In my previous post, I mentioned members of our Shadow Giller jury were participating in other projects other than the Shadow Giller. This year it has been determined there will be a pause on our Shadow Giller activities. This is due to a mix of personal feelings and professional obligations.
There are professional obligations that are not allowing us to dedicate time to Shadow Giller duties and speaking just for myself, my work load and expectations this year have been overwhelming and will increase to a hyper-pitch level this Fall. Therefore any attention I would be able to devote to the Giller Prize reading lists will be quite challenged. I know the other jury members also have exciting professional opportunities this year requiring their time and energy as well.
Additionally, there are personal reasons for Shadow Giller members wishing to pause their participation. These personal reasons are perhaps the largest reason for this pause. A source of sadness comes with our non-participation this year and that source is the inability to reconcile Scotiabank’s involvement with the prize. The Giller Prize has also stated they will continue to have Scotiabank as their main sponsor. The Winnipeg Free Press article outlines this here: Giller Prize to stick with Scotiabank as sponsor, despite mounting calls to drop it – Winnipeg Free Press
This sponsorship continues to overshadow Canada’s most prestigious literary prize. The Walrus published an article on the tension corporate sponsorship brings and the numerous calls to cut those ties: How the Giller Prize Became Associated with Genocide | The Walrus
As there will be no active work on the Shadow Giller this year, any announcements or reading from their lists won’t appear on its social media pages. If I read something from the lists, it would be reviewed here, and done so in my own personal capacity.
Thank you for your understanding,
