What Is 1999 Governor General's Awards

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1999 Governor General's Awards were Canada's annual national honors for excellence in arts, literature, and sciences, with winners announced in October 1999 and awarded in November at Rideau Hall. Awards spanned seven categories including Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, with each laureate receiving $25,000.

Key Facts

Winners were announced in October 1999 and honored in November 1999 at Rideau Hall.
Each winner received a $25,000 prize and a medal designed by artist Jacob Pineau.
The awards recognized works published between January 1 and December 31, 1998.
Seven categories included Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Translation.
Notable winners included M.G. Vassanji for Fiction and Lorna Crozier for Poetry.

Overview

The 1999 Governor General's Awards celebrated Canadian excellence in literature, arts, and scholarship. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, these awards are among the country's most prestigious honors.

Winners were announced in October 1999, with formal ceremonies held in November at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The awards recognized achievements in seven distinct categories, each highlighting original English or French works published in 1998.

Seven categories were awarded: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Translation, Children's Literature (Text), and Children's Literature (Illustration).
M.G. Vassanji won the Fiction award for his novel The In-Between World of Vikram Lall, a sweeping narrative of post-colonial East Africa.
Lorna Crozier received the Poetry award for What the Living Do, a collection exploring grief, love, and the natural world with lyrical precision.
David Adams Richards was awarded in the Non-Fiction category for Lines on the Water, a reflective memoir on fly fishing and personal identity.
Each recipient received a $25,000 prize, a certificate, and a specially designed Governor General's medal crafted by artist Jacob Pineau.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards follow a rigorous nomination and jury review process to ensure recognition of the most impactful Canadian works each year.

Eligibility Period: Works must have been published between January 1 and December 31, 1998. This ensured a fair and defined timeframe for submissions.
Jury Selection: Independent juries of three experts in each category reviewed all eligible entries to determine finalists and eventual winners.
Language Separation: Awards are given separately for English and French works, ensuring equitable recognition across Canada’s linguistic communities.
Translation Category: The Translation award honored works translated between English and French, promoting bilingual literary exchange.
Children’s Literature: Two distinct awards recognized both text and illustration, emphasizing the importance of visual storytelling in children's books.
Announcement & Ceremony: Winners were announced in October 1999, with formal investitures held in November by the Governor General at Rideau Hall.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1999 Governor General's Awards categories, winners, and notable works:

Category	Winner	Winning Work	Prize Amount
Fiction	M.G. Vassanji	The In-Between World of Vikram Lall	$25,000
Non-Fiction	David Adams Richards	Lines on the Water	$25,000
Poetry	Lorna Crozier	What the Living Do	$25,000
Drama	Judith Thompson	Patient Grissel	$25,000
Children’s Text	Kevin Major	Too Bad	$25,000

The 1999 awards highlighted a diverse range of voices and genres, from Vassanji’s post-colonial epic to Crozier’s intimate poetry. These works not only received national acclaim but also contributed to broader conversations about identity, memory, and language in Canadian culture. The inclusion of both English and French works reinforced Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and cultural inclusivity.

Why It Matters

The 1999 Governor General's Awards played a crucial role in elevating Canadian literature and fostering national pride in artistic achievement.

Increased Visibility: Winning the award significantly boosted book sales and public recognition for authors like M.G. Vassanji and Lorna Crozier.
Cultural Legacy: The honored works have since become part of the Canadian literary canon, studied in schools and universities.
Support for Artists: The $25,000 prize provided crucial financial support, enabling recipients to continue their creative work.
Encouraged Diversity: Vassanji’s win marked an important moment for multicultural representation in Canadian literature.
Promoted Bilingualism: The Translation and dual-language categories strengthened literary ties between English and French Canadian communities.
Set Precedent: The 1999 awards influenced future juries to recognize genre-blending and socially conscious narratives.

By honoring excellence across disciplines, the 1999 Governor General's Awards not only celebrated individual talent but also reinforced the value of the arts in Canadian society. These accolades continue to inspire emerging writers and artists nationwide.