Ontario’s most prestigious literary celebration returned this week as Ontario Creates announced the winners of the 2025 Trillium Book Awards at a ceremony hosted at the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library. Now in its 38th year, the Trillium Book Awards / Prix Trillium continue to honour excellence in both English and French-language literature while spotlighting homegrown authors and the publishers that bring their work to life.
Maurice Vellekoop took home the Trillium Book Award (English) for I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together, published by Random House Canada. The graphic memoir impressed the jury with its raw emotional honesty and vibrant visual storytelling. The book stood out among a competitive field of finalists:
- Wild Houses, Colin Barrett, McClelland & Stewart / Penguin Random House Canada
- My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us, Morgan Campbell, McClelland & Stewart / Penguin Random House Canada
- Code Noir, Canisia Lubrin, Alfred A. Knopf Canada / Penguin Random House Canada
- Who Will Bury You? And Other Stories, Chido Muchemwa, Astoria / House of Anansi Press
- (WINNER) – I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together, Maurice Vellekoop, Random House Canada / Penguin Random House Canada
In the French-language fiction category, Aristote Kavungu was awarded the Prix littéraire Trillium for Céline au Congo (Les Éditions du Boréal), a novel praised for its powerful exploration of postcolonial identity and the emotional depth of its central character. The finalists for the French-language prize included:
- (GAGNANT) – Céline au Congo, Aristote Kavungu, Les Éditions du Boréal
- Toronto jamais bleue, Marie-Hélène Larochelle (Leméac Éditeur)
- Le prince africain, le traducteur et le nazi, Didier Leclair (Éditions David)
- Un lourd prix à payer, Claire Ménard-Roussy (Éditions David)
- Nickel City Fifs : Une épopée queer sudburoise sur fond de trous, Alex Tétreault (Prise de parole)
The Trillium Book Award for Poetry (English) was awarded to Jake Byrne for DADDY, published by Brick Books. Byrne’s debut collection stood out for its exploration of gender, memory, and the often-complex dynamics of parental relationships. Finalists in the poetry category were:
- The Seventh Town of Ghosts, Faith Arkorful, McClelland & Stewart / Penguin Random House Canada
- (WINNER) – DADDY, Jake Byrne, Brick Books
- Terrarium, Matthew Walsh, icehouse poetry / Goose Lane Editions
In the French-language children’s literature category, Mireille Messier won Le Prix du livre jeunesse Trillium for Le bonnet magique, a whimsical tale published by Comme des géants. Other finalists included:
- Rose du désert, Michèle Laframboise (Éditions David)
- Le roi Poubelle, Eudes La Roche-Francoeur (Prise de parole)
- (GAGNANT) – Le bonnet magique, Mireille Messier (Comme des géants)
Juror Elyse Friedman, one of three English-language judges for this year’s awards, noted the scale of the task: “We each read over 200 submissions,” she said. “It was hard to narrow it down because we became passionate about the books we loved.” Friedman, herself a writer and educator, reflected on the importance of literary recognition in a time when arts coverage is shrinking: “These awards shine a spotlight at a time when authors need it most. People hear about these books—and hopefully pick them up and read them.”
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, offered congratulations, emphasising the cultural and economic value of the awards: “Now more than ever, it’s important to recognise Ontario’s world-class literary talent. I encourage everyone to take time this summer to enjoy the unique voices that make our literature so special.”
Ontario Creates Chair Aaron Campbell added, “For nearly four decades, this award has honoured the best of Ontario’s literary talent, showcasing the vibrancy of our creative economy. We invite all Canadians to discover and champion these writers.”
Ontario’s book publishing industry contributes nearly $1 billion annually to the provincial economy and supports over 6,000 jobs. In addition to a $20,000 prize for each major award recipient (and $10,000 for poetry and children’s literature winners), publishers also receive funding support to help promote the winning titles.
With an impressive list of finalists and powerful winning titles, the 2025 Trillium Book Awards once again celebrate the stories, perspectives, and voices that make Ontario’s literary landscape one of the richest in the country.
Readers can learn more about this year’s finalists and winning authors by visiting Ontario Creates.
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