Books

Jann Arden will host the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize gala

Jann Arden is a Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter and star of the television series Jann.
Jann Arden is a Calgary-born singer-songwriter, actor and author. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

Jann Arden will be the host of the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize gala on Nov. 18, 2019.

Arden is a multi-platinum recording artist and has won eight Juno Awards over her celebrated career. She recently starred in the fictional television series Jann on CTV.

The Scotiabank Giller Prize awards $100,000 to the year's best work of Canadian fiction.

The hour-long show features all the shortlisted books, revealing the winner at the end. 

Arden is taking over hosting duties from her friend Rick Mercer, who helmed the show last year.

Arden is also the author of the bestselling book Feeding My Mothera memoir of caring for her mother after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"I am so excited to be hosting the Scotiabank Giller Prize this year," Arden said in a press release. "I have been such an avid reader all my life and words have literally shaped my entire career. It is an honour to be a small part of this very important celebration of our brilliant Canadian authors."

The 2019 finalists are:

Esi Edugyan won the 2018 prize for Washington Black.

Other past Giller Prize winners include Rohinton Mistry for A Fine BalanceMargaret Atwood for Alias GraceMordecai Richler for Barney's VersionAlice Munro for RunawayAndré Alexis for Fifteen Dogs and Madeleine Thien for Do Not Say We Have Nothing.

The ceremony will air on CBC, CBC Radio One and will be livestreamed on CBC Books.

Click on this link for all the broadcast details.