ItB次元官网网址檚 typically the literary to-do of the season, but this year, the Scotiabank Giller Prize gala is going digital.

One of five writers will receive the $100,000 fiction prize at a virtual ceremony tonight.

The contenders include Winnipeg writer David Bergen, a former Giller winner who is marking his fifth nomination for the prize with the story collection, B次元官网网址淗ere The Dark,B次元官网网址� published by Biblioasis.

Four-time nominee Shani Mootoo is shortlisted for her love-triangle novel B次元官网网址淧olar Vortex,B次元官网网址� published by Book*hug Press.

Also in the running are first-time finalists Gil Adamson of Toronto for the western-meets-mystery B次元官网网址淩idgerunnerB次元官网网址� (House of Anansi Press); Toronto-raised Souvankham Thammavongsa for the short-story collection B次元官网网址淗ow To Pronounce KnifeB次元官网网址� (McClelland & Stewart); and British Columbia-raised, New York-based Emily St. John Mandel for her haunting story of white-collar crime, B次元官网网址淭he Glass HotelB次元官网网址� (HarperCollins Publishers).

The finalists would normally be feted at a swanky Toronto gala, but tonight, the winner is set to accept the award from the comfort of their own home.

Giller executive director Elana Rabinovitch says organizers spent months working to preserve the ceremonyB次元官网网址檚 signature B次元官网网址渟izzleB次元官网网址� within the public health constraints of COVID-19.

Rabinovitch says the televised ceremony, which will be hosted by Canadian actor Eric McCormack, will feature a mix of pre-taped and live portions.

Jazz musician Diana Krall will perform as part of the socially distanced festivities, and a procession of celebrities will make home-recorded cameos in their red carpet attire.

Rabinovitch says she hopes to congratulate the winner in-person (and from a distance), but depending on where the writer lives, organizers may have to get B次元官网网址渃reative.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e have some alternate endings,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l have to watch on Monday to find out.B次元官网网址�

Despite the logistical challenges, Rabinovitch says shifting the proceedings online has lowered the costs of the ceremony. In light of those savings, prize organizers are donating $25,000 each to the Indigenous Voices Awards and Diaspora Dialogues, an initiative to support diverse writers.

The event will air on CBC and its Gem streaming service at 9 p.m. tonight.

The finalists were chosen by jury members Mark Sakamoto, Eden Robinson, David Chariandy, Tom Rachman, and Claire Armitstead.

The long list of 14 titles announced in September had some big names who didnB次元官网网址檛 make the cut, including Thomas King, Emma Donoghue, and Lynn Coady.

A total of 118 works were submitted for this yearB次元官网网址檚 prize, according to organizers.

Founded in 1994, the Giller awards $100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel, graphic novel or short story collection published in English, and $10,000 to each of the finalists.

Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism? Make a donation