Party Pages: The Trillium Awards, a rowdy affair for beflowered Ontario authors
The Trillium Awards, the annual ceremony for Ontario-based authors, took place, fittingly, at the Toronto Reference Library last week. The awards have honoured some of Canada’s most famous writers, like Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood, and this was an extra-special night in celebration of the event’s 25th year. Nominees wore pink flowers, while past winners wore white to differentiate themselves in the massive crowd of literati (we guess wearing trilliums would be a little premature for the pink-flowered crowd). As it has since 1994, the event also fêted French- speaking nominees, so hosts Heather Hiscox of CBC News and Karen Thorn-Stone, president of the Ontario Media Development Agency, jumped between French and English (it becomes a rather long night when you hear everything twice). Though Hiscox sounded fluent, Thorn-Stone’s delivery seemed a touch forced—she even quipped, after her first French foray received a round of applause, “Now you’re just making fun of me.”
Just because these are book people didn’t mean the room didn’t get rowdy: nominee Tony Burgess (in our favourite look of the gala, an orange T-shirt under a blazer paired with cargo shorts) was spotted banging the table—and even playfully tapping a friend’s forehead—in proud acknowledgment of fellow writers, while other guests hooted and hollered to the sounds of musical guests The Good Lovelies. One of the big guests was Liberal MPP Michael Chan, minister of tourism and culture, who went around to every table (he wished a table of young volunteers “a good summer”) and helped announce the winners. (We noticed him leaving the event in a chauffeured hybrid SUV.) Kevin Shea, chair of the OMDC, thanked Chan and joked, “It’s good that the minister can relax a little bit—the budget was approved today.” Nick Thran, who won for English poetry, stammered, joking, “I get nervous waking up in the morning.” The big prize (complete with a $20,000 cheque) went to Phil Hall for his book of poetry Killdeer, who stated simply: “I’m glad you liked the book.”
As guests filed out following the festivities, the mood abruptly changed from jovial to sombre: even though the Ref was closed, it seems all of the fiction fans had a great appreciation for the silence-in-libraries rule.
146462 Co-hosts Heather Hiscox and Karen Thorne-Smith (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7952-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7952.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7952.jpg 656 449 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7952/ img_7952 0 0
146454 Author Phil Hall accepts his award (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8104-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8104.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8104.jpg 624 446 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_8104/ img_8104 0 0
146455 In celebration of winner Phil Hall (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8124-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8124.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8124.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_8124/ img_8124 0 0
146458 The Good Lovelies (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8014-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8014.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_8014.jpg 624 405 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_8014/ img_8014 0 0
146460 Heather Hiscox and Michael Chan (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7961-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7961.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7961.jpg 624 457 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7961/ img_7961 0 0
146463 Jean Mohsen Fahmy and his book and beer pairing (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7942-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7942.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7942.jpg 624 449 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7942/ img_7942 0 0
146464 Authors Jean Mohsen Fahmy, Aurélie Resch, Franoçois Baril Pelletier and Sonia Lamontagne (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7938-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7938.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7938.jpg 624 449 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7938/ img_7938 0 0
146465 Éric Charlebois (past winner) and friend (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7932-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7932.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7932.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7932/ img_7932 0 0
146467 Kevin Shea, chair of Ontario Media Development Corporation, with Karen Thorn-Stone, president of the OMDC, and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7917-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7917.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7917.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7917/ img_7917 0 0
146468 Authors Craig Battle, Nick Thran, and Helen Guri (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7913-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7913.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7913.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7913/ img_7913 0 0
146469 Guest Michel Vargoz and actress Pragna Desai (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7905-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7905.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7905.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7905/ img_7905 0 0
146470 Author Yann Garvoz and actress Pragna Desai (Image: Erin Simkin)<br />
2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7898-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7898.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7898.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7898/ img_7898 0 0
146472 MDC corporate secretary George McNeillie and 2012 Trillium Book Award Winner author Michèle Vinet (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7890-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7890.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7890.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7890/ img_7890 0 0
146474 Authors Alexis von Konigslow and Jacob McArthur Mooney (Image: Erin Simkin)<br />
2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7871-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7871.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7871.jpg 624 460 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7871/ img_7871 0 0
146477 Authors Ken Babstock and Nick Thran (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7865-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7865.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7865.jpg 624 409 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7865/ img_7865 0 0
146478 Past winners Robin Maharaj, Dionne Brand (far right) with Leslie Sanders (centre) (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7854-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7854.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7854.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7854/ img_7854 0 0
146479 Authors Nick Thran (winner) and Tony Burgess (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7846-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7846.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7846.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7846/ img_7846 0 0
146480 Authors Andrée Lacelle, Marguerite Andersen and Nancy Vickers (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7841-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7841.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7841.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7841/ img_7841 0 0
146481 Novelists Austin Clarke and Sofia Mostaghimi<br />
2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7831-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7831.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7831.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7831/ img_7831 0 0
146483 French book winner Michele Vinet (Image: Erin Simkin)<br />
2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7817-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7817.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7817.jpg 624 431 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7817/ img_7817 0 0
146484 Poet and author of <em>Apocryphes du cœur</em> Francois Baril Pelletier with Daniel Landry 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7812-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7812.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7812.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7812/ img_7812 0 0
146485 Novelist and memoir writer Kristen den Hartog (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7810-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7810.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7810.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7810/ img_7810 0 0
146487 Fiction writer Didier Leclair, director of post-secondary programs and integration at Collège Boreal Bululu Kabatakaka, and author Melchior Mbonimpa (Image: Erin Simkin) 2012 Trillium Book Awards https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7803-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7803.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_7803.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-trillium-awards/slide/img_7803/ img_7803 0 0
Hello, Thank you for your coverage above on the Trillium Awards. I want to point out one error though and that is that Phil Hall won for his book of poetry, not his novel, called Killdeer (published by BookThug). This is quite an important fact to correct. In its 25 year history, the prize has almost always been awarded to a book of fiction. It is an amazing feat and accomplishment that a book of poetry was awarded this year.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Hazel Millar
Managing Editor
BookThug