Canada Reads


Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC. The program has aired in two distinct editions, the English-language Canada Reads on CBC Radio One, and the French-language Le Combat des livres on Ici Radio-Canada Première.
The English edition has aired each year since 2002, while the French edition aired annually from 2004 to 2014, and was then discontinued until being revived in 2018.

Overview

During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series of five programs. At the end of each episode, the panelists vote one title out of the competition until only one book remains. This book is then billed as the book that all of Canada should read.
CBC Radio producer, Peter Kavanagh, proposed the general idea of a national radio book campaign during the fall of 2001. Later that year, Talin Vartanian conceived Canada Reads and created the essential structure of the program: an annual campaign to select a book for the nation to read. She proposed the idea of five panelists, each championing a different title in a national on-air debate. Vartanian was producer in the first edition, then she became executive producer from 2002 to 2007. In 2007 the program was an "All Star Edition", a reunion of the winning panelists from the first five years. From 2007 to 2017, Ann Jansen produced the program.
Canada Reads was first broadcast on CBC's Radio One in 2002, and has aired annually on radio since then. The third and fourth editions also were broadcast on television, on CBC Newsworld. Broadcast dates were February 16 to February 20, 2004, and February 21 to February 25, 2005, respectively. The seventh edition was also broadcast on Bold TV, broadcasting from February 25 to February 29. Beginning with the third edition, the daily debates could be heard online as well as on Radio One. The fifth edition was broadcast from April 17 to April 21, 2006; the sixth edition aired February 25 to March 2, 2007. The seventh edition of Canada Reads was broadcast on February 25 to February 29, 2008 and for the first time it was available as a podcast.
The books in the running for each edition of Canada Reads are announced several months before the programs are broadcast. Titles must be Canadian fiction, poetry or plays. They are promoted in bookstores, in the hope that the Canada Reads audience will purchase and read them all before the programs air. In some cases, publishers have published special editions of the nominated titles.
The publisher of the winning Canada Reads title donates a portion of sales proceeds from the winning book to a charitable organization working in the field of literacy. Recipients have included Frontier College, the Movement for Canadian Literacy, ABC Life Literacy Canada and Laubach Literacy of Canada.
Beginning in 2004, Radio-Canada, the French-language service of CBC, produced a French version of Canada Reads entitled Le Combat des livres. It was broadcast on Première Chaîne until 2014, following which it was discontinued for three years until being revived in 2018.
Both the English and French programs sometimes, but not always, include one personality more commonly associated with the other language community, who champions a translated work. One advocate, Maureen McTeer, appeared on both programs in the same year, championing the same novel in both its original English and translated French editions. Several other novels have also been chosen for both programs, although their English and French versions were not chosen by the same advocate or in the same year; one novel to date, Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes has won both competitions.

''Canada Reads''

2002

Canada Reads 2002 aired from April 16 to 19, 2002. The winning title was announced on April 23, 2002, Canada Book Day. Mary Walsh was the moderator.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Michael OndaatjeIn the Skin of a LionSteven Page
Margaret AtwoodThe Handmaid's TaleKim Campbell
George Elliott ClarkeWhylah FallsNalo Hopkinson
Margaret LaurenceThe Stone AngelLeon Rooke
Rohinton MistryA Fine BalanceMegan Follows

2003

Canada Reads 2003 aired from April 21 to 25, 2003. Bill Richardson was the moderator.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Hubert AquinNext EpisodeDenise Bombardier
Paul HiebertSarah BinksWill Ferguson
Helen HumphreysThe Lost GardenMag Ruffman
Wayne JohnstonThe Colony of Unrequited DreamsJustin Trudeau
Yann MartelLife of PiNancy Lee

2004

Canada Reads 2004 aired on both CBC Radio and CBC Newsworld February 16 to 20, 2004. Bill Richardson was the moderator.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Guy VanderhaegheThe Last CrossingJim Cuddy
Thomas KingGreen Grass, Running WaterGlen Murray
Alice MunroThe Love of a Good WomanMeasha Brueggergosman
Monique ProulxThe Heart Is an Involuntary MuscleFrancine Pelletier
Mordecai RichlerBarney's VersionZsuzsi Gartner

2005

Canada Reads 2005 was broadcast from February 21 to 25, 2005. Bill Richardson was again the moderator.

2006

Canada Reads 2006 was broadcast from April 17 to 21, 2006. Bill Richardson was again the moderator.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Miriam ToewsA Complicated KindnessJohn K. Samson
Joseph BoydenThree Day RoadNelofer Pazira
Frances ItaniDeafeningMaureen McTeer
Al PurdyRooms for Rent in the Outer Planets: Selected Poems, 1962-1996Susan Musgrave
Mordecai RichlerCocksureScott Thompson

2007

Canada Reads 2007 aired from February 26 to March 2, 2007. Bill Richardson again moderated the competition. For the 2007 competition, each of the five winning advocates from past series returned to champion a new title in an "all-star" edition of the series.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Heather O'NeillLullabies for Little CriminalsJohn K. Samson
David BezmozgisNatasha and Other StoriesSteven Page
Anosh IraniThe Song of KahunshaDonna Morrissey
Gabrielle RoyChildren of My HeartDenise Bombardier
Timothy TaylorStanley ParkJim Cuddy

2008

Canada Reads 2008 aired from February 25 to 29, 2008. Jian Ghomeshi moderated the competition.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Paul QuarringtonKing LearyDave Bidini
Timothy FindleyNot Wanted on the VoyageZaib Shaikh
Mavis GallantFrom the Fifteenth DistrictLisa Moore
Nalo HopkinsonBrown Girl in the RingJemini
Thomas WhartonIcefieldsSteve MacLean

2009

Canada Reads 2009 aired from March 2 to 6, 2009. Jian Ghomeshi moderated the competition.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Lawrence HillThe Book of NegroesAvi Lewis
David Adams RichardsMercy among the ChildrenSarah Slean
Gil AdamsonThe OutlanderNicholas Campbell
Brian FrancisFruitJen Sookfong Lee
Michel TremblayThe Fat Woman Next Door Is PregnantAnne-Marie Withenshaw

2010

Canada Reads 2010 aired from March 8 to 12, 2010. Jian Ghomeshi moderated the competition.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer LederhendlerNikolskiMichel Vézina
Wayson ChoyThe Jade PeonySamantha Nutt
Douglas CouplandCadence Weapon
Marina EndicottGood to a FaultSimi Sara
Ann-Marie MacDonaldFall on Your KneesPerdita Felicien

2011

Canada Reads 2011 aired from February 7 to 10, 2011. The producers announced a slightly different format for the 2011 contest. Throughout the month of October 2010, an online vote was held to determine the books that listeners consider the 40 "most essential" Canadian novels of the past decade, and the panelists made their choices from within that list. Only novels, not short story collections, were eligible; however, novels which have previously been included in a Canada Reads competition were still eligible for renomination.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Terry FallisThe Best Laid PlansAli Velshi
Angie AbdouThe Bone CageGeorges Laraque
Jeff LemireEssex CountySara Quin
Ami McKayThe Birth HouseDebbie Travis
Carol ShieldsUnlessLorne Cardinal

2012

The books for this edition were all non-fiction. A list of 40 non-fiction books were announced as being the shortlist finalists in October 2011, including And No Birds Sang by Farley Mowat, Shake Hands with the Devil by Romeo Dallaire, The Last Spike by Pierre Berton, The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs, and ' by Margaret MacMillan. Listeners could vote on up to five books they wanted to be shortlisted. The debates aired from February 6 to 9, 2012. Jian Ghomeshi moderated the competition.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Carmen AguirreSomething Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary DaughterShad'
Dave BidiniOn a Cold RoadStacey McKenzie
Ken DrydenThe GameAlan Thicke
Marina NematPrisoner of TehranArlene Dickinson
John VaillantThe TigerAnne-France Goldwater

On the first day of discussions, panelist Anne-France Goldwater "caused shock and outrage among literary types" by calling Carmen Aguirre "a bloody terrorist", and alleging that Marina Nemat "tells a story that's not true". In response, Marina Nemat posted on Facebook, "I hope can produce evidence to back up her claims. If not, I would like to receive a public apology from her." Nemat's Prisoner of Tehran'' was the first voted off, with Stacey McKenzie casting a tie-breaking vote. Arlene Dickinson called McKenzie's vote "the wrong choice for the wrong reason".

2013

The theme for 2013 was "Turf Wars", with the advocates and titles chosen to each represent one of Canada's major geographic regions. Books and panelists for 2013 were revealed on November 29, 2012 on Q. The debates ran from February 11 to 14, 2013.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Lisa MooreFebruaryTrent McClellan
David BergenThe Age of HopeRon MacLean
Hugh MacLennanTwo SolitudesJay Baruchel
Jane UrquhartAwayCharlotte Gray
Richard WagameseIndian HorseCarol Huynh

2014

The theme for this year was "A Novel to Change Our Nation." Books and panelists were revealed on November 27, 2013 on Q. Jian Ghomeshi moderated the competition.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Joseph BoydenThe Orenda, debated theme: First Nations, environmentWab Kinew
Margaret AtwoodThe Year of the Flood, debated theme: environmentStephen Lewis
Esi EdugyanHalf-Blood Blues, debated theme: racial inequality Donovan Bailey
Rawi HageCockroach, debated theme: immigrant experienceSamantha Bee
Kathleen WinterAnnabel, debated theme: gender equalitySarah Gadon

2015

The 2015 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Wab Kinew, with the theme of the discussions being "One Book to Break Barriers". Panelists and titles were announced on January 20, 2015, with the debates taking place from March 16 to 19.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Kim ThúyRuCameron Bailey
Kamal Al-SolayleeIntolerable: A Memoir of ExtremesKristin Kreuk
Thomas KingThe Inconvenient IndianCraig Kielburger
Raziel ReidWhen Everything Feels Like the MoviesElaine Lui
Jocelyne SaucierAnd the Birds Rained DownMartha Wainwright

2016

The 2016 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Gill Deacon, and conducted on theme of "Starting Over". Panelists and titles were announced on January 20, 2016, with the debates taking place from March 21 to 24.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Lawrence HillThe IllegalClara Hughes
Anita Rau BadamiThe Hero's WalkVinay Virmani
Tracey LindbergBirdieBruce Poon Tip
Saleema NawazBone and BreadFarah Mohamed
Michael WinterMinister without PortfolioAdam Copeland

2017

The 2017 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Ali Hassan, on the theme of "The Book Canadians Need Now". Panelists and titles were announced on January 31, 2017, and the debates took place from March 27 to 30.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
André AlexisFifteen DogsHumble The Poet
Madeline AshbyCompany TownMeasha Brueggergosman
M. G. VassanjiNostalgiaJody Mitic
Katherena VermetteThe BreakCandy Palmater
Sheila Watt-CloutierThe Right to Be ColdChantal Kreviazuk

Note: Tamara Taylor was originally announced as advocate for Company Town but had to withdraw due to a conflict with the filming schedule of her Netflix series Altered Carbon. Measha Brueggergosman was announced as Taylor's replacement on March 9, 2017.

2018

The 2018 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Ali Hassan, on the theme of "One Book to Open Your Eyes". Panelists and titles were announced on January 30, 2018, and the debates took place from March 26 to 29.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Mark SakamotoForgiveness: A Gift from My GrandparentsJeanne Beker
Sharon BalaThe Boat PeopleMozhdah Jamalzadah
Craig DavidsonPrecious Cargo: My Year of Driving the Kids on School Bus 3077 Greg Johnson
Cherie DimalineThe Marrow ThievesJully Black
Omar El AkkadAmerican WarTahmoh Penikett

2019

The 2019 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Ali Hassan on the theme "One Book to Move You". The books and panelists were announced on January 31, 2019, with the debates taking place from March 25 to 28.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Max EisenBy Chance AloneZiya Tong
Abu Bakr Al-Rabeeah and Winnie YeungHomesChuck Comeau
David ChariandyBrotherLisa Ray
Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, translated by Rhonda MullinsSuzanneYanic Truesdale
Lindsay WongThe Woo-WooJoe Zee

2020

The 2020 edition of Canada Reads was moderated by Ali Hassan on the theme "One Book to Bring Canada into Focus". The books and panelists were announced on January 22, 2020. The debates were originally slated to take place from March 16 to 19; however, as the debates normally take place in a theatre in front of a live audience, they were postponed to a later date in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. In the interim, the CBC produced a series of five specials, one profiling each of the five nominated books through interviews with both the writer and the advocate, to air in place of the original debates.
In July, it was announced that the debates would take place in the week of July 20 to 23.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Samra HabibWe Have Always Been HereAmanda Brugel
Megan Gail ColesSmall Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun ClubAlayna Fender
Cory DoctorowRadicalizedAkil Augustine
Eden RobinsonSon of a TricksterKaniehtiio Horn
Jesse ThistleFrom the AshesGeorge Canyon

''Le Combat des livres''

2004

Radio-Canada, the French-language service of CBC, aired a French version of Canada Reads, entitled Le combat des livres, from March 29 to April 2, 2004. It was moderated by Marie-France Bazzo.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Gil CourtemancheUn dimanche à la piscine à KigaliLaure Waridel
Margaret AtwoodLa servante écarlateJulius Grey
Jacques GodboutUne histoire américaineGérald Larose
Yann MartelL'histoire de PiLouise Forestier
Gaétan SoucyLa petite fille qui aimait trop les allumettesMicheline Lanctôt

2005

The 2005 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 14 to March 18, 2005. It was moderated by Marie-France Bazzo.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Réjean DucharmeL'Avalée des avalésSophie Cadieux
Nancy HustonDolce agoniaRéjean Thomas
Jean-Jacques PelletierLa Chair disparueAlain Lefèvre
Elizabeth SmartÀ la hauteur de Grand Central Station, je me suis assise et j'ai pleuréDennis Trudeau
Michel TremblayThérèse et Pierrette à l'école des Saints-AngesMonique Simard

2006

The 2006 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from January 30 to February 3. It was moderated by Marie-France Bazzo.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Francine NoëlLa Femme de ma vieFrançoise Guénette
Hubert AquinProchain épisodePierre Lebeau
Jean BarbeComment devenir un monstreLucie Laurier
Stéphane DompierreUn petit pas pour l'hommeLouis-José Houde
Frances ItaniUne coquille de silenceMaureen McTeer

2007

The 2007 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from February 26 to March 2 and was moderated by Christiane Charette.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Denis ThériaultL'IguaneDominique Lévesque
Marie LabergeLe poids des ombresPauline Marois
Mathyas LefebureD'où viens-tu berger?Robert Frosi
Yann MartelSelfSheila Copps
Christian MistralVampBiz

2008

The 2008 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from February 25 to February 29, and was once again chaired by Christiane Charette.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Éric DupontLa LogeuseNicolas Langelier
Marie-Claire BlaisUne saison dans la vie d'EmmanuelSerge Denoncourt
Jacques GodboutLa concierge du PanthéonBernard Landry
Mordecai RichlerLe Monde de BarneyAnne Lagacé Dowson
Gabrielle RoyLa Détresse et l'enchantementSophie Faucher

2009

The 2009 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 23 to 27, and was once again chaired by Christiane Charette.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Rawi HageParfum de poussièreBrendan Kelly
Gérard BouchardMistoukRaymond Gravel
Jean-François BeaucheminLa fabrication de l'aubeEmmanuel Bilodeau
D. Y. BéchardVandal LoveEsther Bégin
Marie-Sissi LabrècheBorderlineJanette Bertrand

2010

The 2010 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 22 to 26. Christiane Charette moderated.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Dany LaferrièreL'énigme du retourFrançoise David
Jean BarbeComment devenir un angeMarie-Soleil Michon
Patrice DesbiensL'Homme invisibleThomas Hellman
Germaine GuèvremontLe survenantChristian Dufour
Nancy HustonCantique des plainesChristopher Hall

2011

The 2011 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 14 to 18. Christiane Charette moderated.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Perrine LeblancL'homme blancGeneviève Guérard
David GilmourL'École des filmsAnne-France Goldwater
Dany LaferrièreComment faire l'amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguerPatrick Lagacé
Émile OllivierMère-SolitudeJiCi Lauzon
Danielle TrussartLe train pour SamarcandeDjemila Benhabib

2012

Beginning in 2012, the production and broadcast of Le Combat des livres was transferred from Charette's program to the network's new literature show Plus on est de fous, plus on lit!, hosted by Marie-Louise Arsenault.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Marie-Renée LavoieLa petite et le vieuxYves Lamontagne
Margaret AtwoodLa voleuse d'hommesTasha Kheiriddin
Guy DelisleChroniques de JérusalemGildor Roy
Abla FarhoudLe sourire de la petite juiveNabila Ben Youssef

2013

The 2013 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 18 to 22. Marie-Louise Arsenault moderated. It was an all star season featuring previous winners.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Lawrence HillAminataThomas Hellman
Jocelyne SaucierIl pleuvait des oiseauxGeneviève Guérard
Heather O'NeillLa Ballade de BabyBrendan Kelly
Samuel ArchibaldArvidaBernard Landry
Éric DupontLa fiancée américaineDominique Levesque

2014

The 2014 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from March 31 to April 3. Marie-Louise Arsenault moderated.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Marie-Claire BlaisLa Belle BêtePaul Cargnello
François GravelAdieu, Betty CrockerPauline Martin
Rohinton MistryL'Équilibre du mondeAzeb Wolde-Giorghis
Kim ThúyRuJean-François Chicoine

2018

The 2018 edition of Le Combat des livres, the first time the show has aired since 2014, ran from May 7 to 11, 2018. Marie-Louise Arsenault moderated. The books were selected to represent the regions of Canada, with one book representing each of Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Katherena VermetteLigne briséeNaomi Fontaine
Margaret AtwoodC'est le coeur qui lâche en dernierRussell Smith
Stéfanie ClermontLe jeu de la musiquePhilippe-Audrey Larrue-St-Jacques
Nancy HustonLe club des miracles relatifsIbrahima Diallo
Sara TilleyÉcorchéeAntonine Maillet

2019

The 2019 edition of Le Combat des livres aired from May 6 to 10, 2019, with Marie-Louise Arsenault moderating. The books were selected on the same theme of regional representation as the 2018 edition, with one book selected to represent each of Canada's four major geographic regions and one book selected to represent indigenous literature.
AuthorTitleAdvocate
Blaise NdalaSans capote ni kalachnikovMarie-Maude Denis
France DaiglePour sûrÉdith Butler
Naomi FontaineManikanetishStanley Vollant
Karoline GeorgesDe synthèseManal Drissi
Miriam ToewsPauvres petits chagrinsDeni Ellis Béchard

2020

AuthorTitleAdvocate
Nadine BismuthUn lien familialFrance D'Amour
Marguerite AndersenLa mauvaise mèreDominique Demers
Gérald LeblancMoncton mantraJulie Aubé
J. R. LéveilléLe soleil du lac qui se coucheAlpha Toshineza
Richard WagameseCheval IndienRomeo Saganash

Success

As a vehicle to promote interest in reading and books and to increase sales, Canada Reads has been a signal success. Even already successful titles see increases in sales driven by their inclusion in the contest: sales of Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion increased by 80,000 in 2002, the year of its appearance on Canada Reads. Its publisher, Random House of Canada attributed much of this increase to Canada Reads.
The success for lesser known titles can be as marked. Hubert Aquin's Next Episode sold 18,500 copies in the year when it won Canada Reads.
For the 2005 edition, sales of Jacques Poulin's Volkswagen Blues, which usually are about 200 copies a year, increased to 7,500 between the time the nominations were announced and the shows began airing. During the same period, 7,000 copies of Frank Parker Day's Rockbound were shipped by its publisher, the University of Toronto Press.

Criticism

There has been some criticism of Canada Reads. First, criticism has been made of the use of "celebrity" panelists. In 2007, a listener named John Mutford unsuccessfully attempted to become the first non-celebrity panelist. Critics have also taken issue with the game show format, and have contended that discussion of the books has often remained on a superficial level.
The choice of books has also been criticized. Originally each panelist provided a list of five books, from which the producers chose the final contenders. In 2005, this process changed, and the panelists submitted only one choice. Due to scheduling problems, Rufus Wainwright was not able to appear after selecting his choice, and singer Molly Johnson was chosen to defend his chosen book.