Toronto Book Awards

The Toronto Book Awards are Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the City of Toronto government to the author of the year's best fiction or non-fiction book or books "that are evocative of Toronto". The award is presented in the fall of each year, with its advance promotional efforts including a series of readings by the nominated authors at each year's The Word on the Street festival.

Each author shortlisted for the award receives $1,000, and the winner or winners receive the balance of $15,000.

The award has frequently gone to multiple winners. 1987 was the first time in the history of the award that only a single winner was named.

Winners and nominees

Year	Winner	Nominated
1974	William Kurelek, O Toronto Desmond Morton, Mayor Howland Richard B. Wright, In the Middle of a Life	Sandra Budden and Joseph Ernst, The Movable Airport Austin Clarke, Storm of Fortune Michael Filey, Richard Howard and Helmut Weyerstrahs, Passengers Must Not Ride on Fender Hugh Hood, The Governor's Bridge Is Closed George Jonas, Cities
1975	Claude Bissell, Halfway up Parnassus The Labour History Collective, Women at Work Loren Lind, The Learning Machine	Max Braithwaite, Sick Kids Juan Butler, Canadian Healing Oil Jon Caulfield, The Tiny Perfect Mayor Dennis Lee, Alligator Pie - Nicholas Knock Harold Town, Albert Franck: His Life, Times and Work
1976	Robert F. Harney and Harold Troper, Immigrants: A Portrait of the Urban Experience 1890-1930 Hugh Hood, The Swing in the Garden	Jack Batten, The Leafs in Autumn Morley Callaghan, A Fine and Private Place Austin Clarke, The Bigger Light Hans Jewinski, Poet Cop Harry Pollock, Gabriel Ian Wallace and Angela Wood, The Sandwich
1977	Margaret Atwood, Lady Oracle Margaret Gibson, The Butterfly Ward	Michael Filey, Trillium and Toronto Island William Kilbourn, The Toronto Book Raymond Massey, When I Was Young Stan Obodiac, The Leafs: The First 50 Years Miriam Waddington, The Price of Gold
1978	Christopher Armstrong and H. V. Nelles, The Revenge of the Methodist Bicycle Company Timothy Findley, The Wars	Harry Adaskin, A Fiddler's World Morley Callaghan, Close to the Sun Again George Jonas and Barbara Amiel, By Persons Unknown
1979	Michael Bliss, A Canadian Millionaire William Dendy, Lost Toronto John Morgan Gray, Fun Tomorrow	Morley Callaghan, No Man's Meat and The Enchanted Pimp Paul Duval, The Tangled Garden Marian Engel, The Glassy Sea James Lorimer, The Developers Peter Mellen, Landmarks of Canadian Art David Lewis Stein, City Boys
1980	Raymond Souster, Hanging In Stephen A. Speisman, The Jews of Toronto: A History to 1937	Eric Arthur, From Front Street to Queen's Park: The Story of Ontario's Parliament Buildings Margaret Atwood, Life Before Man Shirley Faessler, Everything in the Window Hugh Hood, Reservoir Ravine Richard B. Howard, Upper Canada College 1928-1979: Colbourne's Legacy Blair G. Laing, Memoirs of an Art Dealer
1981	Timothy Colton, Big Daddy: Frederick G. Gardiner and the Building of Metropolitan Toronto Mary Larratt Smith, Young Mr. Smith in Upper Canada Helen Weinzweig, Basic Black with Pearls	Gregory S. Kealey, Toronto Workers Respond to Industrial Capitalism, 1867-1892 John Lownsbrough, The Privileged Few: The Grange & Its People in Nineteenth Century Toronto Austin Seton Thompson, Jarvis Street: A Story of Triumph and Tragedy Richard B. Wright, Final Things
1982	Claude Bissell, The Young Vincent Massey Marian Engel, Lunatic Villas	Robertson Davies, The Rebel Angels Michael Filey, I Remember Sunnyside Bernice Thurman Hunter, That Scatterbrain Booky Charles Sauriol, Remembering the Don Conn Smythe with Scott Young, If You Can't Beat 'Em in the Alley
1983	Michael Bliss, The Discovery of Insulin Lucy Booth Martyn, The Face of Early Toronto: An Archival Record 1803-1936	Larry Partridge, The Witts Clara Thomas and John Lennox, William Arthur Deacon: A Canadian Literary Life Tim Wynne-Jones, The Knot
1984	Edith G. Firth, Toronto in Art Gerald Killan, David Boyle: From Artisan to Archaeologist Eric Wright, The Night the Gods Smiled	Rod McQueen, The Money-Spinners Marion Royce, Eunice Dyke: Health Care Pioneer Bill Ivy, A Little Wilderness: The Natural History of Toronto
1985	Warabe Aska, Who Goes to the Park J.M.S. Careless, Toronto to 1918 Josef Skvorecky, The Engineer of Human Souls	Patrick Brode, Sir John Beverley Robinson Margaret and Merlyn McKelvey, Toronto: Carved in Stone David G. Pitt, E.J. Pratt: The Truant Years 1882-1927 Victor L. Russell, Forging a Consensus
1986	Morley Callaghan, Our Lady of the Snows Robertson Davies, What's Bred in the Bone	Neil Bissoondath, Digging Up the Mountains Rosemary Donegan, Spadina Avenue James Lemon, Toronto Since 1918: An Illustrated History Patricia McHugh, Toronto Architecture: A City Guide
1987	William Dendy and William Kilbourn, Toronto Observed: Its Architecture, Patrons and History	John Coldwell Adams, Sir Charles God Damn: The Life of Sir Charles G.D. Roberts June Callwood, Twelve Weeks in Spring Lovat Dickson, The Museum Makers: The Story of the Royal Ontario Museum Michael Filey, Not a One-Horse Town: 125 Years of Toronto and Its Streetcars Martin O'Malley, Hospital: Life and Death in a Major Medical Centre
1988	Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion	Joan Hollobon, The Lion's Tale: A History of the Wellesley Hospital, 1912-1978 Cyril H. Levitt and William Shaffir, The Riot at Christie Pits Tom MacDonnell, Never Let Go: The Tragedy of Kristy McFarlane Anna Porter, Mortal Sins
1989	Margaret Atwood, Cat's Eye	Shirley Faessler, A Basket of Apples Robert Fulford, Best Seat in the House Alison Gordon, The Dead Pull Hitter Michael Kluckner, Toronto The Way It Was Rick Salutin, A Man of Little Faith Paul Stuewe, The Storm Below: The Turbulent Life and Times of Hugh Garner
1990	Hilary Russell, Double Take: The Story of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres Guy Vanderhaeghe, Homesick	John Ayre, Northrop Frye Don Bailey, Memories of Margaret Stuart McLean, The Morningside World of Stuart McLean M. NourbeSe Philip, Harriet's Daughter Jack Pollock, Dear M
1991	Cary Fagan and Robert MacDonald, eds., Streets of Attitude: Toronto Stories	Cary Fagan, City Hall and Mrs. God Mary Jo Leddy, Say to the Darkness, We Beg to Differ Claire MacKay and Johnny Wales, The Toronto Story Jocko Thomas, From Police Headquarters Morley Torgov, St. Farb's Day Dan Yashinsky, Tales for an Unknown City
1992	Katherine Govier, Hearts of Flame	Margaret Atwood, Wilderness Tips David Gilmour, How Boys See Girls Kenneth Oppel and Regolo Ricci, Cosimo Cat Allan Stratton, Bag Babies Gregory Ward, The Carpet King Marianne Zeitlin, Next of Kin
1993	Carole Corbeil, Voice-Over David Donnell, China Blues	Paul Donovan, Paint Cans Paul Kropp, Ellen/Elena/Luna Don Ritchie, North Toronto
1994	Timothy Findley, Headhunter	Margaret Atwood, The Robber Bride Nancy Baker, The Night Inside Catherine Bush, Minus Time John Ibbitson, The Night Hazel Came to Town William Kilbourn, Intimate Grandeur
1995	Ezra Schabas, Sir Ernest MacMillan: The Importance of Being Canadian	Jack Batten, The Leafs: An Anecdotal History of the Toronto Maple Leafs Cary Fagan, The Animals' Waltz Eric Wright, Moodie's Tale
1996	Rosemary Sullivan, Shadow Maker: The Life of Gwendolyn MacEwen	Timothy Findley, The Piano Man's Daughter Robert Fulford, Accidental City Wayne Grady, Toronto the Wild, Field Notes of an Urban Naturalist Greg Kramer, The Pursemonger of Fugu Tim Wynne-Jones, The Maestro
1997	Anne Michaels, Fugitive Pieces	David Eddie, Chump Change Kevin Irie, The Colour of Eden Kim Moritsugu, Looks Perfect Richard Scrimger, Crosstown
1998	Helen Humphreys, Leaving Earth	Carole Corbeil, In the Wings Joanne Gerber, In the Misleading Absence of Light Bruce McCall, Thin Ice Barbara Nichol, Dippers Antanas Sileika, Buying on Time
1999	Richard Outram, Benedict Abroad	Dennis Bock, Olympia James Chatto, The Man Who Ate Toronto: Memoirs of a Restaurant Lover Derek McCormack and Chris Chambers, Wild Mouse Stuart McLean, Home from the Vinyl Cafe
2000	Camilla Gibb, Mouthing the Words	Jennifer Duncan, Sanctuary and Other Stories Greg Gatenby, Toronto - A Literary Guide Conrad E. Heidenreich, Betty Ida Roots and Donald A. Chant, Special Places: The Changing Ecosystems of the Toronto Region Russell Smith, Young Men
2001	A.B. McKillop, The Spinster and the Prophet: Florence Deeks, H.G. Wells and the Mystery of the Purloined Past	Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin Catherine Bush, The Rules of Engagement Jean Cochrane and Vincenzo Pietropaolo, Kensington Tessa McWatt, Dragons Cry
2002	Sarah Dearing, Courage My Love	Douglas Bell, Run Over: A Boy, His Mother and An Accident Jane Lind, Joyce Wieland: Artist on Fire Erín Moure, Sheep's Vigil by a Fervent Person Michael Redhill, Martin Sloane Elizabeth Ruth, Ten Good Seconds of Silence
2003	Joe Fiorito, The Song Beneath the Ice	Dionne Brand, thirsty Eric McCormack, The Dutch Wife Judith Merril and Emily Pohl-Weary, Better to Have Loved: The Life of Judith Merril Makeda Silvera, The Heart Does Not Bend
2004	Kevin Bazzana, Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould Kate Taylor, Mme. Proust and the Kosher Kitchen	Tom Cruickshank and John de Visser, Old Toronto Houses Kristen den Hartog, The Perpetual Ending Aren X. Tulchinsky, The Five Books of Moses Lapinsky
2005	David Bezmozgis, Natasha and Other Stories	Constance Backhouse and Nancy L. Backhouse, The Heiress vs. The Establishment: Mrs. Campbell's Campaign for Legal Justice Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Down to This: Squalor and Splendour in a Big-City Shantytown Don Coles, Doctor Bloom's Story Russell Smith, Muriella Pent
2006	Dionne Brand, What We All Long For	Howard Akler, The City Man Stephen Marche, Raymond and Hannah Jason McBride and Alana Wilcox, eds., uTOpia: Towards a New Toronto M.G. Vassanji, When She Was Queen
2007	Michael Redhill, Consolation	Sally Gibson, Inside Toronto: Urban Interiors 1880s to 1920s Geoffrey James, Toronto Vincent Lam, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures Raymond Souster, Uptown Downtown
2008	Glen Downie, Loyalty Management	Elspeth Cameron, And Beauty Answers: The Life of Frances Loring and Florence Wyle David Chariandy, Soucouyant Elyse Friedman, Long Story Short Barbara Gowdy, Helpless
2009	Austin Clarke, More	Anthony De Sa, Barnacle Love Maggie Helwig, Girls Fall Down Mark Osbaldeston, Unbuilt Toronto Charles Wilkins, In the Land of Long Fingernails
2010	Mark Sinnett, The Carnivore	Seán Cullen, The Prince of Neither Here Nor There Cary Fagan, Valentine's Fall Lauren Kirshner, Where We Have to Go Dragan Todorović, Diary of Interrupted Days
2011	Rabindranath Maharaj, The Amazing Absorbing Boy	James FitzGerald, What Disturbs Our Blood James King, Étienne's Alphabet Nicholas Ruddock, The Parabolist Alissa York, Fauna
2012	Andrew J. Borkowski, Copernicus Avenue	Dave Bidini, Writing Gordon Lightfoot: The Man, the Music, and the World in 1972 Farzana Doctor, Six Metres of Pavement Michele Landsberg, Writing the Revolution Suzanne Robertson, Paramita, Little Black
2013	Kamal Al-Solaylee, Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes	Patrick Cummins and Shawn Micallef, Full Frontal T.O. Kevin Irie, Viewing Tom Thomson, A Minority Report Aga Maksimowska, Giant Katrina Onstad, Everybody Has Everything
2014	Charlotte Gray, The Massey Murder: A Maid, Her Master and the Trial that Shocked a Country	Anthony De Sa, Kicking the Sky Carrianne Leung, The Wondrous Woo Nick Saul and Andrea Curtis, The Stop: How the Fight for Good Food Transformed a Community and Inspired a Movement Shyam Selvadurai, The Hungry Ghosts
2015	Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven	André Alexis, Fifteen Dogs Margaret Atwood, Stone Mattress Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer, All the Broken Things Bruce McDougall, The Last Hockey Game
2016	Cordelia Strube, On the Shores of Darkness, There Is Light	Howard Akler, Men of Action Ann Y. K. Choi, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety John Lorinc, Michael McClelland, Ellen Scheinberg and Tatum Taylor, The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto’s First Immigrant Neighbourhood Marnie Woodrow, Heyday
2017	B. Denham Jolly, In the Black: My Life	Jen Agg, I Hear She's a Real Bitch John Lorinc, Jane Farrow, Stephanie Chambers, Maureen FitzGerald, Tim McCaskell, Rebecka Sheffield, Tatum Taylor, Rahim Thawer and Ed Jackson, Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer Catherine Hernandez, Scarborough James Maskalyk, Life on the Ground Floor: Letters from the Edge of Emergency Medicine
2018	David Chariandy, Brother	Dionne Brand, The Unpublished City Carrianne Leung, That Time I Loved You Lee Maracle, My Conversations with Canadians Kerri Sakamoto, Floating City
2019	Dionne Brand, Theory	Mike Barnes, Be With: Letters to a Caregiver Cary Fagan, The Student Didier Leclair, This Country of Mine Ian Williams, Reproduction
2020	Desmond Cole, The Skin We're In	Jean Marc Ah-Sen, In the Beggarly Style of Imitation Vivian Chong and Georgia Webbe, Dancing after TEN Katie Daubs,The Missing Millionaire Zalika Reid-Benta, Frying Plantain
2021	Kim Echlin, Speak, Silence	Justin Ling, Missing From the Village Catherine Hernandez, Crosshairs Catherine Graham, Æther: An Out-of-Body Lyric Faye Guenther, Swimmers in Winter Rinaldo Walcott, On Property

External links

• Toronto Book Awards (City of Toronto Web site)