constantly sharing books, stories and quotations. My predecessor, Vincent Massey, was a passionate advocate of literacy and literature in Canada, and I share his belief in the power of books to elevate individuals and societies as a whole."

In the afternoon, Her Excellency visited Rosalie Hall: A Young Parent Resource Centre which provides a range of early intervention and prevention services to young families from Scarborough and across the Toronto region.

Her Excellency met with young mothers to discuss their personal experiences and acknowledge the positive impact the centre has had on their lives. Mrs. Johnston is interested in exploring the art of parenting among Canadian families. She is engaging parents and stakeholders in a discussion on the role of families in Canada today and how they can strengthen our communities.

Her Excellency was offered a painting from a young mother as a token of her appreciation for her visit to the centre.