2024 SCHEDULE

Giller Power Panels

2024 SCHEDULE

Giller Power Panels

About the Giller Power Panels

Since its inception in 2021, the Giller Power Panels have pulled together creatives with a moderator to discuss pressing issues of our time. Past panels include topics like institutional bias in publishing BIPOC writers, writing while female, Indigenous identity through writing, and many more.

How to Participate

Receive regular updates about the
Giller Power Panels

Register to attend the
one-hour conversations

Tune in to the live interviews
and ask questions.

Past Giller Power Panels

Scroll down to enjoy past Giller Power Panels.

Giller Power Panel: The End is Nigh – Apocalyptic Canadian Fiction

Murder! Horror! Mystery! The Appeal of Genre Fiction

June 7, 2023
The panelists explored their chosen genre and what keeps readers coming back for more.

Moderator: Linwood Barclay
Panelists: Daniel Kalla, Sheena Kamal, Shari Lapena, Rick Mofina, Marissa Stapley

Apocalyptic Canadian Fiction

The End is Nigh – Apocalyptic Canadian Fiction

May 17, 2023
These authors discuss the apocalyptic fiction genre and where they look for inspiration.

Moderator: Omar El Akkad
Panelists: Larissa Lai, Thea Lim, Saleema Nawaz, and Waubgeshig Rice

Banned Books

Banned Books – Censorship and the Erasure of History and Experience

April 25, 2023
Every day more books are being challenged or removed from bookshelves. Listen in as these experts discuss the importance of free speech.

Moderator: Peter Midgley
Panelists: Matt Abbott, Arlene Perly Rae, Raziel Reid, and David Robertson

So You Want to Get Published

So You Want to Get Published…

March 28, 2023
Want to get published but you don’t know where to start? Learn from the pros who make it happen.

Moderator: Alana Wilcox
Panelists: Graham Angus, Nurjehan Aziz, Jared Bland, Tori Elliott, Brian Lam, and Robin Philpot

East Coast Style

East Coast Style

February 22, 2023
Listen in as these East Coast storytellers talk about their craft and what sets them apart from the rest of Canada.

Moderator: Tom Power
Panelists: Amanda Carvery, Megan Gail Coles, Mark Critch, Michael Crummey, and Andre Fenton.

Judging a Book by its Cover

Judging a Book by its Cover

January 31, 2023
Learn about the creative process behind the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist book covers.

Moderator: Elana Rabinovitch
Panelists: Kimberly Glyder, Jennifer Griffiths, Lisa Jager, Ingrid Paulson, and Crystal Sikma.

Indigenous Voices Transforming CanLit

Indigenous Voices Transforming CanLit

June 13, 2022
Celebrating National Indigenous History Month…

Moderator: Elana Rabinovitch
Panelists: Carleigh Baker, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Alicia Elliott and Clayton Thomas-Müller

From Page to Screen

From Page to Screen

May 3, 2022
The May panel will explore how books are adapted to the big and small screen, how the writer is involved (or not) in the process, how much control they can exert over the final product, how a book gets optioned, and more.

Moderator: Richard Crouse
Panelists: Margaret Atwood, Emma Donoghue, Sarah Polley, Clement Virgo

Less is More – The Art of the Short Story

Less is More – The Art of the Short Story

April 12, 2022
This Giller Power Panel focuses on the unique structural elements of short stories and explores the subtleties and drama of the form.

Moderator: Alexander MacLeod
Panelists: Sharon Bala, David Bezmozgis, Téa Mutonji, Daniel Sarah Karasik, Richard Van Camp

A Demon in the House – Subverting the Gender Binary in Women’s Writing

A Demon in the House – Subverting the Gender Binary in Women’s Writing

March 15, 2022
This panel focuses on where women’s writing fits in a male-dominated authorial and publishing world, women’s work outside of their writing, and the media’s role in promoting – or not – women’s books.

Moderator: Susan Swan
Panelists: Mona Awad, Heather O’Neill, Jael Richardson, Tanya Talaga, Kim Thúy

AfriCanLit – Contours & Conflicts

AfriCanLit – Contours & Conflicts

February 15, 2022
This panel focuses on writers’ craft, the relationship between art, community and politics, and some of the interesting debates/discussions happening within contemporary Black life.

Moderator: Scott Fraser
Panelists: Donna Bailey Nurse, Antonio Michael Downing, Francesca Ekwuyasi, H. Nigel Thomas

The Art & Craft of Book Cover Design

The Art & Craft of Book Cover Design

January 17, 2022
This panel focuses on the designers behind award-winning cover art design, an oft-obscure group that create the pictures on the covers of books we buy and love. They will give viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into a sometimes-misunderstood art form.

Moderator: Lisa Jager
Panelists: Kelly Blair, Laura Boyle, Kelly Hill, Jack Smyth

Black Writers’ Experience Publishing in Canada

Black Writers’ Experience Publishing in Canada

February 16, 2021
This panel celebrates and honours Black History Month with a discussion about the experiences of Black authors in Canada.

Moderator: Cecil Foster
Panelists: Chelene Knight, Zalika Reid-Benta, Rinaldo Walcott, Ian Williams

The Perils of Publishing While Female

The Perils of Publishing While Female

March 22, 2021
The panel explores the challenges facing women writers in Canada, across age, race, and background.

Moderator: Judith Pereira
Panelists: Karma Brown, Téa Mutonji, Susan Swan

Graphic Novels Take Centre Stage

Graphic Novels Take Centre Stage

April 19, 2021
The panel explores the art and culture of graphic novels as well as dive into what has made them so popular in the last decade.

Moderator: Michael Redhill
Panelists: Johnnie Christmas, Meags Fitzgerald, Lorina Mapa, Seth

Asian-Canadian Writers Share Their Stories

Asian-Canadian Writers Share Their Stories

May 31, 2021
The panel explores individual stories, the rising tide of hate crimes against Asian Canadians and how their experiences have shaped their writing.

Moderator: Ali Hassan
Panelists: Philip Huynh, Maria Qamar, Kerri Sakamoto, Yasuko Thanh

ndigenous Authors Explore Identity Through Language

Indigenous Authors Explore Identity Through Language

June 21, 2021
The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the co-opting of voice, indigeneity during a pandemic, surviving trauma and more

Moderator: Duncan McCue
Panelists: Cherie Dimaline, Drew Hayden Taylor, Waubgeshig Rice, Katherena Vermette

Canada’s Leading 2SLGBTQ+ Voices

Canada’s Leading 2SLGBTQ+ Voices

July 12, 2021
The conversation explores the emergence of marginalized authors and artists in the world of literature.

Moderator: Kama La Mackerel
Panelists: Arielle Twist, Catherine Hernandez, Joshua Whitehead, Lormier Shenher

Beyond Words: The Art of Translation

Beyond Words: The Art of Translation

August 9, 2021
The conversation explores the art of translation.

Moderator: Eric Dupont
Panelists: Katia Grubisic, Peter McCambridge, Rhonda Mullins, Susan Ouriou

FAQ’s

Have a question about how to participate in the Giller Power Panels? Browse through the FAQ below.
If we’ve missed something, please email us at info [at] scotiabankgillerprize.ca!

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