16 famous Canadian writers who won CBC Literary Prizes

The 2024 CBCNonfiction Prizeis open until March 1, 2024at 4:59 p.m. ET.

You can submit original, unpublished nonfiction that is up to 2,000 words. There is no minimum word requirement. Nonfiction includes memoir, biography, humour writing, essay (including personal essay), travel writing and feature articles.

• Calling all writers! The 2024 CBC Nonfiction Prize is now open

The winners of the CBC Literary Prizes join esteemed company!Check out these 16 Canadian writers who got their start thanks to theCBC Literary Prizes.

1. CarolineAdderson

CarolineAddersonplaced third in theCBCShort Story Prizein 1988 with The Hanging Garden of Babylon.She placed third a second time in 1991 with TheChmarnykand in 2004, she came in second with Falling.

Addersonis the author of four novels and two short story collections. Her books includeA Russian Sister,The Sky is Falling,Ellen in Pieces,Norman, Speak!and the 1993 Governor General's Literary Award finalistBad Imaginings.She has twice received the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and received the 2006 Marian Engel Award for mid-career achievement.

• Caroline Adderson wrote a middle-grade novel about kids coping with the COVID-19 pandemic

2. Gail Anderson-Dargatz

In 1993, Gail Anderson-Dargatz won the CBCShort Story Prize with The Girl with the Bell Necklace.

Anderson-Dargatz is a writer from British Columbia. Her books includeThe Cure for Death by Lightning,A Recipe for Bees,The Spawning Grounds,Turtle Valley and The Almost Wife.She was a finalist forthe Giller Prize twice: in 1996 for The Cure for Death by Lightning and in 1998 for A Recipe for Bees.

• 55 books by past CBC Literary Prizes winners and finalists that came out in 2023

3. David Bergen

David Bergen won the 1999CBCShort Story Prizefor his storyHow can men share a bottle of vodka.

In 2005, his novelThe Time in Betweenwon the Scotiabank Giller Prize. He was subsequently shortlistedfor the Giller forThe Matter with Morrisin 2010 and longlistedforThe Retreatin 2008 andStrangerin 2016. Bergen was also a finalist in 2002 for the Governor General's Literary Award for fiction for the bookThe Case of Lena S.His bookThe Age of Hopewas defended by Ron MacLeanonCanada Readsin 2013. Helives in Winnipeg.

His short story collection Here the Darkincludes his 1999 winning story.Here the Darkwas shortlisted for the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Bergenwas the 2018 recipient of the Matt Cohen Award, which is given to a writer who has dedicated their professional career to writing, in celebration oftheir entire body of work.

• How winning the CBC Short Story Prize in 1999 influenced David Bergen's writing career

4. George Bowering

In 1984, George Bowering received second place in the CBC Literary Prize for his work Delayed Mercy.

Bowering is a prolific poet, novelist, historian and biographer from British Columbia. He has writtenmore than 100 books.He was Canada's firstparliamentary poet laureate. He wonthe Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2011.

• Life lessons from George Bowering, a master of writing

5. Shauna Singh Baldwin

In 1997, Shauna Singh Baldwin won the CBC Short Story Prize for Satya.

Singh Baldwin is a Canadian Americannovelist, who was born in Montreal and currently lives in Wisconsin.Her short stories have won literary awards in the United States, Canada and India, including the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book in the Canada/Caribbean region. Her books includeWhat the Body RemembersandThe Selector of Souls.

• Shauna Singh Baldwin on 'the seams between scenes'

6. Lorna Crozier

Canadian poetLorna Croziercame in first place in the 1987 CBCPoetry Prize with Angels of Silence.

Crozier has written more than 15 books. Her poetry collections includeThe House the Spirit Builds,God of ShadowsandWhat the SoulDoesn't Want.Her 1992 collectionInventing the Hawkwon the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry.Her latest book is the memoir Through the Garden, which is a finalist for the 2020 Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.

• How writing a memoir helped celebrated poet Lorna Crozier cope with the loss of a beloved partner

7. Kim Echlin

Kim Echlin's entry, titled I, Witness,earned her the first prize in the 2005 CBCNonfiction Prize.

Echlin is a writer who lives in Toronto. Her other novels includeElephant Winter, Dagmar's Daughter,The Disappeared,Speak, SilenceandUnder the Visible Life.The Disappearedwas shortlisted for the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

• Kim Echlin: How I wrote Under the Visible Life

8. Camilla Gibb

In 2001, Camilla Gibb won the CBC Short Story Prize for her entryBetween Wars.

Camilla Gibb is an English-born Canadian, now based in Toronto. Her novelSweetness in the Bellywon the 2006 Trillium Book Award and was shortlisted for the 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize. She is also the author of the novelsThe Beauty of Humanity Movementand The Relatives and the memoirThis is Happy.

• Camilla Gibb on the merits of unpopularity

9. Frances Itani

Frances Itani won the CBC Short Story Prize in 1995 and 1996 for her stories Boleroand Poached Egg on Toastrespectively. She placed third in 1984 for Songs For The Children.

Frances Itani is a fiction writer, poet and essayist. She is a member of the Order of Canada. HernovelTellwas shortlisted for the 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize. She won a Commonwealth Writers' Prize for best book in 2004 forDeafening.The novel was a contender forCanada Reads2006. She is also the author of the novelsRemembering the Bones,Requiem,That's My Babyandan illustrated children's bookBest Friend Trouble. Her latest is the novel The Company We Keep.

• 6 books that inspired Frances Itani to grow as a writer

10. Michael Ondaatje

In 1982, Michael Ondaatje won the CBC Short Story Prize for his entry The Passions of Lalla.

Ondaatje's novels and poetry have earned international acclaim, and he was the first Canadian ever to win the Man Booker Prize in 1992, for the wartime storyThe English Patient.Ondaatjebegan his writing career in 1967 as a poet, winning two Governor General's Awards for poetry before turning to fiction. Following the success ofThe English Patient, he went on to win the Giller Prize, the Governor General's Literary Award and France's prestigious Prix Medicis for his novelAnil's Ghost.

• New Michael Ondaatje archive contains original handwritten drafts of The English Patient

11. Alison Pick

Alison Pick won the 2005 CBCPoetry Prize with her entry The Mind's Eye.

In 2002, PickreceivedtheRBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers.Her workhas appearedin various publications,includingthe Globe and Mail and the Walrus.Her memoir,Between Gods,won the Canadian Jewish Book Award. It was also shortlisted forboth the BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction and for theJQ Wingate Prize in the UK.

She isthe author of novelsThe Sweet Edge, published in 2005,andStrangers With the Same Dream, published in 2017,as well astwo poetry collections,Questions & AnswersandThe Dream World.Her 2010 novel,Far to Go,was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

• Alison Pick on saying yes to writing and no to everything else

12. Leon Rooke

In 2002, Leon Rooke won the CBC Short Story Prize for his entry The Last Shot.

Rooke is a writer based in Toronto. He's the author of several acclaimed books, includingFat Woman, Shakespeare's Dog, andSwinging Through Dixie.In 1983, he won the Governor General's Literary Award for fiction. In 2007, he was named a member of the Order of Canada.In 2002, he defended The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence on Canada Reads.

13. Carol Shields

In 1983, Carol Shields won the CBC Literary Prize for radio drama for Women Waiting.In 1984, she came in second in the CBC Short Story Prize for her story Flitting Behaviour.

Shields was an American-born Canadian short story writer, poet, playwright and novelist. Sheis the author of severalaward-winning books. Her novelThe Stone Diarieswon the Governor General's Literary Award for English-language fiction in 1992 and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1993. It was also shortlisted for the ScotiabankGiller Prize. In 1997,Larry's Partywas shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Shields received her thirdnomination for the award whenUnlesswas named a finalist in 2002. The novel was a contender forCanada Readsin 2011, when it was defended by Lorna Cardinal.In 2019, her 10th novel,Unless, was named by the BBCas one of the 100 novels that shaped our world. Shields died in 2003 at the age of 68.

• The great Canadian reading list: 150 books to read for Canada 150

14. Michael Winter

Michael Winter won the 2004 CBC Short Story PrizeforThe Point David Made Earlier.

Winter was born in England,and grew up in Newfoundland. He is the author of several books, including the novelsThis All Happened, The Big Why,The Death of Donna Whalen andMinister Without Portfolio, and the nonfiction bookInto the Blizzard.Minister Without Portfoliowas defended byAdam CopelandonCanada Reads2016.

• Michael Winter on swanky sunglasses and underground semicolons

15. Alix Hawley

Alix Hawley won the 2017 CBC Short Story Prize forWitching.

Hawley is a writer based on B.C. She wonthe 2015 Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for her debut novel,All True Not a Lie in It,a book that fictionalizedthe life of Pennsylvania QuakerDaniel Boone. Her 2018 novelMy Name is a Knifecontinues the story of Daniel Boone.

• How Alix Hawley wrote the story that won the CBC Short Story Prize

16.Brian Brett

Brian Brett won the 2010 CBC PoetryPrize forTo Your Scattered Bodies Go.

Brett was a poet, fiction and memoir writer, journalist and former chair of the Writers' Union of Canada. His 13 books includeThe Colour of Bones in a Streamand the bestselling memoirTrauma Farm, which won numerous prizes, including the Writers' Trust of Canada for best Canadian nonfiction book. His last book, To Your Scattered Bodies Go,the same titleas the poem that won theCBC Poetry Prize,was published in 2022.

• Poet and memoirist Brian Brett, known for signature humour and ruminations on nature, dead at 73