Governor General's Award
Encyclopedia
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada
, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir
, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor General's Literary Award. Successive governors general have followed suit, establishing an award for whichever endeavour they personally found important. Only Adrienne Clarkson
created two Governor General Awards the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts and the Governor General's Medal in Architecture (though this was effectively a continuation of the Massey Medal, first established in 1950).
's most prestigious prizes, awarded in both French
and English
in seven categories: fiction
, non-fiction
, poetry
, drama
, children's literature
(one each for text and illustration), and translation
. The awards were created by the Lord Tweedsmuir
, himself the author of The Thirty-Nine Steps
. The awards first honoured only two authors each year, and only those who wrote in English. Then, in 1957 the awards were put under the administration of the Canada Council for the Arts
and a cash prize began to be awarded to the winner. By 1980, the council began to announce the finalists for the awards a month before they were presented in order to attract more media attention, and in 2007 the cash prize was increased to $25,000.
During her tenure from 1999 to 2005, Adrienne Clarkson
made an effort to obtain copies of every Governor General's Literary Awards winning book from fairs and second hand shops for the governor general's study. As of 2004 there remained only two titles unrepresented.
have been presented since their creation by Edward Schreyer
in 1979, and honour the promotion of equality for girls and women in Canada. Five awards are given annually to candidates chosen from across the country, in addition to one award to a Canadian youth. The awards are administered by Status of Women Canada, and may be presented to persons of either gender; Ben Barry
became the first man to win the award when he was presented it in 2008.
, in the categories of dance
, classical music
, popular music
, film
, and radio
and television
broadcasting. They were initiated in 1992 by then Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn
, and winners receive $25,000 and a medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint
. In addition, two complementary awards are given: The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, recognising the voluntary services to the performing arts by an individual or group, and the National Arts Centre Award, which recognises an individual artist's or company's work during the past performance year. There is also a mentorship programme that connects award recipients with artists in their early to mid-career. Since 2008, the National Film Board of Canada
has produced short films about each of the laureates, which are screened at the awards ceremony and streamed online.
Arts were first presented in 2000. The Canada Council for the Arts funds and administers the awards.
Six prizes are awarded annually to visual and media artists for distinguished career achievement in fine arts (painting, drawing, photography, print-making and sculpture, including installation and other three-dimensional work), applied arts (architecture and fine crafts), independent film and video, or audio and new media. One prize is awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the visual or media arts in a volunteer or professional capacity. The value of each award is $15,000. An independent peer jury of senior visual and media arts professionals selects the winners.
have been presented since 2002, continuing the tradition of the Massey Medals, begun in 1950. Up to twelve medals are awarded every two years, with no distinction among the medals awarded. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
administers the competition.
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation....
, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor General's Literary Award. Successive governors general have followed suit, establishing an award for whichever endeavour they personally found important. Only Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
created two Governor General Awards the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts and the Governor General's Medal in Architecture (though this was effectively a continuation of the Massey Medal, first established in 1950).
Governor General's Literary Awards
Since their creation in 1937, the Governor General's Literary Awards have become one of CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's most prestigious prizes, awarded in both French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in seven categories: fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
(one each for text and illustration), and translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
. The awards were created by the Lord Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation....
, himself the author of The Thirty-Nine Steps
The Thirty-nine Steps
The Thirty-Nine Steps is an adventure novel by the Scottish author John Buchan. It first appeared as a serial in Blackwood's Magazine in August and September 1915 before being published in book form in October that year by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh...
. The awards first honoured only two authors each year, and only those who wrote in English. Then, in 1957 the awards were put under the administration of the Canada Council for the Arts
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
and a cash prize began to be awarded to the winner. By 1980, the council began to announce the finalists for the awards a month before they were presented in order to attract more media attention, and in 2007 the cash prize was increased to $25,000.
During her tenure from 1999 to 2005, Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
made an effort to obtain copies of every Governor General's Literary Awards winning book from fairs and second hand shops for the governor general's study. As of 2004 there remained only two titles unrepresented.
Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case
The Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons CaseEdwards v. Canada (Attorney General)
Edwards v. Canada [1930] A.C. 124 – also known as the Persons Case – is a famous Canadian and British constitutional case where it was first decided that women were eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate...
have been presented since their creation by Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
in 1979, and honour the promotion of equality for girls and women in Canada. Five awards are given annually to candidates chosen from across the country, in addition to one award to a Canadian youth. The awards are administered by Status of Women Canada, and may be presented to persons of either gender; Ben Barry
Ben Barry
Ben Barry is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and women's health advocate. He is the founder and CEO of the Ben Barry Agency, a modelling agency and consultancy known for its use of diverse models, and the author of the Canadian bestseller Fashioning Reality: A New Generation of Entrepreneurship...
became the first man to win the award when he was presented it in 2008.
Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement
The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement are the foremost honours presented for excellence in the performing artsPerforming arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, in the categories of dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasting. They were initiated in 1992 by then Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 24th since Canadian Confederation....
, and winners receive $25,000 and a medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
. In addition, two complementary awards are given: The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, recognising the voluntary services to the performing arts by an individual or group, and the National Arts Centre Award, which recognises an individual artist's or company's work during the past performance year. There is also a mentorship programme that connects award recipients with artists in their early to mid-career. Since 2008, the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
has produced short films about each of the laureates, which are screened at the awards ceremony and streamed online.
Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts
The Governor General's Awards in Visual Arts and MediaNew media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
Arts were first presented in 2000. The Canada Council for the Arts funds and administers the awards.
Six prizes are awarded annually to visual and media artists for distinguished career achievement in fine arts (painting, drawing, photography, print-making and sculpture, including installation and other three-dimensional work), applied arts (architecture and fine crafts), independent film and video, or audio and new media. One prize is awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the visual or media arts in a volunteer or professional capacity. The value of each award is $15,000. An independent peer jury of senior visual and media arts professionals selects the winners.
Governor General's Medals in Architecture
The Governor General's Medals in ArchitectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
have been presented since 2002, continuing the tradition of the Massey Medals, begun in 1950. Up to twelve medals are awarded every two years, with no distinction among the medals awarded. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada , founded in 1907, is a Canadian association representing over 3,600 architects, and faculty and graduates of Canadian Schools of Architecture.RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada...
administers the competition.
Other
- Governor General's Academic MedalGovernor General's Academic MedalThe Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
- Governor General's Award for Safety in the Workplace
- Governor General's Caring Canadian AwardGovernor General's Caring Canadian AwardThe Governor General's Caring Canadian Award is a Canadian award established to honour Canadian caregivers and volunteers. It was first announced in November 1995 by Roméo LeBlanc...
- Governor General's Award in Celebration of the Nation's Table
- Governor General's Conservation Award
- Governor General's Fencing Award
- Governor General's Flight For Freedom Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literacy
- Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies
- Governor General's Northern MedalGovernor General's Northern MedalThe Governor General's Northern Medal was created by Adrienne Clarkson on September 15, 2005, to provide awards to those who serve with distinction in Canada's north.The medal was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and the design consists of:...
See also
- List of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada
- List of awards named after Governors General of Canada
External links
- Awards page from the Governor General's official web site
- Governor General's Literary Awards at the Canada Council for the Arts
- Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts at the Canada Council for the Arts
- Governor General's Medals in Architecture at the Canada Council for the Arts