What Is 1966 Governor General's Awards

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1966 Governor General's Awards were Canada's annual national literary prizes awarded in 1966 for works published in 1965, recognizing excellence in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and translation across English and French categories.

Key Facts

The 1966 Governor General's Awards honored books published in 1965 across multiple literary categories.
Winners included Margaret Atwood for poetry with her debut collection 'The Circle Game'.
Five categories were awarded in both English and French, totaling ten major prizes.
The awards were administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Margaret Atwood’s win marked the beginning of her distinguished literary career.

Overview

The 1966 Governor General's Awards celebrated outstanding Canadian literary works published during the previous year, 1965. These awards are among Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary honors, established in 1936 to promote excellence in Canadian writing.

Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the 1966 edition continued the tradition of recognizing achievements in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and translation in both English and French. The ceremony highlighted a growing national cultural identity and elevated the profiles of emerging Canadian authors.

Established in 1936, the Governor General's Awards were originally funded by the Canadian government and have evolved into a cornerstone of Canadian literary recognition by 1966.
Winners received $1,000 in prize money per category in 1966, a significant sum at the time intended to support writers and encourage literary production.
Margaret Atwood won the Poetry (English) category for her debut collection The Circle Game, a landmark moment in her now-iconic career.
Five literary categories were awarded: Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Drama, and Translation, each with English and French divisions.
The awards were announced in November 1966, following a rigorous selection process by independent juries appointed by the Canada Council.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards followed a structured process for nomination, jury evaluation, and selection, ensuring fairness and national representation in literary recognition.

Eligibility Period: Works had to be originally published in Canada between January 1 and December 31, 1965, to qualify for the 1966 awards.
Submission Process: Publishers and authors submitted entries to the Canada Council, which verified eligibility before forwarding them to independent juries.
Jury Selection: Each category had a panel of three literary experts appointed by the Canada Council to ensure impartial and informed evaluation.
Language Separation: English and French works were judged in separate categories, reflecting Canada’s bilingual literary landscape and cultural policy.
Categories in 1966: Included Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Drama, and Translation, with one winner named per language per category.
Prize Distribution: Winners received a medal, a certificate, and $1,000, funded by the federal government through the Canada Council.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of key categories and winners from the 1966 Governor General's Awards reveals the diversity and quality of Canadian literature at the time.

Category	English Winner (1966)	French Winner (1966)
Fiction	Malcolm Lowry – October Ferry to Gabriola	Yves Thériault – Katak
Poetry	Margaret Atwood – The Circle Game	André Giroux – Le Temps des adieux
Non-Fiction	Donald Creighton – John A. Macdonald: The Old Chieftain	Michel Brunet – La Formation du Canada Contemporain
Drama	Eric Nicol – Orders Are Orders	Fernand Dansereau – Les Fous de Bassan
Translation	Alan Brown – from French to English	Marie-Andrée Beaudet – from English to French

The 1966 awards highlighted both established figures like Donald Creighton and emerging voices like Margaret Atwood. The inclusion of translation emphasized Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and cross-cultural literary exchange, setting a precedent for future inclusivity in national arts policy.

Why It Matters

The 1966 Governor General's Awards played a pivotal role in shaping Canada’s literary landscape by validating homegrown talent and fostering national pride in the arts.

Margaret Atwood’s win launched her into the national spotlight, helping establish her as a leading figure in Canadian literature over the next decades.
The awards encouraged Canadian publishers to invest in local authors, knowing their works could achieve national recognition.
By honoring both English and French works, the awards reinforced Canada’s official bilingualism and cultural duality.
Winning a Governor General's Award increased book sales and readership, often doubling or tripling print runs for winning titles.
The 1966 awards reflected a shift toward modern Canadian identity, moving beyond colonial influences toward distinct national themes.
They laid the groundwork for future literary institutions, including the Giller Prize and the Writers' Trust, by proving public interest in Canadian stories.

The 1966 Governor General's Awards remain a landmark year, not only for the quality of work recognized but for their lasting impact on Canada’s cultural development and literary prestige.