What Is 1956 Governor General's Awards

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1956 Governor General's Awards honored outstanding Canadian literature in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Winners were announced in December 1956, with awards given in seven categories, including a $1,000 prize for each winner.

Key Facts

The 1956 Governor General's Awards recognized Canadian writers in 7 categories
Winners received a $1,000 prize, a significant sum in 1956
The awards were announced in December 1956
Poetry winner was James Reaney for 'The Red Heart'
Fiction winner was Gabrielle Roy for 'The Cashier'

Overview

The 1956 Governor General's Awards marked the 29th annual presentation of Canada’s most prestigious literary honors. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, these awards celebrated excellence in Canadian-authored books across multiple genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Unlike today’s larger prize pool, the 1956 awards offered a flat $1,000 to each winner, a substantial sum at the time. The awards were announced in December 1956, continuing a tradition of recognizing literary achievement at year’s end.

Seven categories were awarded in 1956: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, translation, juvenile literature, and academic non-fiction.
Gabrielle Roy won the fiction award for her novel The Cashier, a story exploring economic disparity in post-war Quebec.
James Reaney received the poetry award for The Red Heart, a symbolic and experimental collection rooted in Canadian rural life.
W.O. Mitchell won in the drama category for Who Has Seen the Wind, a play adapted from his acclaimed novel.
Academic non-fiction was awarded to Donald Creighton for John A. Macdonald: The Old Chieftain, the second volume of his biography.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards in 1956 operated under a jury-based selection system, with panels reviewing submissions across disciplines. Each category had its own committee, ensuring expert evaluation of literary merit and national significance.

Term: The awards were open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who published a book in English or French during the calendar year. This ensured broad participation from the nation’s literary community.
Jury Selection: Independent panels of three to five experts, including authors and academics, evaluated entries based on originality, style, and cultural impact.
Submission Process: Publishers or authors submitted up to three books per category, with entries due by October 1, 1956, allowing time for review before the December announcement.
Prize Amount: Each winner received $1,000, a notable financial incentive in the mid-20th century literary market.
Language Categories: Awards were given separately for English and French works, reflecting Canada’s bilingual literary landscape.
Public Recognition: Winners were announced in a press release and celebrated at a formal ceremony, often attended by the Governor General or a representative.
Eligibility Window: Only books published between January 1 and December 31, 1956, were considered, ensuring timely recognition of recent works.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1956 Governor General's Awards with the modern version:

Category	1956 Winner	1956 Prize	2023 Winner	2023 Prize
Fiction	Gabrielle Roy, The Cashier	$1,000	Omar El Akkad, What Strange Paradise	$25,000
Poetry	James Reaney, The Red Heart	$1,000	Canisia Lubrin, The Dyzgraphxst	$25,000
Non-Fiction	Harold A. Innis, The Fur Trade in Canada	$1,000	Tanya Tagaq, Split Tooth	$25,000
Drama	W.O. Mitchell, Who Has Seen the Wind	$1,000	Jordan Tannahill, Declarations	$25,000
Translation	Alan Brown, trans. The Town Below	$1,000	Laura M. Robinson, trans. The Body of the Beasts	$25,000

The evolution of the awards reflects broader changes in Canada’s cultural funding and literary recognition. While the 1956 prizes were modest, today’s awards offer significantly higher financial rewards and greater media visibility, highlighting the growing importance of literature in national identity.

Why It Matters

The 1956 Governor General's Awards played a crucial role in shaping Canada’s literary canon and supporting emerging voices. By honoring works like Gabrielle Roy’s and James Reaney’s, the awards helped elevate Canadian literature on the world stage.

National Identity: The awards reinforced a sense of Canadian cultural independence during a period of growing national self-awareness.
Author Recognition: Winning brought immediate prestige, helping authors secure future publishing deals and academic appointments.
Historical Record: The 1956 winners provide insight into mid-20th-century Canadian themes, such as rural life, identity, and post-colonial thought.
Translation Support: The inclusion of a translation category promoted cross-cultural exchange between English and French Canada.
Educational Impact: Award-winning books often entered school curricula, influencing generations of Canadian students.
Legacy Building: Authors like Gabrielle Roy and W.O. Mitchell became literary icons, partly due to their 1956 recognition.

Today, the Governor General's Awards remain a cornerstone of Canadian literary culture, with the 1956 edition serving as a key milestone in their history.