Home Art & Culture Canadian Literary Prize Suspended as Authors Protest Against Amazon Sponsorship 

Canadian Literary Prize Suspended as Authors Protest Against Amazon Sponsorship 

Prix littéraire des collégiens 2018 presented by Amazon Canada
Prix littéraire des collégiens 2018 presented by Amazon Canada
Prix littéraire des collégiens 2018 presented by Amazon Canada
Prix littéraire des collégiens 2018 presented by Amazon Canada

The Prix littéraire des collégiens is a CA $5000 literary prize for French literature by Canadian authors. The jury for the prize comprises students who appreciate and enjoy Québécois literature. For authors, the Québécois literary prize has been a cherished recognition since 2003.

The jury is required to select from a list of five fictional works and pick one that they deem best suited for the honour. The five finalists for 2018 are Québécois authors Dominique Fortier, Kevin Lambert, Jean-Christophe Réhel, Karoline Georges and Lula Carballo.

This year, however, the enthusiasm around the prize is shadowed by the denunciation of the principal sponsor, Amazon Canada. The five finalists have protested against the Amazon sponsorship, given the adverse impact it has on Quebec bookstores. The finalists expressed their concern over the threat the multinational mammoth poses on small book traders. The finalists further clarified that they were not aware of the sponsorship before the announcement of the prize. As a result, the prize has been suspended and the organizers have been reported to organize a meeting with the literary community soon in order to attain an acceptable solution.

In the situation, Amazon has expressed its commitment to foster a love for Québécois literature worldwide.