The Giller Foundation announces transformational gift to expand year-round programming and support Canada’s established and emerging literary voices

​Gift made by The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation in honour of the late Hilary M. Weston

 
August 10, 2026 (Toronto, ON) — The Giller Foundation is pleased to announce a new, multi-year gift of $4 million, expanding support for Canadian authors and literature.

As Canada’s leading award for fiction writing, the Giller Prize plays an important role in celebrating Canadian writers, writing and storytelling about lived and imagined experiences. This investment will help broaden the prize’s reach and impact by increasing support for Canadian authors, expanding a national book tour featuring shortlisted authors, and enhancing digital engagement and book club programming.
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This gift, from The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, is being made in honour of the late Hilary M. Weston and is a continuation of her enduring commitment to see Canadian writers supported, celebrated and widely read. An author herself, Mrs. Weston was an ardent, lifelong supporter of Canadian writers and literature. She believed that the art of writing in its many forms is essential to understanding our world and each other. This gift builds on a previous contribution of $1 million from the Weston family.
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“As both an author and a champion of the literary arts, our mother understood the power of storytelling to expand our thinking and help us make sense of the world around us,” said Alannah Weston. “This gift reflects her enduring commitment to literature and Canadian voices, and to ensuring they are supported, celebrated and widely shared for years to come.”
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“This gift will help ensure that Canadian writers and their stories continue to shape and strengthen our national identity,” said Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director of The Giller Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation whose generosity will help advance our mission to celebrate and support Canadian authors, while honouring the remarkable legacy of Hilary Weston, a true champion of Canadian literature.”
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A Legacy of Literary Excellence
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Founded in 1994 by the late Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, Doris Giller, the Giller Prize has grown into one of Canada’s most influential literary awards.
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Today, the prize awards $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each finalist, with a total annual purse of $140,000. Beyond financial recognition, shortlisted and longlisted authors benefit from increased readership, national visibility and expanded opportunities.
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Speaking to the impact of the prize, Margaret Atwood said, “The Giller Prize is a vital force in Canada’s literary world. The ‘Giller Effect’ is real – authors, publishers and booksellers alike are buoyed by its enduring impact.”
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Eddy Boudel Tan, shortlisted for the 2025 Giller Prize for his novel, The Tiger and the Cosmonaut, said, “The Giller Prize is a splendid celebration of the stories that move, challenge, and entertain us as a nation. It has been an honour to join the many remarkable authors who have been uplifted over the years.”
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Looking Ahead
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The Giller Foundation will continue its year-round programming through virtual book clubs, author events and readings, culminating in the announcement of the 2026 longlist and shortlist in the fall, a national tour featuring the shortlisted authors, and the annual award ceremony on November 16, 2026.
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The Foundation continues to welcome titles from Canadian publishers in advance of the final submissions deadline on August 14, 2026.
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For more information on submissions to the Giller Prize, please visit: gillerprize.ca/submission-guidelines.
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For more information please contact:

Rosemary Thompson
Communications Advisor, The Giller Foundation
rosemary@artfulstrategies.ca
(613) 240-6739