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BC, Alberta and Quebec authors to be honoured this weekend
Ottawa , October 30, 2008 – The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences will be presenting its annual Scholarly Book Prizes to four authors at an awards ceremony which will take place in Ottawa on November 1, 2008 . These prizes recognize significant research contributions to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of Canadian society.
“From aboriginal engagement in post-Confederation society and the emergence of a Canadian conservation movement to a portrait of one of Quebec’s most influential intellectuals and the impact of art on national identity, these books represent some of the finest work by Canadian authors in recent years,” said Jim Frideres, professor of sociology at the University of Calgary and Chair of the selection committee. “Their innovative perspectives on Canadian society bring new insight into who we are as a people, and help us understand the events that have contributed to shape our modern nation.”
Tina Loo is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of British Columbia and the recipient of the Harold Adams Innis Prize for best English work in the social sciences. Her book States of Nature: Protecting Canadian Wildlife in the Twentieth Century explores the rise of the modern environmental movement, ranging from the reliance on and practical knowledge of wildlife demonstrated by rural people to the scientific approach of today’s state-sponsored environmentalism. Her book is published by UBC Press.
The Raymond Klibansky Prize for best English work in the humanities is awarded to Leslie Dawn, an associate professor in the Department of Art at the University of Lethbridge, for his book entitled National Visions, National Blindness: Canadian Art and Identities in the 1920s. In the early 20th century, visual arts were considered central to the formation of a distinctive Canadian identity and the Group of Seven’s landscapes became part of a larger program to unify the nation and assert its uniqueness. Using newly discovered archival evidence, his book traces the emergence of a young nation. His book is published by UBC Press.
Claude Gélinas is a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the Université de Sherbrooke. He is the recipient of the Prix Jean-Charles-Falardeau for best French work in the social sciences. Entitled Les autochtones dans le Québec post-confédéral, 1867-1960, his book challenges common perceptions of indigenous people, highlighting their high degree of mobility, autonomy and participation in the Province’s society and economy. His book is published by Septentrion.
A professor of literature in the Université du Québec à Montréal, Denise Brassard, is the recipient of the Prix Raymond-Klibansky for best French work in the humanities. Entitled Le souffle du passage: Poésie et essai chez Fernand Ouellette, her book examines the evolution of this influential poet, novelist and essayist taking into account the life experiences that influenced his body of work. Her book is published by vlb éditeur.
The winners were selected from among the titles that have received funding over the past year through the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and administered by the Federation.
Representing more than 50,000 researchers in 66 scholarly associations, 73 universities and colleges, and seven affiliates across the country, the Federation is the voice of Canada’s humanities and social sciences community.
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Visit our Photo gallery of the Federation’s awards ceremony honouring four Canadian authors and their publishers: www.fedcan.ca/asppbookprize08/
For more information:
Caitlin Kealey - Manager, Communications
(613) 238-6112 , ext. 353
(613) 513-9756 (cell)
ckealey@fedcan.ca
www.fedcan.ca
