The 2025 Ottawa Book Awards Ceremony was an exciting evening filled with engaging conversations as Ottawa’s literary community gathered on November 15 at 7 pm at Les Lye, Meridian Theatres to celebrate the best in writing, storytelling, and culture.
The event featured a thought-provoking keynote by Charlotte Gray on the fragile reality—and vulnerability—of the book industry in Canada, moderated by Hugues Beaudoin-Dumouchel. With wit, humor, and insight, she painted a vivid picture of Canada’s publishing landscape — lamenting the steady decline in book sales over the years while highlighting how awards like the Ottawa Book Awards play a crucial role in boosting authors’ visibility. Her message was clear: “Keep writing, keep reading, keep Canada’s literature alive”.
The Deputy Mayor, Sean Devine, announced the winners amid cheers and applause.
Here are the outstanding works that received the 2025 Ottawa Book Awards:
Ottawa Book Awards – Fiction: This Bright Dust by Nina Berkhout
Statement of the Jury: This Bright Dust leads the reader through the make-or-break year of 1939 as two families struggle to survive in the prairies amidst crippling poverty and ecological disaster. Told with infinite tenderness and poetic grace, Nina Berkhout’s prose makes the intimate feel epic. A tale of survival and yearning set against the brutal backdrop of the Great Depression and a looming war, This Bright Dust is an unforgettable novel, a work of historical fiction with strong ties to our fractious present.
Ottawa Book Awards – Non-fiction: Out of Darkness by Denise Chong
Statement of the Jury: Out of Darkness by Denise Chong deserves recognition for its honesty and unflinching portrayal of one of the darker sides of domestic life. Violence against women cuts across all segments of society. Denise Chong masterfully portrayed a love story that is shattered by violence and Rumana’s subsequent search for justice under the scrutiny of social media. Denise offers a powerful description of Rumana’s struggles that makes us feel as if we are sharing her trials and tribulations.
Prix du livre d’Ottawa: Charlotte au pays des mots – Emmanuelle Erny
Statement of the Jury: This short fantasy novel, Charlotte au pays des mots, delivers a unique and entertaining tribute to the French language. Sharing her minority language viewpoint, Charlotte, our protagonist, guides us through a world of words, much like Alice in her Wonderland. She takes us on a journey to rediscover the nuances of the French language, bringing them to life with both humor and tenderness. The author's lavish prose spins a captivating, refreshing tale full of twists and turns, in which Molière's language, constantly in the spotlight, wins the hearts of young and old alike.
The 126 guests savored delicious treats, snapped joyful photos, and shared heartfelt moments together, all while enjoying a lively soundtrack that set the perfect mood.
Congratulations to the outstanding winners of the 2025 Ottawa Book Awards!