What Is 1955 Governor General's Awards

Overview

The 1955 Governor General's Awards marked a pivotal moment in Canadian literary history, celebrating works published during the previous year. These awards recognized excellence in English-language writing across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, highlighting voices that shaped national identity.

Administered at the time by the Canadian Authors Association, the awards predated formal management by the Canada Council for the Arts, which began in 1957. The 1955 ceremony continued a tradition begun in 1936, reinforcing literature as a cornerstone of cultural development.

• Gabrielle Roy won the fiction category for her novel The Tin Flute, a powerful depiction of working-class life in Montreal during WWII.
• A. M. Klein was honored in poetry for The Collected Poems of A. M. Klein, a compilation reflecting Jewish identity and modernist influences.
• Donald Creighton received the non-fiction award for The Road to Confederation, a scholarly analysis of Canadian nation-building.
• Each winner received a cash prize of $500, a significant sum at the time, symbolizing national recognition.
• The awards were announced in June 1955, with ceremonies typically held in Ottawa or Toronto.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards process in 1955 relied on peer nominations and expert judging panels, though formalized criteria were less standardized than today. Literary organizations and publishers submitted entries across three English-language categories.

• Term: Books had to be originally written in English and published in Canada between January 1 and December 31, 1954. Translations were not eligible for English categories.
• Judging Panels consisted of three to five established writers or academics, selected by the Canadian Authors Association, who evaluated entries anonymously.
• Submission Process required five copies of each book to be sent by publishers or authors by the March 1, 1955 deadline.
• Categories included Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry, with no awards given for drama or children’s literature in English that year.
• Prize Amount was $500 per winner, funded through private donations and government grants prior to full Canada Council oversight.
• Announcement Timing occurred in June, with winners publicly listed in national newspapers and literary journals like The Canadian Forum.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1955 awards compare to the current structure:

While the core mission remains—celebrating Canadian literary excellence—the structure has evolved significantly. Today, the awards include French-language categories, children’s literature, and drama, with prize money increased twentyfold. The Canada Council now oversees a rigorous, transparent process, unlike the more informal 1955 system.

Why It Matters

The 1955 awards helped establish a national literary canon and elevated Canadian authors on the world stage. Recognition from the Governor General's Awards often led to increased readership, international publishing deals, and academic attention.

• Gabrielle Roy’s win solidified her status as a leading figure in Canadian literature, with The Tin Flute later adapted into a film.
• A. M. Klein’s poetry collection preserved a unique voice in Canadian Jewish literature and influenced later poets like Irving Layton.
• Donald Creighton’s historical work became a standard text in Canadian universities for decades after the award.
• Winning the award often led to doubling or tripling of book sales within six months of announcement.
• The 1955 awards highlighted Montreal and Toronto as cultural hubs, shaping regional literary identities.
• These honors laid groundwork for future government support of the arts, culminating in the 1957 Canada Council Act.

Today, the Governor General's Literary Awards remain Canada’s most prestigious literary prize, tracing their legacy back to early milestones like the 1955 ceremony. The recognition of Roy, Klein, and Creighton underscored the power of literature to define a nation’s voice.