Author Madeleine Thien arrives at the Giller Prize Awards ceremony in Toronto on Monday, November 20, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
TORONTO – Madeleine Thien wants organizers of the Giller Prize to remove her name, image and work from its website and promotional material amid ongoing controversy over the lucrative book prize.
The Montreal-based writer is making the request as the annual gala prepares to hand out the $100,000 award tonight.
Over the weekend, Thien posted a letter on X addressed to the Giller foundation’s board of directors and advisory council, saying she will also no longer submit her work for consideration. Thien won the 2016 Giller Prize for her book, “Do Not Say We Have Nothing.”
The Giller Prize is set to be announced tonight at a scaled-back bash that will not air live on television as usual.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators interrupted last year’s televised ceremony, followed by protests among hundreds of people in the arts community, including authors previously recognized by the Giller.
They want the foundation to cut ties with several sponsors, including Scotiabank over its stake in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.
While Scotiabank’s subsidiary sold some of its shares in Elbit Systems earlier this year, the bank has denied the protest has had anything to do with the change.
The Giller removed Scotiabank’s name from the prize, saying it wants to keep the focus on authors, not politics. Its contract with the bank expires at the end of next year.
Among the five shortlisted authors this year are Anne Fleming, for her novel “Curiosities,” Anne Michaels for “Hope,” and Conor Kerr for “Prairie Edge.”
Deepa Rajagopalan is nominated for the short story collection “Peacocks of Instagram,” as is Eric Chacour for his novel “What I Know About You,” translated from the original French by Pablo Strauss.
The pre-taped ceremony will air at 9 p.m. on CBC.
-With files from Nicole Thompson
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.
