The Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, formerly known as the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, is a Canadian literary award presented by the Writers' Trust of Canada after an annual juried competition of works submitted by publishers.The Writers' Trust of Canada, Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize Alongside the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction and the Giller Prize, it is considered one of the three main awards for Canadian fiction in English."Who wins Canada’s literary prizes — and why". Maclean's, October 26, 2016. Its eligibility criteria allow for it to garland collections of short stories as well as novels; works that were originally written and published in French are also eligible for the award when they appear in English translation.
The award was first presented in 1997. It was renamed in January 2021, in order to honour the Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson."Writers' Trust renames fiction prize after co-founders and couple Atwood and Gibson". CTV News, January 27, 2021. Concurrently with the renaming, the prize package was increased from $50,000 to $60,000, matching the amount currently presented by its sibling, the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.K. J. Aiello, "Will a Writers’ Trust award honouring Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson mark the beginning of a hopeful year for writers?". The Globe and Mail, January 27, 2021. The prize is sponsored by Jim Balsillie.
Nominees and recipients YearJuryAuthorTitleResultRef. 1997 Matt CohenElisabeth HarvorAnn IrelandAustin ClarkeThe Origin of WavesWinner"Literary Prizes Awarded". Ottawa Citizen, January 20, 1998.Elizabeth HaySmall Change Shortlist "Govier takes Engel prize". The Globe and Mail, November 20, 1997.Brian MooreThe Magician's WifeMordecai RichlerBarney's VersionJane UrquhartThe Underpainter1998Joan ClarkAustin ClarkeTrevor FergusonGreg HollingsheadThe HealerWinnerVal Ross, "Writers awarded $10,000 prizes". The Globe and Mail, January 19, 1999.André AlexisChildhood Shortlist "Butala wins Engel prize". The Globe and Mail, November 20, 1998.Barbara GowdyThe White BoneWayne JohnstonThe Colony of Unrequited DreamsAlice MunroThe Love of a Good Woman1999Lynn CoadySylvia FraserEric WrightPeter OlivaThe City of YesWinner Aida Edamariam, "Toronto historian, Calgary novelist honoured by their peers: Writers' trust awards". National Post, March 30, 2000.Caroline AddersonA History of Forgetting Shortlist "Nominations announced". The Globe and Mail, February 9, 2000.Elyse GascoCan You Wave Bye Bye, Baby?Judy MacDonaldJaneAlistair MacLeodNo Great Mischief2000Cynthia HolzJanice Kulyk KeeferPeter OlivaHelen HumphreysAfterimageWinner"Writers' Trust awards named: Prizes mark Canadian achievements". Sudbury Star, March 6, 2001.Todd BabiakChoke Hold Shortlist "Finalists named for Writer's Trust prizes". Niagara Falls Review, February 3, 2001.Lynn CoadyPlay the Monster BlindDouglas Glover16 Categories of DesireMichael WinterThis All Happened2001Lesley ChoyceEliza ClarkOlive SeniorMargaret SweatmanWhen Alice Lay Down with PeterWinner Judy Stoffman, "Seven authors win big prizes; Levine, Blaise, Hay among those honoured in T.O.". Toronto Star, March 6, 2002.Alice MunroHateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage Shortlist "Double nominations in Writers' Trust awards". The Telegram, February 17, 2002.Elizabeth RuthTen Good Seconds of SilenceTimothy TaylorStanley ParkThomas WhartonSalamander2002Joan BarfootBrian BrettSarah SheardPaulette JilesEnemy WomenWinner "Manitoulin author among award winners". Sault Star, March 8, 2003.Terry GriggsRogues' Wedding Shortlist "Finalists named for Writers' Trust Awards". The Globe and Mail, February 12, 2003.Ann IrelandExileLori LansensRush Home RoadNino RicciTestament2003Kevin ChongLisa MooreDiane SchoemperlenKevin PattersonCountry of ColdWinner Anne-Marie Tobin, "Writers from across Canada receive literary awards". The Western Star, March 6, 2004.Jacqueline BakerA Hard Witching & Other Stories Shortlist Judy Stoffman, "Overlooked books make shortlist". Toronto Star, February 4, 2004.Gil CourtemancheA Sunday at the Pool in KigaliBarbara GowdyThe RomanticJudith McCormackThe Rule of Last Clear Chance2004Sylvia FraserZsuzsi GartnerMichael Redhill Alice MunroRunawayWinner Judy Stoffman, "Engel 'knocked out' by honour; Sleuth writer cops Matt Cohen prize Seven, in all, feted by Writers Trust". Toronto Star, March 10, 2005.Michael HelmIn the Place of Last Things Shortlist "Munro, Newman among finals for literary awards". Peterborough Examiner, February 5, 2005.Colin McAdamSome Great ThingJeffrey MooreThe Memory ArtistsRussell SmithMuriella Pent2005Anita Rau BadamiLewis DeSotoMary SwanJoseph BoydenThree Day RoadWinner "Joseph Boyden, John Vaillant glean Writers' Trust Awards". Sault Star, March 2, 2006.Michael CrummeyThe Wreckage Shortlist "Crummey in running for national prize". The Telegram, February 3, 2006.Lauren B. DavisThe Radiant CityAllan DonaldsonMacleanRabindranath MaharajA Perfect Pledge2006Karen ConnellyJeffrey MooreAnna Porter Kenneth J. HarveyInsideWinner "N.L. writer's 'Inside' wins fiction prize". Telegraph-Journal, March 8, 2007.Peter BehrensThe Law of Dreams Shortlist Pat Donnelly, "Hage, Behrens face off again". Montreal Gazette, February 8, 2007.Rawi HageDe Niro's GameCatherine HanrahanLost Girls and Love HotelsMary LawsonThe Other Side of the Bridge2007Kevin MajorKim MoritsuguMadeleine ThienLawrence HillThe Book of NegroesWinner James Adams, "Lawrence Hill, Anna Porter win Writers' Trust Awards". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 2008.Shaena LambertRadiance Shortlist "Writer's Trust contenders named". Harbour City Star, March 1, 2008.Robert HoughThe CulpritsNancy HustonFault LinesM.G. VassanjiThe Assassin's Song2008Lawrence HillAnnabel LyonHeather O'Neill Miriam ToewsThe Flying TroutmansWinner Mark Medley, "Winnipeg novelist wins Writers' Trust Fiction Prize; Miriam Toews takes $25,000 award for her road-trip story The Flying Troutmans". Winnipeg Free Press, November 18, 2008.Rivka GalchenAtmospheric Disturbances Shortlist "Who's in the running for some of this year's big awards". Montreal Gazette, October 25, 2008.Rawi HageCockroachLee HendersonThe Man GamePatrick LaneRed Dog, Red Dog2009Marina EndicottMiriam ToewsR.M. VaughanAnnabel LyonThe Golden MeanWinner Mark Medley, "Ontario-born B.C. writer Annabel Lyon wins fiction prize for The Golden Mean". CanWest News Service, November 24, 2009.Nicole BrossardFences in Breathing Shortlist "Munro, Coupland on fiction shortlist for Writer's Trust prizes". Edmonton Journal, October 1, 2009.Douglas CouplandGeneration AAlice MunroToo Much HappinessAndrew SteinmetzEva's Threepenny Theatre2010Andrew PyperEden RobinsonLisa MooreEmma DonoghueRoomWinner Mark Medley, "Emma Donoghue wins Writers' Trust Fiction Prize". Vancouver Sun, November 3, 2010.Trevor ColePractical Jean Shortlist John Barber, "Emma Donoghue, Kathleen and Michael Winter among finalists for Writers' Trust". The Globe and Mail, September 29, 2010.Michael HelmCities of RefugeKathleen WinterAnnabelMichael WinterThe Death of Donna Whalen2011Emma DonoghueRabindranath MaharajMargaret SweatmanPatrick deWittThe Sisters BrothersWinner Mark Medley, "Patrick deWitt wins Writers' Trust Fiction Prize". Postmedia News, November 2, 2011.Clark BlaiseThe Meagre Tarmac Shortlist John Barber, "Edugyan, deWitt on Writers' Trust short list". The Globe and Mail, September 29, 2011.Michael ChristieThe Beggar's GardenEsi EdugyanHalf-Blood BluesDan VyletaThe Quiet Twin2012Esi EdugyanLynn CoadyDrew Hayden TaylorTamas DobozySiege 13WinnerMark Medley, "Tamas Dobozy wins Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize for Siege 13". National Post, November 7, 2012.Tim BowlingThe Tinsmith Shortlist "Rawi Hage among finalists for Rogers Writers' Trust of Canada Fiction Prize". Canadian Press, September 19, 2012.Rawi HageCarnivalAlix OhlinInsideLinda SpaldingThe Purchase2013Caroline AddersonAlison PickMiguel Syjuco Colin McAdamA Beautiful TruthWinner Dianne Rinehart, "Colin McAdam wins Writers' Trust prize: A Beautiful Truth captures the story of family, belonging, and survival". Toronto Star, November 21, 2013.Krista BridgeThe Eliot Girls Shortlist "Writers Moore, Coady shortlisted". Windsor Star, October 1, 2013.Lynn CoadyHellgoingCary FaganA Bird's EyeLisa MooreCaught2014Neil BissoondathGeorge MurrayHelen HumphreysMiriam ToewsAll My Puny SorrowsWinner André AlexisPastoral Shortlist Victoria Ahearn, "Carrie Snyder, Miriam Toews among finalists for Writers' Trust Fiction Prize". Canadian Press, October 1, 2014.Steven GallowayThe ConfabulistK. D. MillerAll SaintsCarrie SnyderGirl Runner2015Aislinn HunterShani MootooRichard WagameseAndré AlexisFifteen DogsWinnerElizabeth HayHis Whole Life Shortlist Pamela MordecaiRed JacketRussell SmithConfidenceJohn VaillantThe Jaguar's Children2016Lauren B. DavisTrevor FergusonPasha Malla Yasuko ThanhMysterious Fragrance of the Yellow MountainsWinnerMichael HelmAfter James Shortlist Sadaf Ahsan, "Writers' Trust of Canada announces five finalists". National Post, September 22, 2016.Anosh IraniThe ParcelKerry Lee PowellWillem de Kooning's PaintbrushKatherena VermetteThe Break2017Michael ChristieChristy Ann ConlinTracey LindbergDavid ChariandyBrotherWinnerCarleigh BakerBad Endings Shortlist Mark Medley, "David Chariandy, Omar El Akkad among finalists for Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize". The Globe and Mail, September 30, 2017.Claire CameronThe Last NeanderthalOmar El AkkadAmerican WarLeanne Betasamosake SimpsonThis Accident of Being Lost2018Ann Y. K. ChoiMireille SilcoffRobert WiersemaKathy PageDear EvelynWinner "Kathy Page, Elizabeth Hay among Writers' Trust winners". Toronto Sun, November 8, 2018.Craig DavidsonThe Saturday Night Ghost Club Shortlist "Writers' Trust to hand out total $260,000 in prizes for literary excellence". National Post, November 7, 2018.Esi EdugyanWashington BlackRawi HageBeirut Hellfire SocietyJen NealeLand Mammals and Sea Creatures2019Dennis BockMichael KaanSuzette MayrAndré AlexisDays by MoonlightWinnerSharon ButalaSeason of Fury and Wonder Shortlist Michael CrummeyThe InnocentsTéa MutonjiShut Up, You're PrettyAlix OhlinDual Citizens2020Elisabeth de MariaffiWaubgeshig RiceYasuko ThanhGil AdamsonRidgerunnerWinnerZsuzsi GartnerThe Beguiling Shortlist Michelle GoodFive Little IndiansThomas KingIndians on VacationMaria RevaGood Citizens Need Not Fear2021Rebecca FissehaMichelle GoodSteven PriceKatherena VermetteThe StrangersWinnerRivka GalchenEveryone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch Shortlist Alix OhlinWe Want What We WantMiriam ToewsFight NightGuy VanderhaegheAugust Into Winter2022David BergenNorma DunningAndrew ForbesNicholas HerringSome HellishWinnerRima Elkouri (tr. Phyllis Aronoff, Howard Scott)Manam Shortlist Kevin Lambert (tr. Donald Winkler)Querelle of RobervalDarcy TamayoseEzra's GhostsSaeed TeebiHer First Palestinian2023Francesca EkwuyasiAlix HawleyM. G. Vassanji Kai Thomas In the Upper Country Winner Emma Donoghue Learned by Heart Shortlist Amanda Peters The Berry Pickers Michelle Porter A Grandmother Begins the Story Thomas Wharton The Book of Rain2024Saeed TeebiJoan ThomasUchechukwu Peter Umezurike Sheung-King Batshit Seven Winner Éric Chacour (tr. Pablo Strauss) What I Know About You Shortlist Conor Kerr Prairie Edge Canisia Lubrin Code Noir Fawn Parker Hi, It's Me2025Gary BarwinAli BryanJasmine Sealy Maria Reva Endling Winner Tim Bowling Graveyard Shift at the Lemonade Stand Shortlist Robert McGill Simple Creatures Otoniya J. Okot Bitek We, the Kindling Aurora Stewart de Peña Julius Julius2026David Chariandy Conor Kerr Kathleen Winter Zak Jones Fancy Gap Shortlist Téa Mutonji My Person Lisa Robertson Riverwork Blair Palmer Yoxall Treat Them As Buffalo Ashraf Zaghal Seven Heavens Away
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