Governor General's Award for English-language drama

{{Short description|Canadian literary award}}

The Governor General's Award for English-language drama honours excellence in Canadian English-language playwriting. The award was created in 1981 when the Governor General's Award for English-language poetry or drama was divided.

Because the award is presented for plays published in print, a play's eligibility for the award can sometimes be several years later than its eligibility for awards, such as the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play or the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award, which are based on the theatrical staging."Plays at the G-Gs: better late than never". The Globe and Mail, October 22, 2005. Titles which compile several works by the playwright into a single volume may also be nominated for or win the award.

Winners and nominees

=1980s=

class="wikitable" width="100%"

|+Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 1980-1989

!Year

!width="45%"|Author

!width="45%"|Title

!Ref.

align="center" rowspan="3"| 1981

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Sharon Pollock

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Blood Relations

| "Governor General's literary awards announced". Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 1982.

align="center" | Charles Tidler

| align="center" | Straight Ahead and Blind Dancers

| rowspan=2| Brian Brennan, "Sharon Pollock delighted; David Cassidy plays West". Calgary Herald, May 18, 1982.

align="center" | George F. Walker

| align="center" | Theatre of the Film Noir

align="center" rowspan="3"| 1982

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| John Gray

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Billy Bishop Goes to War

| Sheila Robertson, "Author's first novel started at age 11". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 16, 1983.

align="center" | Lawrence Jeffery

| align="center" | Clay

| rowspan=2| "B.C. authors considered for awards". The Province, May 26, 1983.

align="center" | Betty Lambert

| align="center" | Jennie's Story

align="center" rowspan="2"| 1983

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Anne Chislett

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Quiet in the Land

| "CanLit fiction's leading award goes to the Dog". The Globe and Mail, June 21, 1984.

align="center" colspan=2 | No advance shortlist was released this year.

| "Governor-General's Awards 22 authors named finalists". The Globe and Mail, May 19, 1984.

align="center" rowspan="3"| 1984

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Judith Thompson

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| White Biting Dog

| Rod Currie, "Former Kingstonian Judith Thompson wins Governor General's Award". Kingston Whig-Standard, June 7, 1985.

align="center" | James Reaney

| align="center" | The Canadian Brothers or The Prophecy Fulfilled

| rowspan=2| James Adams, "Local writers nominated for award". Edmonton Journal, May 16, 1985.

align="center" | George Ryga

| align="center" | A Letter to My Son

align="center" rowspan="4"| 1985

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| George F. Walker

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Criminals in Love

| "Margaret Atwood lifts second Governor General's award". Edmonton Journal, June 4, 1986.

align="center" | David French

| align="center" | Salt-Water Moon

| rowspan=3| "Literary prize nominees named". Red Deer Advocate, May 13, 1986.

align="center" | Margaret Hollingsworth

| align="center" | War Babies

align="center" | Ken Mitchell

| align="center" | Gone the Burning Sun

align="center" rowspan="3"| 1986

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Sharon Pollock

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Doc

| Lisa Rochon, "Yvon Rivard honored for French-language fiction: Munro wins top literary prize". The Globe and Mail, May 28, 1987.

align="center" | Frank Moher

| align="center" | Odd Jobs

| rowspan=2| "Awards finalists announced". The Globe and Mail, May 1, 1987.

align="center" | Allan Stratton

| align="center" | Papers

align="center" rowspan="4" | 1987

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| John Krizanc

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Prague

| "Literary awards held at Calgary festival". Regina Leader-Post, February 13, 1988.

align="center" | Wendy Lill

| align="center" | The Occupation of Heather Rose

| rowspan=3| "Victoria's Gurr, Page nominated for book awards". Vancouver Sun, January 13, 1988.

align="center" | Michael D.C. McKinlay

| align="center" | Walt and Roy

align="center" | Sharon Pollock

| align="center" | Whiskey Six Cadenza

align="center" rowspan="4"| 1988

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| George F. Walker

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Nothing Sacred

| "New Brunswick writer wins national race for top literary prize". The Globe and Mail, March 4, 1989.

align="center" | Dennis Foon

| align="center" | Skin

| rowspan=3| "Atwood, Berton top lists as nominees announced for national literary awards". Montreal Gazette, February 1, 1989.

align="center" | Tomson Highway

| align="center" | The Rez Sisters

align="center" | Maureen Hunter

| align="center" | Footprints on the Moon

align="center" rowspan="3"| 1989

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Judith Thompson

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| The Other Side of the Dark

| "Governor General's awards announced". North Bay Nugget, March 10, 1990.

align="center" | Tomson Highway

| align="center" | Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing

| rowspan=2| "Three B.C. writers in running for awards". Vancouver Sun, February 7, 1990.

align="center" | John Krizanc

| align="center" | Tamara

=1990s =

class="wikitable" width="100%"

|+Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 1990-1999

!Year

!width="45%"|Author

!width="45%"|Title

!Ref.

align="center" rowspan="4"| 1990

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Ann-Marie MacDonald

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)

| Philip Marchand, "Toronto's Nino Ricci wins top book prize". Toronto Star, January 23, 1991.

align="center" | Audrey Butler

| align="center" | Black Friday?

| rowspan=3| "Prominent names among nominees". Windsor Star, November 17, 1990.

align="center" | John Mighton

| align="center" | Scientific Americans

align="center" | George F. Walker

| align="center" | Love and Anger

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1991

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Joan MacLeod

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Amigo's Blue Guitar

| "First novel earns top literary honor". Windsor Star, December 4, 1991.

align="center" | Sally Clark

| align="center" | The Trial of Judith K.

| rowspan=4| "Atwood leads G-G Award nominees". Hamilton Spectator, November 9, 1991.

align="center" | Don Druick

| align="center" | Where Is Kabuki?

align="center" | Linda Griffiths

| align="center" | The Darling Family

align="center" | Daniel David Moses

| align="center" | Coyote City

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1992

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| John Mighton

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Possible Worlds and A Short History of Night

| Mark Abley, "Ondaatje wins Governor-General's Award, denounces GST in speech". Montreal Gazette, December 2, 1992.

align="center" | Daniel Brooks, Guillermo Verdecchia

| align="center" | The Noam Chomsky Lectures

| rowspan=4| Jamie Portman, "Three from Ottawa area among finalists". Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 1992.

align="center" | Dave Carley

| align="center" | Writing With Our Feet

align="center" | Judith Thompson

| align="center" | Lion in the Streets

align="center" | Dianne Warren

| align="center" | Serpent in the Night Sky

align="center" rowspan="4"| 1993

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Guillermo Verdecchia

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Fronteras Americanas

| "This time, Stone Diaries on top: Governor General's award atones for loss in Booker". Windsor Star, November 17, 1993.

align="center" | Daniel MacIvor

| align="center" | House Humans

| rowspan=3| "Shields in running for Governor General Award; Nomination comes just after Booker Prize loss". Halifax Daily News, October 29, 1993.

align="center" | Raymond Storey

| align="center" | The Saints and Apostles

align="center" | David Young

| align="center" | Glenn

align="center" rowspan="4"| 1994

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Morris Panych

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| The Ends of the Earth

| John Geddes, "Wiebe wins Canada's heart with love of history". Financial Post, November 19, 1994.

align="center" | Joanna McClelland Glass

| align="center" | If We Are Women

| rowspan=3| Conway Daly, "Munro, Atwood lead familiar names in race for Governor General's award". Kingston Whig-Standard, October 28, 1994.

align="center" | Wendy Lill

| align="center" | All Fall Down

align="center" | Bryden MacDonald

| align="center" | Whale Riding Weather

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1995

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Jason Sherman

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Three in the Back, Two in the Head

| "Writer's Roaring success: Greg Hollingshead wins Governor-General's Award for fiction". Vancouver Sun, November 15, 1995.

align="center" | Brad Fraser

| align="center" | Poor Super Man

| rowspan=4| "68 finalists for literary awards". Vancouver Sun, October 27, 1995.

align="center" | Deborah Kimmett

| align="center" | Miracle Mother

align="center" | Joan MacLeod

| align="center" | The Hope Slide/Little Sister

align="center" | Eugene Stickland

| align="center" | Some Assembly Required

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1996

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Colleen Wagner

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| The Monument

| Philip Marchand, "Vanderhaeghe wins second fiction prize". Toronto Star, November 13, 1996.

align="center" | Wendy Lill

| align="center" | The Glace Bay Miners' Museum

| rowspan=4| Judy Stoffman, "It's Atwood ahead again in book race". Toronto Star, October 18, 1996.

align="center" | John Mighton

| align="center" | The Little Years

align="center" | Michael O'Brien

| align="center" | Mad Boy Chronicle

align="center" | Betty Quan

| align="center" | Mother Tongue

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1997

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Ian Ross

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| fareWel

| Robert Reid, "Jane Urquhart wins Governor General's Award for fiction". Waterloo Region Record, November 19, 1997.

align="center" | Maureen Hunter

| align="center" | Atlantis

| rowspan=4| Paul Gessell, "Urquhart, Hay nominated for Governor General's prize". St. Catharines Standard, October 23, 1997.

align="center" | Lee MacDougall

| align="center" | High Life

align="center" | Jason Sherman

| align="center" | Reading Hebron

align="center" | Judith Thompson

| align="center" | Sled

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1998

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Djanet Sears

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Harlem Duet

| Anne-Marie Tobin, "Kingston author savours literary award". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 18, 1998.

align="center" | Bruce McManus

| align="center" | Selkirk Avenue

| rowspan=4| "Montrealers deluge list of nominees". Montreal Gazette, October 21, 1998.

align="center" | Richard Sanger

| align="center" | Not Spain

align="center" | Sandra Shamas

| align="center" | Sandra Shamas: A Trilogy of Performances

align="center" | David Young

| align="center" | Inexpressible Island

align="center" rowspan="5"| 1999

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| Michael Healey

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86"| The Drawer Boy

| "Matt Cohen, Marq de Villiers win GG literary awards". The Western Star, November 17, 1999.

align="center" | Wendy Lill

| align="center" | Corker

| rowspan=4| "Governor General's Award nominees: Clarkson hands them out Nov. 16". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, October 24, 1999.

align="center" | Daniel MacIvor

| align="center" | Marion Bridge

align="center" | Colleen Murphy

| align="center" | Beating Heart Cadaver

align="center" | Theresa Tova

| align="center" | Still the Night

=2000s =

class="wikitable" width="100%"

|+Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 2000-2009

!Year

!width="45%"|Author

!width="45%"|Title

!Ref.

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2000

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Timothy Findley

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Elizabeth Rex

| "Governor General's Awards handed out". Barrie Examiner, November 15, 2000.

align="center" | George Boyd

| align="center" | Consecrated Ground

| rowspan=4| Anne-Marie Tobin, "Atwood, Ondaatje, among nominees for Governor General's awards". Prince Albert Daily Herald, October 26, 2000.

align="center" | Linda Griffiths

| align="center" | Alien Creature

align="center" | Daniel MacIvor, Daniel Brooks

| align="center" | Monster

align="center" | Jason Sherman

| align="center" | It's All True

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2001

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Kent Stetson

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | The Harps of God

| "Governor General's award follows on top of the Giller: Novelist Richard Wright has good week". Prince George Citizen, November 15, 2001.

align="center" | Mark Brownell

| align="center" | Monsieur d'Eon

| rowspan=4| "Urquhart, Wright get GG award nominations". The Telegram, October 24, 2001.

align="center" | Clem Martini

| align="center" | A Three Martini Lunch

align="center" | Michael Redhill

| align="center" | Building Jerusalem

align="center" | Jason Sherman

| align="center" | An Acre of Time

rowspan="4" align="center" | 2002

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Kevin Kerr

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Unity (1918)

| Diane Menzies, "Gloria Sawai, 70, wins Gov. Gen.'s literary award". Welland Tribune, November 13, 2002.

align="center" | Claudia Dey

| align="center" | The Gwendolyn Poems

| rowspan=3| "Shields, Johnston lead fiction list for GG awards". Timmins Daily Press, October 22, 2002.

align="center" | Lorena Gale

| align="center" | Je me souviens

align="center" | Michael MacLennan

| align="center" | The Shooting Stage

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2003

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Vern Thiessen

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Einstein's Gift

| "Douglas Glover wins Gov. Gen.'s Literary Award for English fiction: Canadian living in New York State won prize for Elle, a fictionalized account of Gulf of St. Lawrence castaway". Cape Breton Post, November 13, 2003.

align="center" | Marie Clements

| align="center" | Burning Vision

| rowspan=4| Anne-Marie Tobin, "Stellar year for Atwood: Writer makes short list for Gov-Gen's fiction award". Brantford Expositor, October 25, 2003.

align="center" | Brian Drader

| align="center" | Prok

align="center" | Sunil Kuruvilla

| align="center" | Rice Boy

align="center" | Michael MacLennan

| align="center" | Last Romantics

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2004

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Morris Panych

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Girl in the Goldfish Bowl

| "Dallaire, Toews among award winners". Sudbury Star, November 17, 2004.

align="center" | Robert Chafe

| align="center" | Butler's Marsh and Tempting Providence

| rowspan=4| "Governor General award nominee 'hugely relieved' with book reviews". Guelph Mercury, November 13, 2004.

align="center" | Michael Healey

| align="center" | Rune Arlidge

align="center" | Karen Hines

| align="center" | The Pochsy Plays

align="center" | Mieko Ouchi

| align="center" | The Red Priest (Eight Ways to Say Goodbye)

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2005

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | John Mighton

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Half Life

| "Gilmour wins fiction prize". Prince George Citizen, November 15, 2005.

align="center" | Marjorie Chan

| align="center" | China Doll

| rowspan=4| Vanessa Farquharson, "The 2005 G-G nominees: all killer, no Giller: Literary awards". National Post, October 18, 2005.

align="center" | Don Druick

| align="center" | Through the Eyes

align="center" | Daniel MacIvor

| align="center" | Cul-de-sac

align="center" | Richard Sanger

| align="center" | Two Words for Snow

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2006

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Daniel MacIvor

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | I Still Love You

| "First-time author beats out experienced peers". Nanaimo Daily News, November 22, 2006.

align="center" | Morwyn Brebner

| align="center" | The Optimists

| rowspan=4| "Cole, Gaston among nominees for Governor General's awards". Whitehorse Star, October 16, 2006.

align="center" | Lisa Codrington

| align="center" | Cast Iron

align="center" | Jason Sherman

| align="center" | Adapt or Die: Plays New and Used

align="center" | Drew Hayden Taylor

| align="center" | In a World Created by a Drunken God

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2007

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Colleen Murphy

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | The December Man

| "Michael Ondaatje wins again". North Bay Nugget, November 28, 2007.

align="center" | Salvatore Antonio

| align="center" | In Gabriel's Kitchen

| rowspan=4| Cassandra Szklarski, "Ondaatje and Vassanji among literary stars on Governor General's short list; Books Notable literary heavyweights include Margaret Atwood, David Chariandy, Barbara Gowdy and Heather O'Neill". The Daily Gleaner, October 17, 2007.

align="center" | Anosh Irani

| align="center" | The Bombay Plays: The Matka King and Bombay Black

align="center" | Rosa Labordé

| align="center" | Léo

align="center" | Morris Panych

| align="center" | What Lies Before Us

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2008

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Catherine Banks

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Bone Cage

| Paul Gessell, "Ricci repeats as GG Literary Award winner". Ottawa Citizen, November 19, 2008.

align="center" | Ronnie Burkett

| align="center" | 10 Days on Earth

| rowspan=4| "Hage, Ricci finalists for literary prize". Waterloo Region Record, October 22, 2008.

align="center" | Paul Ciufo

| align="center" | Reverend Jonah

align="center" | Marie Clements

| align="center" | Copper Thunderbird

align="center" | Judith Thompson

| align="center" | Palace of the End

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2009

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Kevin Loring

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Where the Blood Mixes

| Pat Donnelly and Kathryn Greenaway, "A fiction win via a Yukon copper mine; Kate Pullinger wins Governor General's Award". National Post, November 18, 2009.

align="center" | Beverley Cooper

| align="center" | Innocence Lost: A Play about Steven Truscott

| rowspan=4| Adrian Chamberlain, "Bookstore clerk's first offering vies with Alice Munro for top prize". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 15, 2009.

align="center" | Joan MacLeod

| align="center" | Another Home Invasion

align="center" | Hannah Moscovitch

| align="center" | East of Berlin

align="center" | Michael Nathanson

| align="center" | Talk

=2010s=

class="wikitable" width="100%"

|+Governor General's Award for English-language drama honorees, 2010-2019

!Year

!width="45%"|Author

!width="45%"|Title

!Ref.

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2010

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Robert Chafe

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Afterimage

| Mark Medley, "Cool Water wins GG award for fiction; Dianne Warren beat out Room, among others". National Post, November 17, 2010.

align="center" | Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman

| align="center" | Scratch

| rowspan=4| "GG lit-award finalists include Emma Donoghue, Kathleen Winter". Alaska Highway News, October 14, 2010.

align="center" | Michael Healey

| align="center" | Courageous

align="center" | Judith Thompson

| align="center" | Such Creatures

align="center" | David Yee

| align="center" | lady in the red dress

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2011

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Erin Shields

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | If We Were Birds

| "Literary gold rush: Patrick deWitt's 'Sisters Brothers' wins Gov-Gen prize". Whitehorse Star, November 15, 2011.

align="center" | Brendan Gall

| align="center" | Minor Complications: Two Plays

| rowspan=4| Mark Medley, "Literary hat tricks; G-G Awards; Two authors make three fiction prize lists". National Post, October 12, 2011.

align="center" | Jonathan Garfinkel

| align="center" | House of Many Tongues

align="center" | Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

| align="center" | Gas Girls

align="center" | Vern Thiessen

| align="center" | Lenin’s Embalmers

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2012

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Catherine Banks

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | It Is Solved by Walking

| Greg Quill, "Spalding's slave tale gets GG fiction nod: Toronto writer also nominated for Writers' Trust Prize". Toronto Star, November 14, 2012.

align="center" | Trina Davies

| align="center" | The Romeo Initiative

| rowspan=4| Paul Irish, "Vincent Lam on Governor General's short list". Toronto Star, October 3, 2012.

align="center" | Karen Hines

| align="center" | Drama: Pilot Episode

align="center" | Cathy Ostlere, Dennis Garnhum

| align="center" | Lost: A Memoir

align="center" | Anusree Roy

| align="center" | Brothel #9

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2013

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Nicolas Billon

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Fault Lines: Three Plays

| [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2013/11/13/eleanor_catton_wins_governor_generals_literary_award_for_the_luminaries.html "Eleanor Catton wins Governor General’s Literary Award for The Luminaries"]. Toronto Star, November 13, 2013.

align="center" | Meg Braem

| align="center" | Blood: A Scientific Romance

| rowspan=4| [https://archive.today/20131011171148/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Governor+General+Literary+Award+finalists+announced+updated/8987740/story.html "Governor General Literary Award finalists announced"]. Vancouver Sun, October 2, 2013.

align="center" | Kate Hewlett

| align="center" | The Swearing Jar

align="center" | Lawrence Jeffery

| align="center" | Frenchtown

align="center" | Joseph Jomo Pierre

| align="center" | Shakespeare's Nigga

rowspan="4" align="center" | 2014

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Jordan Tannahill

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Age of Minority: Three Solo Plays

| {{Cite news |last=Medley |first=Mark |date=2014-11-18 |title=Thomas King wins Governor-General's Award for fiction |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/thomas-king-wins-governor-generals-award-for-fiction/article21636001/ |access-date=2022-10-13}}

align="center" | Rick Chafe

| align="center" | The Secret Mask

| rowspan=3| "Thomas, Chafe on shortlists for Governor General's awards". Winnipeg Free Press, October 7, 2014.

align="center" | Sean Dixon

| align="center" | A God in Need of Help

align="center" | Janet Munsil

| align="center" | That Elusive Spark

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2015

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | David Yee

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | carried away on the crest of a wave

| Cam Fuller, "Modest Vanderhaeghe joins exclusive company with third GG win". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 29, 2015.

align="center" | Beth Graham

| align="center" | The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble

| rowspan=4| "Guelph author shortlisted for Governor General's Literary Award". Guelph Tribune, October 8, 2015.

align="center" | Tara Grammy, Tom Arthur Davis

| align="center" | Mahmoud

align="center" | Bryden MacDonald

| align="center" | Odd Ducks

align="center" | Marcus Youssef, James Long

| align="center" | Winners and Losers

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2016

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Colleen Murphy

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Pig Girl

| [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/madeline-thien-wins-governor-generals-award-for-english-fiction/article32493781/ "Madeline Thien wins Governor-General’s award for English fiction"]. The Globe and Mail, October 25, 2016.

align="center" | Brad Fraser

| align="center" | Kill Me Now

| rowspan=4| Ian McGillis, "Thien makes short list for third time; Adds GG nod to Booker, Giller nominations". Sarnia Observer, October 5, 2016.

align="center" | Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

| align="center" | A Man A Fish

align="center" | Jordan Tannahill

| align="center" | Concord Floral

align="center" | Mary Vingoe

| align="center" | Refuge

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2017

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Hiro Kanagawa

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Indian Arm

| [http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/governor-general-literary-awards-winners-2017-1.4381577 "Governor General Literary Awards announced: Joel Thomas Hynes wins top English fiction prize"]. CBC News, November 1, 2017.

align="center" | Robert Chafe

| align="center" | The Colony of Unrequited Dreams

| rowspan=4| "Winter, Hynes up for Governor General's Award". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, October 7, 2017.

align="center" | Anna Chatterton

| align="center" | Within the Glass

align="center" | Michael Healey

| align="center" | 1979

align="center" | Kate Hennig

| align="center" | The Virgin Trial

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2018

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Jordan Tannahill

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Botticelli in the Fire and Sunday in Sodom

| [https://www.cbc.ca/books/here-are-the-winners-of-the-2018-governor-general-s-literary-awards-1.4882275 "Here are the winners of the 2018 Governor General's Literary Awards"]. CBC Books, November 9, 2018.

align="center" | Keith Barker

| align="center" | This Is How We Got Here

| rowspan=4| "Hage, Toews among finalists for Governor General's Literary Awards". Peterborough Examiner, October 4, 2018.

align="center" | Anna Chatterton, Evalyn Parry, Karin Randoja

| align="center" | Gertrude and Alice

align="center" | Anosh Irani

| align="center" | The Men in White

align="center" | Erin Shields

| align="center" | Paradise Lost

rowspan="5" align="center" | 2019

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Amanda Parris

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Other Side of the Game

| Jane van Koeverden, [https://www.cbc.ca/books/here-are-the-winners-of-the-2019-governor-general-s-literary-awards-1.5335565 "Here are the winners of the 2019 Governor General's Literary Awards"]. CBC Books, October 29, 2019.

align="center" | Kevin Loring

| align="center" | Thanks for Giving

| rowspan=4| "Literary finalists named; 70 books vie for $450,000 in prizes at 2019 Governor General's awards". Windsor Star, October 7, 2019.

align="center" | Hannah Moscovitch

| align="center" | What a Young Wife Ought to Know

align="center" | Sean Harris Oliver

| align="center" | The Fighting Season

align="center" | Tetsuro Shigematsu

| align="center" | 1 Hour Photo

=2020s=

class="wikitable" width="100%"

!Year

!width="45%"|Author

!width="45%"|Title

!Ref.

align="center" rowspan="5"| 2020

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Kim Senklip Harvey

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story

| align="center" | [https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/michelle-good-says-celebrating-fiction-win-feels-petty-and-selfish-after-residential-school-discovery-1.5450932 "Michelle Good says celebrating fiction win feels 'petty and selfish' after residential school discovery"]. CTV News, June 1, 2021.

align="center" | Yolanda Bonnell

| align="center" | bug

| align="center" rowspan=4| [https://www.cbc.ca/books/francesca-ekwuyasi-billy-ray-belcourt-anne-carson-among-2020-governor-general-s-literary-awards-finalists-1.6004149 "Francesca Ekwuyasi, Billy-Ray Belcourt & Anne Carson among 2020 Governor General's Literary Awards finalists"]. CBC Books, May 4, 2021.

align="center" | Christopher Cook

| align="center" | Quick Bright Things

align="center" | Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman

| align="center" | Guarded Girls

align="center" | Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

| align="center" | Sound of the Beast

align="center" rowspan="5"| 2021

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Hannah Moscovitch

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

| align="center" | [https://www.coastreporter.net/the-mix/inuk-author-norma-dunning-wins-25k-governor-generals-fiction-prize-4766110 "Inuk author Norma Dunning wins $25K Governor General's fiction prize"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117161409/https://www.coastreporter.net/the-mix/inuk-author-norma-dunning-wins-25k-governor-generals-fiction-prize-4766110 |date=2021-11-17 }}. Coast Reporter, November 17, 2021.

align="center" | Falen Johnson

| align="center" | Two Indians

| align="center" rowspan=4 | [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2021/10/14/rachel-cusk-among-fiction-finalists-for-governor-generals-literary-awards.html "Rachel Cusk among fiction finalists for Governor General’s Literary Awards"]. Toronto Star, October 14, 2021.

align="center" | Jivesh Parasram

| align="center" | Take d Milk, Nah?

align="center" | Paul David Power

| align="center" | Crippled

align="center" | Christine Quintana

| align="center" | Selfie

align="center" rowspan="5"| 2022

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Dorothy Dittrich

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key

| align="center" | Deborah Dundas, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/11/16/sheila-heti-eli-baxter-win-2022-governor-generals-literary-awards-for-fiction-and-non-fiction.html "Sheila Heti, Eli Baxter win 2022 Governor General’s Literary Awards for fiction and non-fiction"]. Toronto Star, November 16, 2022.

align="center" | Daniel Arnold, Darrell Dennis, Medina Hahn

| align="center" | Inheritance: a pick-the-path experience

| align="center" rowspan=4 | [https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-finalists-for-the-2022-governor-general-s-literary-award-for-drama-1.6612921 "The finalists for the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for drama"]. CBC Books, October 12, 2022.

align="center" | Robert Chafe

| align="center" | Everybody Just C@lm the F#ck Down

align="center" | Marjorie Chan

| align="center" | Lady Sunrise

align="center" | Ho Ka Kei (Jeff Ho)

| align="center" | Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land) & Antigone: 方

align="center" rowspan="5"| 2023

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Cliff Cardinal

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | As You Like It, A Radical Retelling

| align="center" | [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/anuja-varghese-wins-governor-generals-literary-award-for-fiction/article_1bb0f610-14e9-5ee7-9f19-68bcbfe555f8.html "Anuja Varghese wins Governor General's literary award for fiction"]. Toronto Star, November 8, 2023.

align="center" | Darla Contois

| align="center" | The War Being Waged

| align="center" rowspan=4 | [https://www.cbc.ca/books/suzette-mayr-iain-reid-among-finalists-for-25k-governor-general-s-literary-awards-1.7007194 "Suzette Mayr, Iain Reid among finalists for $25K Governor General's Literary Awards"]. CBC Books, October 25, 2023.

align="center" | Hiro Kanagawa

| align="center" | Forgiveness

align="center" | Suvendrini Lena

| align="center" | The Enchanted Loom

align="center" | Jordan Tannahill

| align="center" | Is My Microphone On?

rowspan="5"| 2024

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | Caleigh Crow

| align="center" style="background:#FAEB86" | There Is Violence and There Is Righteous Violence and There Is Death, or the Born-Again Crow

| align="center" | Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/jordan-abel-niigaan-sinclair-among-2024-governor-generals-award-winners/ "Jordan Abel, Niigaan Sinclair among 2024 Governor General’s award winners"]. Quill & Quire, November 13, 2024.

align="center" | Makram Ayache

| align="center" | The Green Line

| rowspan=4 align=center | Cassandra Drudi, [https://quillandquire.com/omni/canisia-lubrin-danny-ramadan-among-2024-governor-generals-literary-award-finalists/ "Canisia Lubrin, Danny Ramadan among 2024 Governor General’s Literary Award finalists"]. Quill & Quire, October 8, 2024.

align="center" | Scott Jones, Robert Chafe

| align="center" | I Forgive You

align="center" | Mishka Lavigne

| align="center" | Shorelines

align="center" | Pamela Mala Sinha

| align="center" | New

Multiple winners and nominees

= 2 Wins =

  • Catherine Banks
  • John Mighton
  • Colleen Murphy
  • Morris Panych
  • Sharon Pollock
  • Jordan Tannahill
  • Judith Thompson
  • George F. Walker

= 6 Nominations =

  • Judith Thompson (2 wins)

= 5 Nominations =

  • Robert Chafe (1 win)
  • Daniel MacIvor (1 win)
  • Jason Sherman (1 win)

= 4 Nominations =

  • Wendy Lill
  • Michael Healey (1 win)
  • John Mighton (2 wins)
  • Jordan Tannahill (2 wins)
  • George F. Walker (2 wins)

= 3 Nominations =

  • Joan MacLeod (1 win)
  • Hannah Moscovitch (1 win)
  • Colleen Murphy (2 wins)
  • Morris Panych (2 wins)
  • Sharon Pollock (2 wins)
  • Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

= 2 Nominations =

  • Catherine Banks (2 wins)
  • Daniel Brooks (both with cowriters)
  • Marjorie Chan
  • Anna Chatterton (consecutive, 1 with cowriters)
  • Marie Clements
  • Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman
  • Don Druick
  • Brad Fraser
  • Linda Griffiths
  • Tomson Highway (consecutive)
  • Karen Hines
  • Maureen Hunter
  • Anosh Irani
  • Lawrence Jeffrey
  • Hiro Kanagawa (1 win)
  • John Krizanc (1 win)
  • Kevin Loring (1 win)
  • Bryden MacDonald
  • Michael MacLennon (consecutive)
  • Richard Sanger
  • Erin Shields (1 win)
  • Vern Thiessen (1 win)
  • Guillermo Verdecchia (consecutive, 1 win)
  • David Yee (1 win)
  • David Young

Drew Hayden Taylor and Anosh Irani have also both been nominated for the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction.

James Reaney won the award three times before Poetry and Drama were split in 1981 into separate categories.

Mishka Lavigne is the first person to be nominated for both the English and French language awards for Drama.

References