Winning panellist Humble The Poet and author André Alexis will join Tom Power on

q – Live at the JUNOS in Ottawa on Thursday,  March 30

Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis has won CANADA READS 2017. Fifteen Dogs was championed by spoken word artist and emcee  Humble The Poet, and was chosen by the five celebrity panellists as the book Canada needs to read in 2017. This year's title fight focused on stories that explore the diverse perspectives that make this nation what it is today, and prompt us to reflect on where we’re heading.

After four days of debate in front of live audiences, Humble survived the final vote today to be crowned this year's winner. The runner-up was Company Town by Madeline Ashby, which was defended by opera singer Measha Brueggergosman. The debates aired on CBC Radio One, CBC TV and live streamed online at CBCbooks.ca.

In Fifteen Dogs, Hermes and Apollo make a bet about human happiness, granting 15 dogs staying at a veterinary clinic the power of human consciousness. The dogs instantly become divided between those who prefer their old dog ways and those who want to take advantage of their newfound increased intelligence. What unfolds is a powerful story about what it means to have consciousness and the good and the bad that comes with it.

This year’s debates took place March 27-30, 2017, and were hosted by actor, stand-up comedian and host of CBC Radio's Laugh Out Loud, Ali Hassan

“It's such a great thing to see Canadians arguing and fighting...over books!” said Hassan. “I was privileged to be at the helm of it. Congrats to all the panellists and the authors. Keep reading Canada!“

The books voted off earlier this week, in order of elimination, were:

The Break by Katherena Vermette (House of Anansi), defended by Candy Palmater

Nostalgia by M.G. Vassanji (Doubleday Canada), defended by Jody Mitic

The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Penguin Canada), defended by Chantal Kreviazuk

Tom Power will interview winning panellist Humble The Poet and author André Alexis as part of a special "q - Live at the JUNOS." The sold out show will be taped on Thursday, March 30 in Ottawa and will air on Friday, March 31 on CBC Radio One at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. (10:30 NT). The full interview will also be posted on CBCbooks.ca.

Fifteen Dogs is published by Coach House Books. In celebration of the win, Coach House Books will make a donation to Frontier College’s Indigenous Summer Literacy Camps for First Nation, Métis and Inuit children and youth across Canada. The camps offer learning and literacy support in a fun and interactive environment to help prevent summer learning loss.

CBC Books would also like to thank this year's presenting partner, Canada’s largest bookseller, Indigo Books . The CANADA READS conversation continues on Twitter - @CBCbooks #CanadaReads. Go to CBCbooks.ca for this year's videos and more on all five books.

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About CBC Books

Home to Canada Reads, Writers & Company with Eleanor Wachtel, The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers, Canada Writes and the CBC Literary Prizes, CBC Books brings together literary enthusiasts to find books they want to read and to connect with other Canadians who love to read and write. For book news, writing challenges, reading lists, book recommendations and more, visit www.cbcbooks.ca.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada’s trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective. In 2017, CBC/Radio-Canada will be at the heart of the celebrations and conversations with special 2017-themed multiplatform programming and events across Canada.

About Indigo

Indigo ( TSX: IDG) is a Canadian company, founded in 1996, and has evolved into Canada’s largest book retailer operating in all provinces under different banners including Indigo, Indigospirit, Chapters, Coles, and indigo.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Nicola Makoway, publicist, CBC Radio
nicola.makoway@cbc.ca
416-205-7673