Statement by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on the Presentation of British Columbia's National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction 2011

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 1, 2011) - I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the latest winner of British Columbia's National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction. This award—Canada's largest non-fiction prize—was awarded in Vancouver yesterday to John Vaillant for The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival.

The Award recognizes Canada's most talented non-fiction writers, whose published works enlighten, engage, and entertain readers both at home and abroad. Presented by the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, it is the only national book prize to originate in British Columbia. In addition to honouring and promoting the excellence of Canadian authors, the Award comes with a prize of $40,000 for the winner and $2,500 for each finalist.

This year's other finalists were Stevie Cameron for On the Farm: Robert William Pickton and the Tragic Story of Vancouver's Missing Women, James FitzGerald for What Disturbs Our Blood: A Son's Quest to Redeem the Past, and Charles Foran for Mordecai: The Life & Times.

On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I salute the winner and finalists of this prestigious award. I also commend the British Columbia Achievement Foundation for its support and celebration of non-fiction writing in Canada.