The winners of the 2025 Trillium Book Awards—Ontario’s most prestigious literary prizes for English and French-language authors—were announced Wednesday night, with Oshawa-based author Aristote Kavungu receiving the Prix Trillium for his French-language novel Céline au Congo.
Céline au Congo, published by Les Éditions du Boréal, is described as “a careful and critical re-reading of the work of noted French novelist Louis-Ferdinand Céline – a writer known for his genius and his prejudices.” Kavungu was previously a Trillium finalist in 2020 for his semi-autobiographical novel Mon père, Boudarel et moi.
Now in its 38th year, the Trillium Book Award / Prix Trillium continues its tradition of recognizing literary excellence in Ontario. This year’s winners reflect what organizers describe as “the rich diversity of Ontario’s literary landscape—from a collection of poems exploring queer desire to a whimsical children’s book infused with magical realism to an autobiographical graphic novel.”
In the English-language category, Maurice Vellekoop won the Trillium Book Award for I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together (Random House Canada / Penguin Random House Canada). The book is “an epic graphic memoir chronicling Vellekoop’s life as a queer illustrator navigating an intensely Christian upbringing in 1970s Toronto.” It is only the second graphic novel ever to win the Trillium Book Award.
The Trillium Book Award for Poetry (English) went to Jake Byrne for DADDY (Brick Books). According to the award organizers, “DADDY is Byrne’s second collection of poetry. The collection offers a powerful look at patriarchy, intergenerational trauma, and queer desire, seeking an unravelling of systems of control to reclaim vulnerability.”
In the French-language children’s category, Mireille Messier received the Prix du livre jeunesse Trillium for Le bonnet magique (Comme des géants). The story follows “two siblings [who] embark on a quest to find gnomes with magical healing powers after their beloved pet hedgehog falls ill.” Messier has published over 30 books and gives more than 100 school presentations every year.
More information about the winners and finalists can be found through the award website.
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