Kyle Edwards wins Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction

By Canadian Press on November 6, 2025.

Anishinaabe journalist Kyle Edwards’ novel about a high school hockey team in north-end Winnipeg has won the Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction.

“Small Ceremonies,” which is Edwards’ debut, is a coming-of-age story about Indigenous brothers finding their way in the world.

The Canada Council for the Arts announced the seven winners this morning, each of whom receive $25,000.

The non-fiction winner is Claire Cameron for “How to Survive a Bear Attack,” in which she draws parallels between a fatal bear attack that captured her attention in 1991 and the rare genetic mutation that led to her cancer diagnosis.

The poetry award goes to Karen Solie for “Wellwater,” while “Rise, Red River” by Tara Beagan wins the drama prize and Jessica Moore’s translation of “Uiesh/Somewhere” by Joséphine Bacon won the French-to-English translation award.

“Tig” by Heather Smith wins the young people’s text award, while Tonya Simpson and Delreé Dumont won the young people’s illustrated books category for “This Land is a Lullaby.”

There are separate French-language categories for francophone writing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2025.

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press