Awards History

A Rich Heritage - Current Awards Process - Withdrawn CAA Awards - More Information

A Rich Heritage

"The major awards given annually by authors to authors."

Throughout their existence, these CAA Awards for Adult Literature have been designed as objective rewards for excellence. Judging is carried out by panels selected in confidence. No short lists are published. The Journal (CBC) has referred to them as "The major awards given annually by authors to authors."

Founded in 1936

The Canadian Authors Association has a long history of recognizing the best in Canadian literary talent. The Governor General’s Literary Awards were established in 1936 by the CAA, and in 1960 were transferred to the new government-funded Canada Council for administration. With the transfer there would now be money attached to the winning of the medal, but the number of awards dropped from five to three. Later the medals would be dropped from the Governor General’s Awards.

Re-established 1975

The Canada Council awards were later seen as appealing to academics rather than the reading public. In 1973 the CAA Awards were established. The intent is clear in the original motion:

Since this Association is comprised largely of writers who hope to communicate with a wide and varied audience, and since the original awards were instituted in the belief that literary excellence and popular appeal are entirely compatible,

Therefore be it resolved that this Association originate a set of prizes to be known as the Canadian Authors Association Awards; these to be medals or any other trophy the Executive may select. Carried.

With the support of Harlequin, the new CAA Awards were launched in 1975.

Recognizing that there is not always a suitable Canadian literary work produced, judges have not awarded prizes on some years. This has been the practice since 1937, maintaining the integrity of these writing awards.

A more detailed account of the founding and history of the CAA Awards is found in chapter 18 of Syllables of Recorded Time (The Story of the Canadian Authors Association 1921-1981) by Lyn Harrington, 1981. ISBN 0-88924-112-0. While currently out of print, this volume should be available in libraries and in the collections of CAA branches. It is also available to our members as a PDF in the CAA Members Area.

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Current Awards Process

The Selection of Judges

Each year a trustee for each award appointed by the CAA will select up to three judges. Identities of the trustee and judges is confidential. Short lists are not made public. Decisions of the trustee and judges is final, and they may choose not to award a prize.

Awards Sponsorship

As was the case in 1959, there are costs to administering such an array of awards. Books must be sent from the office to the trustee, who forwards the books to the judges. Books are then returned the same way.

Corporate sponsors are sought to help underwrite the costs involved in administration and a number of awards now bear the name of those sponsors and the corporate logo is displayed on our awards Website, at the readings and in our awards announcements where possible to honour the contribution made by this person or corporation. Those interested in sponsoring an award can find more information on our Awards Sponsorship page.

There is now also a fee per title entered for a number of the awards to offset a portion of the awards program administrative costs.

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Withdrawn CAA Awards

The following CAA Literary Awards are no longer administered by the CAA or are discontinued:

Discontinued Awards

CAA Vicky Metcalf Awards

This award for body of work, short stories and short story editor was suspended by the CAA in 2002.
The Vickie Metcalf Award for a body of work is now being administered by The Writers Trust.

Replaced Awards

CAA Air Canada Award

This award was administered by the CAA from their inception in 1976 to 1999 after which funding was withdrawn by Air Canada.
This important and unique award was replaced in 2006 by the CAA-BookTelevision Emerging Writer Award.

CAA Jubilee Award for Drama

The CAA Award for Drama (for any medium) was funded by Harlequin Enterprises of Toronto from 1975 to 1997. In 1998, it was funded by a member of the CAA who chooses to remain anonymous.
In 2000, this award was withdrawn, replaced by the CAA Carol Bolt Award.

More Information

Awards Needing Sponsorship

Information about awards that are currently available for funding is on our CAA Awards Funding page.

To Sponsor an Award

If you would like to sponsor one of the CAA literary awards or to receive further information about the CAA Literary Awards Programs please contact the CAA National Office for details.

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www.CanAuthors.org/awards/awardshistory.html
Updated: January 28, 2008