Ottawa, October 26, 2010 – Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk returned two Governor General's Literary Award (GG) winning books to the Canada Council for the Arts at a presentation held today at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
The 2004 GG-winning book Airborn by Kenneth Oppel and the 2003 GG-winning book Deux pas vers les étoiles by Jean-Rock Gaudreault were part of Dr. Thirsk's official flight kit that went into space on his 2009 expedition to the International Space Station.
Download images of the event.
To allow these 'space objects' to be viewed by the Canadian public, the Canada Council donated them to two organizations: Airborn was donated to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Deux pas vers les étoiles was donated to the Bibliothèque de la Ville de Saguenay.
Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation remarked, "The Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation is honoured to play an active role in partnerships such as this one bringing together artistic, scientific and educational institutions seeking to inspire the next generation of Canadians."
Upon receiving Deux pas vers les étoiles from the Canada Council the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister and Member of Parliament for Jonquière-Alma said, "The value of a work of literature is, of course, measured by its quality and originality. Its success is often measured by the impact it has beyond the borders of its community. Jean-Rock Gaudreault's book crossed the final frontier, between us and space, thanks to the exceptional endeavour of astronaut Robert Thirsk, the Canadian Space Agency and the Canada Council for the Arts."
"The people of Jonquière and the entire population of Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean were incredibly proud to learn that Deux pas vers les étoiles had been chosen to accompany Dr. Thirsk on his space expedition. It is with equal pride that they are currently celebrating the book's return to the region. The Bibliothèque de la Ville de Saguenay will undoubtedly grant this book the prestigious place it deserves."
Kenneth Oppel has written over 20 books and is the best-selling author of Silverwing, Sunwing and Firewing, published by Harpercollins Canada, which have sold over a million copies worldwide and have won numerous awards. He is currently on tour with his new book Half Brother.
Jean-Rock Gaudreault has written several plays which have been performed more than a thousand times on stage in Canada and abroad. Deux pas vers les étoiles, published by Dramaturges Éditeurs, has been translated in English by Linda Gaboriau and is entitled Two Steps from the Stars, published by Playwrights Canada Press.
The Canada Council funds, administers and promotes the Governor General's Literary Awards. The Governor General presents the award annually to the 14 laureates for their work in the English- and French-language categories of fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, children's litterature – text, children's litterature – illustration and translation. This year's GG finalists were announced on October 13 and the 14 winners will be announced on November 16. Go to Canada Council's Facebook page and like your favourite finalist book!
The Canada Council for the Arts is a federal Crown corporation created by an Act of Parliament in 1957. The role of the Council is to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. To fulfill this mandate, the Council offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in dance, integrated arts, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and writing and publishing. It also promotes public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities.
The Council administers the Killam Program of scholarly awards, the Governor General's Literary Awards and the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO operates within the Council. The Council compensates over 17,000 authors under a Public Lending Right program. The Canada Council Art Bank, which has some 17,310 works of contemporary Canadian art in its collection, rents to the public and private sectors.
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