John W. Dafoe Book Prize for non-fiction stories on Canada announces finalists

TORONTO – Books about climate change, Canada’s relations with First Nations, and Lester Pearson are among the titles on the short list for this year’s John W. Dafoe Book Prize.

“After the Sands: Energy and Ecological Security for Canadians” (Douglas and McIntyre) by Gordon Laxer is among the five finalists for the $10,000 prize.

Others include “From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians” (University of British Columbia Press) by Greg Poelzer and Ken S. Coates and “The Diplomat: Lester Pearson and the Suez Crisis” (Goose Lane) by Antony Anderson.

The short list is rounded out by Norman Hillmer for “O.D. Skelton: A Portrait of Canadian Ambition” (University of Toronto Press) and David Mulroney for “Middle Power, Middle Kingdom: What Canadians Need to Know About China in the 21st Century” (Penguin Canada).

The winner will be announced later in the spring and the award will be presented in May.

The prize, which honours non-fiction about Canada, is named after a prominent Canadian editor.