A new boycott campaign is out amidst growing controversy for the coveted $100,000 Canadian literary award— The Giller Prize.
Past-winners, current nominations and readers have spent the past year demanding the Giller Foundation cut ties to sponsors like Scotiabank, Indigo and the Azrieli Foundation, speaking out critically.
CanLit Responds have argued, Scotiabank has millions of dollars invested in an Israeli arms dealer, prompting nearly 40 authors to pull their books from the running this year.
In response, the Giller Foundation dropped Scotiabank from the prize’s name, but the foundation still kept them on as a sponsor. They released a statement in July saying the partnership will continue as it’s allowed them “to significantly elevate Canadian authors and their works.” However, organizers say as a result of the boycott, Scotiabank made a $400 million divestment from Elbit Systems, the Israeli arms manufacturer.
Farzana Doctor, an author and social worker, withdrew their book, The Beauty of Us, from consideration this year. They sit down with us to talk about what it meant for them to pull their novel. Meanwhile, the competition is still ongoing, with the winner set to be announced on Nov. 18.
