The Giller Foundation Launches New Initiatives to Foster Literary Community
July 27, 2026 (Toronto, ON) – The Giller Foundation is thrilled to announce two new initiatives to build on its commitment to the literary community and to help support some of the most vulnerable populations in Canada.
Giller Prize Writers’ Circle
In an effort to strengthen ties with the literary community, the Foundation has created the Giller Prize Writers’ Circle; an advisory panel composed of an exceptional group of award-winning Canadian writers, playwrights, journalists, documentarians and historians.
The Writers’ Circle will serve as an advisory body to The Giller Foundation and to the Executive Director, offering perspectives and guidance to help shape the Foundation’s approach to supporting the Canadian writing community in ways that are inclusive, impactful, respectful and meaningful.
The group brings together six distinguished Canadians recognized for their creativity and achievements: Eric Dupont, Charlotte Gray, Ann-Marie MacDonald, William Ping, Tanya Talaga, and Kai Thomas. Please view their headshots and biographies at gillerprize.ca/giller-prize-writers-circle.
The Circle is a living, breathing, evolving group. We will invite new members with different perspectives as we move forward.
The Circle will meet regularly to consider how best to serve and strengthen the literary community, and to support the Foundation’s mission of championing and amplifying Canadian writers and Canadian literature.
Book Clubs for Inmates
The Foundation also announces a new partnership with Book Clubs for Inmates (BCFI), a registered Canadian charity founded in 2008 that brings volunteer-led book clubs and ChIRP (the Children of Inmates Reading Program) into correctional facilities across the country.
“Book Clubs for Inmates celebrates with gratitude The Giller Foundation’s commitment to ensuring the availability of outstanding Canadian literature in prison libraries across Canada. We know these books will be eagerly read, deeply appreciated, and powerfully transformative.”
– Tom Best, Executive Director of Book Clubs for Inmates
“We’re honoured to partner with Book Clubs for Inmates by providing books to libraries in penitentiaries across Canada. We are deeply inspired by the extraordinary work they do, harnessing the catalytic power of literature to change lives while embracing the humanizing power of dialogue to build understanding, dignity, and connection.”
– Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director, The Giller Foundation.
Book Clubs for Inmates exists to improve literacy, empathy and help members integrate better into society once they have served their sentences. A BCFI study showed that 85% of inmates report that book clubs improve their reading skills, 90% report that book clubs improve their communication skills, and 93% reported that being part of a book club helped them not to re-offend.
Together, these initiatives reflect the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to nurturing Canada’s literary community, broadening access to reading, and supporting programs that use books to build connection, insight, and empathy.
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For more information, please contact:
Rosemary Thompson
Communications Advisor
Giller Foundation
(613) 240-6739
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Important Dates
- Submission Deadline 1:
February 13, 2026 - Submission Deadline 2:
April 17, 2026 - Submission Deadline 3:
June 19, 2026 - Submission Deadline 4:
August 14, 2026
