The Toronto Book Awards are Canadian literary awards, presented annually by the City of Toronto government to the author of the year's best fiction or non-fiction book or books "that are evocative of Toronto". The award is presented in the fall of each year, with its advance promotional efforts including a series of readings by the nominated authors at each year's The Word on the Street festival.
Each author shortlisted for the award receives $2,000, and the winner or winners receive the balance of $20,000.
The award has frequently gone to multiple winners. 1987 was the first time in the history of the award that only a single winner was named.
Winners and nominees
1970s +Toronto Book Awards winners and finalists, 1974-1979YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1974O TorontoWinner William French, "City politics to city prose". The Globe and Mail, April 18, 1974.Mayor HowlandWinnerIn the Middle of a LifeWinner and Joseph ErnstFinalist William French, "CanLit rising". The Globe and Mail, April 9, 1974.Storm of FortuneFinalistRichard Howard and Helmut Weyerstrahs, Passengers Must Not Ride on FenderFinalistFinalistCitiesFinalist1975Halfway Up ParnassusWinner Roy MacSkimming, "Margaret Laurence to receive country's top literary prize". Toronto Star, April 29, 1975.Women at WorkWinnerWinnerSick KidsFinalist Roy MacSkimming, "Author's guerrilla satire a dismal flop". Toronto Star, April 3, 1975.Canadian Healing OilFinalistFinalistAlligator Pie - Nicholas KnockFinalistAlbert Franck: His Life, Times and WorkFinalist1976 and Harold TroperImmigrants: A Portrait of the Urban Experience 1890-1930Winner Margaret Worthington, "Smelly classroom tale has a happy ending". Toronto Star, May 10, 1976.WinnerFinalist FinalistFinalistPoet CopFinalistGabrielFinalist and Angela WoodFinalist1977Lady OracleWinner Ken Adachi, "Literary mistress-of-all-trades Atwood shares $3,000 book prize". Toronto Star, February 18, 1977.WinnerTrillium and Toronto IslandFinalist FinalistWhen I Was YoungFinalistFinalistFinalist1978 and H. V. NellesWinner Zena Cherry, "Toronto gives merit awards". The Globe and Mail, March 6, 1978.WinnerFinalist Ken Adachi, "City's $3,000 competition drew 38 titles". Toronto Star, February 17, 1978.Close to the Sun AgainFinalist and Barbara AmielBy Persons UnknownFinalist1979Winner Ken Adachi, "3 authors share $5,000 prize from the city". Toronto Star, February 20, 1979.Lost TorontoWinnerFun TomorrowWinnerNo Man's Meat and The Enchanted PimpFinalist FinalistFinalistFinalistLandmarks of Canadian ArtFinalistCity BoysFinalist
1980s +Toronto Book Awards winners and finalists, 1980-1989YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1980Hanging InWinner Ken Adachi, "Souster's prize well-deserved". Toronto Star, March 9, 1980.WinnerFrom Front Street to Queen's Park: The Story of Ontario's Parliament BuildingsFinalist William French, "Balls! review sparks libel action". The Globe and Mail, February 12, 1980.Life Before ManFinalistEverything in the WindowFinalistReservoir RavineFinalistUpper Canada College 1928-1979: Colbourne's LegacyFinalistMemoirs of an Art DealerFinalist1981Big Daddy: Frederick G. Gardiner and the Building of Metropolitan TorontoWinner "Three books tie for Toronto prize". The Globe and Mail, March 5, 1981.Young Mr. Smith in Upper CanadaWinnerBasic Black with PearlsWinnerToronto Workers Respond to Industrial Capitalism, 1867-1892Finalist FinalistJarvis Street: A Story of Triumph and TragedyFinalistFinal ThingsFinalist1982Winner "Engel, Bissell share $5,000". The Globe and Mail, February 25, 1982.Lunatic VillasWinnerFinalist I Remember SunnysideFinalistThat Scatterbrain BookyFinalistRemembering the DonFinalist with Scott YoungIf You Can't Beat 'Em in the AlleyFinalist1983Winner "Story of insulin wins Toronto book award". Toronto Star, February 25, 1983.WinnerFinalist and John LennoxWilliam Arthur Deacon: A Canadian Literary LifeFinalistFinalist1984 Toronto in ArtWinner "Three writers share book award". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1984.David Boyle: From Artisan to ArchaeologistWinnerWinnerFinalist FinalistEunice Dyke: Health Care PioneerFinalist1985Who Goes to the ParkWinner "Three authors share city award". Toronto Star, March 1, 1985.Toronto to 1918WinnerWinnerSir John Beverley RobinsonFinalist William French, "Awards plagued by controversy". The Globe and Mail, February 12, 1985. and Merlyn McKelveyToronto: Carved in StoneFinalistE.J. Pratt: The Truant Years 1882-1927FinalistForging a ConsensusFinalist1986Our Lady of the SnowsWinner "Davies, Callaghan share prize". Toronto Star, February 28, 1986.What's Bred in the BoneWinnerDigging Up the MountainsFinalist "Finalists announced for book awards". Toronto Star, January 22, 1986.Spadina AvenueFinalistToronto Since 1918: An Illustrated HistoryFinalistToronto Architecture: A City GuideFinalist1987 and William KilbournToronto Observed: Its Architecture, Patrons and HistoryWinner "Architectural book takes civic award". The Globe and Mail, May 1, 1987.Sir Charles God Damn: The Life of Sir Charles G.D. RobertsFinalist Twelve Weeks in SpringFinalistFinalistNot a One-Horse Town: 125 Years of Toronto and Its StreetcarsFinalistHospital: Life and Death in a Major Medical CentreFinalist1988In the Skin of a LionWinner Ken Adachi, "Michael Ondaatje's novel wins city prize". Toronto Star, April 22, 1988.Finalist H.J. Kirchhoff, "Finalists named for book awards". The Globe and Mail, February 25, 1988. and William ShaffirFinalistNever Let Go: The Tragedy of Kristy McFarlaneFinalistMortal SinsFinalist1989Cat's EyeWinner "Atwood takes Toronto book prize". The Globe and Mail, April 27, 1989.Finalist "Three double nominees for major book awards". Toronto Star, February 28, 1989.Best Seat in the HouseFinalistFinalistToronto The Way It WasFinalistFinalistFinalist
1990s +Toronto Book Awards winners and finalists, 1990-1999YearAuthorTitleResultRef.1990Double Take: The Story of the Elgin and Winter Garden TheatresWinner "Novelist, historian take book prizes". The Globe and Mail, April 26, 1990.HomesickWinnerNorthrop FryeFinalist "Contest finalists announced". Toronto Star, February 28, 1990.Memories of MargaretFinalistFinalistHarriet's DaughterFinalistDear MFinalist1991 and Robert MacDonald (eds.)Streets of Attitude: Toronto StoriesWinner Philip Marchand, "Short stories collection wins Toronto book prize". Toronto Star, May 23, 1991.City Hall and Mrs. God: A Passionate Journey Through a Changing TorontoFinalist "Toronto Book Awards finalists named". Toronto Star, April 3, 1991.Say to the Darkness, We Beg to DifferFinalist and Johnny WalesFinalistFrom Police HeadquartersFinalistSt. Farb's DayFinalistTales for an Unknown CityFinalist1992Hearts of FlameWinner "Govier wins Toronto Book Award". Toronto Star, May 21, 1992.Wilderness TipsFinalist How Boys See GirlsFinalist and Regolo RicciCosimo CatFinalistBag BabiesFinalistFinalistNext of KinFinalist1993Voice-OverWinner Michael Smith, "Word on the Street festival celebrates 4th successful year". Toronto Star, September 27, 1993.China BluesWinnerPaint CansFinalist "T.O.'s Best Books". Toronto Star, September 21, 1993.Ellen/Elena/LunaFinalistNorth TorontoFinalist1994HeadhunterWinner "Findley's Headhunter wins book award". The Globe and Mail, September 27, 1994.Finalist "'94 book fair features words in the street". The Globe and Mail, September 17, 1994.FinalistMinus TimeFinalistFinalistIntimate GrandeurFinalist1995Sir Ernest MacMillan: The Importance of Being CanadianWinner "Schabas wins Toronto book award". Montreal Gazette, September 27, 1995.Finalist "Four book finalists named". Toronto Star, August 24, 1995.FinalistMoodie's TaleFinalist1996Shadow Maker: The Life of Gwendolyn MacEwenWinner "Biography wins Toronto Book award". The Globe and Mail, September 30, 1996.Finalist "City of Toronto Book Award finalists announced". Vancouver Sun, August 24, 1996.Accidental CityFinalistToronto the Wild, Field Notes of an Urban NaturalistFinalistFinalistFinalist1997Fugitive PiecesWinner Elizabeth Renzetti, "Fugitive Pieces collects award: Anne Michaels wins $15,000 book prize". The Globe and Mail, September 29, 1997.Chump ChangeFinalist FinalistLooks PerfectFinalistCrosstownFinalist1998Leaving EarthWinner "Humphreys wins book award for her first novel". The Globe and Mail, September 28, 1998.In the WingsFinalist "Book prize finalists named". Ottawa Citizen, September 3, 1998.In the Misleading Absence of LightFinalistThin IceFinalistDippersFinalistBuying on TimeFinalist1999Benedict AbroadWinner "Poet wins Toronto Award at literary festival". The Globe and Mail, September 27, 1999.OlympiaFinalist Jennifer Prittie, "Toronto Book Award shortlist chosen from 76 entries". National Post, September 9, 1999.Finalist and Chris ChambersWild MouseFinalistHome from the Vinyl CafeFinalist
2000s