Thirty years, 30 photos: A look back at the Scotiabank Giller Prize’s greatest moments

Thirty years, 30 photos: A look back at the Scotiabank Giller Prize’s greatest moments

Canada’s most prestigious and lucrative literary honour has launched careers, celebrated legends and championed authors of all stripes

Tonight, the Scotiabank Giller Prize—Canada’s most prestigious and lucrative literary honour—marks its 30th anniversary at the Four Seasons. And it’s the biggest one yet. This year’s jury plowed through a mountain of 145 books, whittling the list down to five finalists: Sarah Bernstein (Study for Obedience), Eleanor Catton (Birnam Wood), Kevin Chong (The Double Life of Benson Yu), Dionne Irving (The Islands: Stories) and C.S. Richardson (All the Colour in the World). The winner takes home the $100,000 grand prize, not to mention the speaking tours, festival appearances and skyrocketing book sales that come with it. 

The prize has celebrated plenty of legends over the years—Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, Mordecai Richler. But it’s also adapted to a changing population and literary climate. Last year, for example, none of the finalists were white, and four of them were women. “That wasn’t intentional. The jury is far too busy to pay attention to anything but the text,” says executive director Elana Rabinovitch. “But it means the award represents the true face of Canada. Much of the industry’s white male establishment has been replaced by new voices.”

Here, a looks back at some of the Scotiabank Giller Prize’s finest moments. 

Related: At 80, John Irving still has plenty to say about Trump, about abortion, about tattoos, about everything


1994: Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch presents M.G. Vassanji with the inaugural award.

The inaugural Scotiabank Giller Prize.

1995: Rohinton Mistry accepts his prize for A Fine Balance.

Rohinton Mistry wins in 1995.

1997: Mordecai Richler wins for Barney’s Version.

The legendary Montreal author Mordecai Richler.

1998: Alice Munro earns her first award for The Love of a Good Woman.

Alice Munro wins her first prize.

1999: Bonnie Burnard marvels at the winner’s trophy.

Author Bonnie Burnard.

2000: Michael Ondaatje and David Adams Richards share top billing.

2000 brought two winners: Michael Ondaatje and David Adams Richards.

2001: Noni, Jack, Daphna and Elana Rabinovitch at the eighth edition of the gala.

The Rabinovitch clan.

2002: Toronto’s Austin Clarke wins for the The Polished Hoe.

Austin Clarke wins in 2002.

2003: Another victory for M.G. Vassanji.

M.G. Vassanji wins his second prize.

2005: David Bergen takes home the award for The Time In Between.

Author David Bergen.

2006: Vincent Lam wins for Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures.

Vincent Lam wins in 2006.

2007: Elizabeth Hay, centre, celebrates with former senator Sabi Marwah and Jack Rabinovitch.

Elizabeth Hay with Sabi Marwah and Scotiabank Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch.

2008: Willowdale’s own Joseph Boyden, awarded for his second novel, Through Black Spruce.

Willowdale's own Joseph Boyden.

2009: Winner Linden MacIntyre, at centre stage with Jack Rabinovitch.

Linden MacIntyre shares a laugh on stage.

2010: Anne Murray presents the Scotiabank Giller Prize to Johanna Skibsrud.

Canadian legendary songstress Anne Murray.

2011: Esi Edugyan wins her first of two Scotiabank Giller Prizes.

Esi Edugyan wins her first award.

2013: Gordon Pinsent and music executive Denise Donlon.

2016: Madeleine Thien, all smiles, accepts the honour for Do Not Say We Have Nothing.

Madeleine Thien takes home the trophy in 2016.

2017: Award-winning soprano Measha Brueggergosman pays tribute to Scotiabank Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch, who passed away in August of that year.

The 2017 gala honours Jack Rabinovitch, who passed away in August of that year.

2018: Esi Edugyan at it again, this time for Washington Black.

Esi Edugyan wins her second prize.

2019: Ian Williams wins for his debut novel, Reproduction.

Ian Williams wins for his debut novel.

2019: Margaret Atwood, who won in 1996 for Alias Grace, shows support.

1996 recipient and literary royalty Margaret Atwood.

2020: Souvankham Thammavongsa edges out 13 fellow nominees for the top prize.

Souvankham Thammavongsa with the winner's trophy.

2021: The year’s shortlisted authors—Miriam Toews, Angélique Lalonde, Jordan Tannahill, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe and winner Omar El Akkad.

Authors Miriam Toews, Angélique Lalonde, Jordan Tannahill, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe and Omar El Akkad.

2021: Omar El Akkad accepts the honour for What Strange Paradise.

2021 winner Omar El Akkad.

2021: Filmmaker Barry Avrich.

Barry Avrich, all smiles.

2022: Noor Naga, winner Suzette Mayr, Kim Fu, Rawi Hage and Tsering Yangzom Lama.

2022 shortlisted novelists Noor Naga, Suzette Mayr, Kim Fu, Rawi Hage and Tsering Yangzom Lama.

2022: Scotiabank Giller Prize executive director Elana Rabinovitch with legendary novelist John Irving.

Scotiabank Giller Prize executive director Elana Rabinovitch and John Irving.

2022: Suzette Mayr, author of The Sleeping Car Porter, delivers her acceptance speech.

Suzette Mayr wins in 2022.

2022: Winner Suzette Mayr, with gala co-hosts Sarah Gadon and Rupi Kaur.

Sarah Gadon, Suzette Mayr and Rupi Kaur.