Scotiabank Giller Prize

The Scotiabank Giller Prize is Canada's most prestigious and richest literary award for fiction. Founded in 1994 by Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, Doris Giller, a celebrated literary journalist, the prize annually recognizes the best Canadian novel, short story collection, or graphic novel published in English. With a top prize of CAD$100,000, it is one of the most valuable literary prizes in the world and exerts an extraordinary influence on Canadian book sales—the so-called "Giller Effect" is one of the most powerful sales drivers in the Canadian publishing industry. The prize is governed by the Giller Prize Foundation and each year selects a new independent jury of literary experts. The longlist is announced in September, the shortlist in October, and the winner is revealed at a nationally televised ceremony broadcast on CBC in November. Shortlisted authors each receive CAD$10,000, and the winner takes home CAD$100,000. The prize has been supported by a succession of prominent sponsors; Scotiabank was a long-standing title sponsor, though the prize has continued under the Giller name. Since its founding, the Giller has consistently discovered and elevated Canadian literary talent, from Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood to younger writers like Esi Edugyan, who has won the prize twice. The award accepts works in English, including translated works, and celebrates the diversity of Canadian experience. Its annual ceremony, hosted by prominent Canadian cultural figures, has become one of the country's most-watched literary events, cementing the Giller Prize's role at the center of Canadian literary culture.