Toronto, Ontario, Monday, March 4, 2013

I would like to thank you for once again welcoming Sharon and me to Toronto for the presentation of the Charles Taylor Prize.

Books are cherished items. Many of us in this room today can remember picking up one particular book that broadened our outlook, influenced the path we chose, or changed our lives.

But as we read these books, we should be mindful of the effort it took to write them.

Charles Taylor, in his book Six Journeys: A Canadian Pattern, delved into the lives of six remarkable Canadians, weaving together separate tales, while intertwining their passions and ideals into one narrative. Each person is given an overview, and the book itself is not long, around 250 pages. And yet, at the end, he wrote that “It took two years to research and write this book.”

Those of you who have been shortlisted for the Charles Taylor Prize know that writing non-fiction is a task that requires dedication, patience and no small degree of fortitude.

Today, we celebrate not only the very best in Canadian non-fiction, but also the work each of you has put into writing these books.

This year’s selection is most impressive. A portrait of Celia Franca and the National Ballet of Canada; an examination of the impact two of our prime ministers had on history; the life of P. K. Page and the evolution of Canadian literature and culture; the mastery of Leonardo da Vinci and one of the most iconic images in art; the relationship between faith and politics in the United States. All of these books are worthy of recognition. And all of them required years of work.

From idea to research to writing to editing—as all writers do, you have made your way along that spectrum, evolving your initial premise and no doubt surprising yourself and others with what you found.

You write and rewrite because you strive for perfection, and because you endeavour to stay true to your unique voice and style.

Your devotion to the text is not just admirable; for those readers who will pick up your book and forever be transformed, it is also essential.

I congratulate all of you. I know that we can all be enriched by these five non-fiction gems.

Thank you.