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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

By Barry Jordan Chong
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Thirty years, 30 photos: A look back at the Scotiabank Giller Prize's greatest moments

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 Much of the industry’s white male establishment has been replaced by new voices.”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.

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Thirty years, 30 photos: A look back at the Scotiabank Giller Prize's greatest moments
Scotiabank Giller Prize founder Jack Rabinovitch presents M.G. Vassanji with 1994’s inaugural award

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

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

1997: Mordecai Richler wins for Barney’s Version.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2003: Another victory for M.G. Vassanji.

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

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

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

2006: Vincent Lam wins for Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2013: Gordon Pinsent and music executive Denise Donlon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021: Filmmaker Barry Avrich.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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