National Business Book Award

The National Business Book Award in Canada has been presented every year since 1985. In 2008 the NBBA is co-sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and BMO along with their media partner The Globe and Mail. Those who are interested in the NBBA and who are curious about what type of "business books" have been nominated for awards should begin their search for information at the PricewaterhouseCoopers Canadian website. On the PWC website you will learn that the winner of the award now receives a cash prize of $20,000. All of the winning books since 1985 are listed and for every year back to 1991 you will find brief descriptions of each book that won.

Our purpose here is to provide additional information. While it is simple to find the current and past winners of this award, it is rather more difficult to find the nominees and runners up. In this list we have compiled both the winners and past nominees from 1985 to the current winner of the award. (It should be added that it is not always clear who was nominated and what books were singled out for consideration and "short-listed"). As well, we provide bibliographical references that will lead you to discussions about the NBBA and the books and authors. Generally we have provided more citations for the earlier entries since the information is more difficult to find. (As an aside, we also provide information about other Canadian book awards that can be found here. )

Some of the discussions in the references provided revolve around what should be considered a "business book" and about this subject there is some disagreement. Those who are generally biased against business interests may be surprised to learn that, in this instance, the corporate co-sponsors appear to be rather liberal and welcome diversity when it comes to what constitutes a "business book". It is noted that "the range of submissions every year reflects the breadth of Canadian business writing from financial analysis to social, historical and economic commentaries on issues affecting the business community". What is not noted is that in some cases, the business books are often not very friendly toward business and one winner of the NBBA, Naomi Klein, even characterized her book as being "anti-business".

The win by Klein for No Logo in 2000 prompted some discussions and controversy and apparently one judge resigned over the issue. (Klein was nominated again in 2007 for The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism). For more on this episode see: "Enter Stage Left," by Scott Steele, Canadian Business, Vol. 74, No.9, May 14, 2001 and "He Wishes to DeKlein the Prize," by Michael Posner, The Globe and Mail, May 5, 2001, p.R3. For a more recent article that discusses the fact that some choices for the top business books can be characterized as "odd" see: "The First B Stands for Bogus," by Andrea Mandel Campbell, National Post, April 18, 2008. See the related response by Rod McQueen in his blog ("The Business of Books" - April 22, 2008) where he suggests that the NBBA "went off the rails" back in 1999.

Winners & Nominees

27 - 2011

Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada's Oil Sands by Ezra Levant winner of the 2010 National Business Book Award.

Other Finalists

Saris on Scooters: How Microcredit Is Changing Village India by Sheila McLeod Arnopoulos
DBW HG178.33.I4A75 2010

Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada's Oil Sands by Ezra Levant

Economyths: Ten Ways Economics Gets It Wrong by David Orrell
King's HB3722.O77 2010

25 - 2010

Read an excerpt from Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller: Oil and the End of Globalization by Jeff Rubin winner of the 2009 National Business Book Award

Other Finalists

Gravity shift: How Asia's new economic powerhouses will shape the 21st century by Wendy Dobson
DBW HC427.95.D62 2009

Coal Black Heart by John Dumont
BRESCIA  TN806.C32N62 2009

Laying it on the Line by Buzz Hargrove
BUS HD6528.A8H38 2009

Manulife: How Dominic D'Alessandro built a global giant and fought to save it by Rod McQueen
BUS HG8764.D35M37 2009

24 - 2009

Gordon Pitts, Stampede: The Rise of the West and Canada's New Power Elite

“This Country Can Be, and Should Be Better, Author Says,” The Globe and Mail, May 8, 2009

A short excerpt of the speech given by Pitts upon receiving the award.

“Gordon Pitts Wins National Business Book Award for Stampede, Canadian Press, May 7, 2009

TORONTO: Gordon Pitts has won the National Business Book Award for ``Stampede! The Rise of the West andCanada's New Power Elite.'' The Toronto-based author takes the $20,000 prize for his book which considers the possibility ofAlbertabecoming the financial and corporate centre ofCanada. Finalists for this year's award also included Margaret Atwood, Peter C. Newman, Kenneth Whyte, and Ted Rogers with Robert Brehl.

Pitts, a business reporter at the Globe and Mail, was a finalist for his first book, ``Storming the Fortress,'' in 1990, and for his three subsequent books.The National Business Book Award is co-sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and BMO FinancialGroup. Stampede' is published by Key Porter Books.

“Author Gordon Pitts Wins National Business Book Award,” Canada Newswire, May 7, 2009

An excerpt from this announcement:
“This year's jury is chaired by Roger Martin, Dean, Rotman School of Management,University ofToronto. The jury includes: Jane Cooney, President, Books for Business; William Dimma, Chairman Emeritus, Home Capital Group Inc.; Peter Mansbridge, Chief Correspondent, CBC Television Network; Deirdre McMurdy, Vice-President, Public Policy Forum; and The Honourable Pamela Wallin, Senator.”

Gordon Pitts is a bestselling author, public speaker, and senior writer for The Globe and Mail's Report on Business, focusing on management, entrepreneurship and family business. In 1989 he was a press fellow at WolfsonCollege, CambridgeUniversity, during which time he wrote his first book, Storming the Fortress, a finalist for the National Business Book Award in 1990. He also has been a finalist for his three subsequent books: In the Blood: Battles to Succeed in Canada's Family Businesses, Kings of Convergence: The Fight for Control of Canada's Media, and The Codfathers: Lessons of the Atlantic Business Elite.

“Canadain 2020: Author Predicts Even Greater Shift of Clout to the West,” Gary Lamphier, Ottawa Citizen, April 12, 2009.

Other Nominees:

Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, by Margaret Atwood

Izzy: The Passionate Life and Turbulent Times of Izzy Asper, by Peter Newman

Relentless: The True Story of the Man behind Rogers Communications, by Ted Rogers and Robert Brehl  

The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst, by Kenneth Whyte.

23 - 2008

William Marsden, Stupid to the Last Drop: How Alberta is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and Doesn't Seem to Care)

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists Announced," Canada NewsWire, April 3, 2008.
"This year's entries are a testament to the breadth of Canadian business writing - spanning critical studies of economic practices and big business, new frontiers for sustainability and the investigation of a prolific art collector. Such a range reveals the evolution of Canadian business writing over the years from financial analysis to social, historical and economic commentaries on the issues affecting the Canadian business world. Now in its 23rd year, the award continues to gain attention from not only the Canadian business world, but also publishers, authors, journalists, academics, economists, politicians and business leaders from around the world. This year's National Business Book Award accepted entries whose themes included business management, business history, business biography, or economics in (or associated with)Canada. To be eligible, books had to be published during 2007 and be Canadian business related."

"Author William Marsden Wins National Business Book Award, Canada NewsWire, April 22, 2008.

"Gazette Reporter Wins Business Books Award," anon. The Gazette, April 23, 2008.
Marsden is quoted in the article as having said: ""My hope is that (this award) is a reflection of businessmen as human beings beginning to take the environment seriously."

"A Novel Approach to Canadian Business," Amoryn Engel, the National Post, May 3, 2008, p. FW12. The original print article includes an illustration of those who attended the award ceremonies.

Other Nominees:
Rodrigo Bascunan and Christian Pearce, Enter the Babylon System: Unpacking Gun Culture from Samuel Colt to 50 Cent

Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Jacques Poitras, Beaverbrook: A Shattered Legacy

Chris Turner, The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World

22 - 2007

Thomas Homer-Dixon - The Upside of Down

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists Announced," Canada NewsWire, April 12, 2007. It was noted that:
"This year's National Business Book Award entries speak to the breadth of Canadian business writing. Entries spanned literary and historical biographies on the great minds of Canadian business figures, to commentaries on the philosophical relevance of understanding the problems confronting our societies. Topics covered demonstrate how Canadian business writing has evolved over the years from financial analysis to social, historical and economic commentaries on the issues affecting the Canadian business world."

Other Nominees:

Chalotte Gray - Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bell

Wayne Lilley, Magna Cum Laude: How Frank Stronach Became Canada's Best-Paid Man

Carol Off, Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet

21- 2006

Matthew J. Bellamy - Profiting the Crown: Canada's Polymer Corporation, 1942-1990
DBW HD4005.B44 2005

Related stories and reviews:
"Four Finalists Announced for the 2006 National Business Book Award: Literature," National Post, Mar.28, 2006. It is noted that BMO Financial is a co-sponsor.

"Matthew Bellamy Wins National Business Book Award for Work on Polymer Corp."Canadian Press NewsWire, April 20, 2006. There is an indication that Bellamy teaches Canadian history atOttawa'sCarletonUniversity.

"Matthew Bellamy Scoops Award for Business Book," The Globe and Mail, April 21, 2006, p.B7.

"The Profit Tellers: Matthew J. Bellamy Takes First Prize and $20,000," by Amoryn Engel, the National Post, Sat. April 29, 2006. This full page includes pictures of many of the participants at the celebration held at the Windsor Arms.

Other Nominees:

Max Lenderman - Experience the Message: How Experiential Marketing is Changing the Brand World
DBW HF5415.13.L42 2005

Ian Mulgrew - Bud Inc.: Inside Canada's Marijuana Industry
DBW HD9019.M382C2 2005

Gordon Pitts - The Codfathers: Lessons from the Atlantic Business Elite
DBW HC112.5.A2P57 2005

20 - 2005

Jacquie McNish and Sinclair Stewart - Wrong Way: The Fall of Conrad Black
KC HC112.5.B57M36

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists Announced," Canada NewsWire, May 24, 2005. This release notes that it is the 20^th anniversary of the award and that the prize has been increased to $20,000.

"Wrong Way: The Fall of Conrad Black Wins National Business Book Award," Canada NewsWire, June 15, 2005. In addition to the nominees below, it was mentioned that Rod McQueen's The Icarus Factor: The Rise and Fall of Edgar Bronfman Jr. was also on the short list along with Linda McQuaig's It's the Crude, Dude: War, Big Oil, and the Fight for the Planet.

"Globe Writers Capture Award for Business Book, Richard Bloom, The Globe and Mail, June 16, 2005. The Globe writers are McNish and Sinclair Stewart.

Other Nominees:

Joel Bakan - The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power

BUS HD2731.B23 2004

Peter Hadekel - Silent Partners: Taxpayers and the Bankrolling of Bombardier

DBW HD9709.C34B66 2004

Keith McArthur - Air Monopoly: How Robert Milton's Air Canada Won - and Lost - Control of Canada's Skies

DBW HE9815.A93M234 2004

19 - 2004

Kim Vicente - The Human Factor: Revolutionizing the Way People Live With Technology
BUS T14.5.V53 2004

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists are Announced," Canada NewsWire, Mar.29, 2004, p.1.
"Vicente's Human Factor Wins Business-Book Award," The Globe and Mail, April 23, 2004, p.R2.

Other Nominees:
Bruce Dowbiggin - Money Players: How Hockey's Greatest Stars Beat the NHL at its Own Game
BUS GV847.4.D69 2003

Madelaine Drohan - Making a Killing: How and Why Corporations Use Armed Force to Do Business
DBW HD2755.5.D76 2003

Andrew Heintzman & Evan Solomon - Fueling the Future: How the Battle Over Energy is Changing Everything
DBW TP318.F844 2003

Roy MacSkimming - The Perilous Trade: Publishing Canada's Writers
BUS Z481.M323 2003

18 - 2003

Douglas Hunter - The Bubble and The Bear: How Nortel Burst the Canadian Dream
KC HD 9696.T444N65

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists Announced," Canada NewsWire, May 14, 2003. The jurors were reported to be: The Hon. William Davis; Jane Cooney, President, Books for Business; William Dimma, Chairman, Home Capital Group, Inc and Anne Kingston who won the award in 1994 and Peter Mansbridge, who replaced Pamela Wallin. The winner was to be announced on June 10.

"Douglas Hunter's The Bubble and the Bear Wins National Business Book Award," Canada NewsWire, June 10, 2003. Mentioned was the fact that there were 40 contenders.

"Book about Rise and Fall of Nortel Wins National Award," National Post, June 11, 2003.

Other Nominees:

Harry Bruce - Never Content: How Mavericks and Outsiders Made a Surprise Winner of Maritime Life
BUS HG9010.Z9M37 2002

Gordon Pitts - Kings of Convergence: The Fight for Control of Canada's Media
DBW P92.5.A1P58 2002

Marylu Walters - CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For
DBW HE8699.C2W34 2002

17 - 2002

John Lawrence Reynolds - Free Rider: How a Bay St. Whiz Kid Stole and Spent $20 Million

Related stories and reviews:

" Four Finalists Announced in Business Book Competition," National Post, April 3, 2002, p.FP2. The other three are listed below and the article indicates there were 43 entries.

"John Lawrence Reynolds wins National Business Book Award for Free Rider," Canadian Press NewsWire, April 22, 2002.

"Reynolds Awarded Business Book Award," The Globe and Mail, April 23, 2002.

"Business Interview: The Story of a Crooked Broker," Canada-AM-CTV Television, April 29, 2002.

Other Nominees:

Rod McQueen - Can't Buy Me Love: How Martha Billes Made Canadian Tire Hers
BUS HD9745.C22B55 2001

Ingeborg Boyens - Another Season's Promise: Hope and Despair in Canada's Farm Country

William Illsey Atkinson - Prototype: How Canadian Innovation is Shaping the Future
BUS HC120.H53A85 2001

16 - 2001

Naomi Klein - No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies
KC HD2755.5.K54N6

Related stories and reviews:
"National Business Book Award Finalists Announced," Canada NewsWire, Mar.21, 2001. The panel consisted of Davis, William Dimma, Anne Kingston, Pamela Wallin and Michael Marrus.

"Naomi Klein's No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies Wins National Business Book Award, Canada NewsWire, April 25, 2001. The article mentions that, at 30, Klein is the youngest winner of this award. The article states that there were close to 40 entries and the other finalists included:

Chrystia Freeland for Sale Of The Century, Russian's Wild Ride From Communism To Capitalism, published by Doubleday Canada; David Olive for No Guts, No Glory, How Canada's Greatest CEOs Built Their Empires, published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited; Gordon Pitts for In The Blood, Battles To Succeed In Canada's Family Businesses, published by Doubleday Canada; and Daniel Stoffman for The Money Machine, How The Mutual Fund Industry Works And How To Make It Work For You, published by Macfarlane Walter & Ross.

Other Nominees:

Chrystia Freeland - Sale of the Century: Russia's Wild Ride from Communism to Capitalism
DBW HC340.12.F73 2000

Gordon Pitts - In the Blood: Battles to Succeed in Canada's Family Businesses
BUS HD62.25.P57 2000

15 - 2000

Ingeborg Boyens - Unnatural Harvest - How Genetic Engineering is Altering Our Food
BUS TP248.65.F66B69 2000

Related stories and reviews:
"Business Book Award Nominees Named," The Globe and Mail, May 17, 2000, p.A7.

Book on Genetically Modified Foods Wins National Business Book Award," Canadian Press Newswire, May 30, 2000. It is noted that Boyens was a CBC journalist and that her book was selected from the 40 submissions.

"And the Best Business Book of the Year is a CBC Journalist's Attack on Genetically Altered Food," National Post, May 31, 2000, p.C8.

"TV Journalist Wins Business Book Prize," The Globe and Mail, June 2, 2000, p.R9.
"As for the awards themselves, it was their 15th anniversary, and the 15th year their jury has served under the chairmanship of formerOntario premier William Davis.Davis received a special statuette for his service, and joked that although there had been talk of his retiring from the jury, "If I stick around until the 20th anniversary I may get a bigger gift."

For a critical review of this choice see:

"Who Voted This Book an Award? Best Business Book of the Year is the Antithesis of a Well-Researched, Investigative and Compelling Report Worthy of a National Award," by Douglas Powell, National Post, June 24, 2000, p.D11. Mr. Powell was, at the time, an assistant professor of plant agriculture at theUniversity ofGuelph.

Other Nominees:

Brian Hutchinson - Betting The House - Winners, Losers and the Politics of Canada's Gambling Obsession
DBW HV6722.C2H87 1999

Tom Koppel - Powering The Future, The Ballard Fuel Cell and the Race to Change the World

BUS HD9697.B324B34 1999

Solange De Santis - Life on the Line: One Woman's Tale of Work, Sweat, and Survival
BUS HD6073.A82C23 1999

14 - 1999

Jennifer Wells - Fever - The Dark Mystery of the Bre-X Gold Rush
BUS HD9536.I54B797 1998

Related stories and reviews:
"Globe Writer Nominated for Award," Val Ross, The Globe and Mail, May 5, 1999, p.C4. It is noted that Wells was a senior writer for the ROB magazine.Davis was chair of the jury which also included William Dimma, chair of Swiss Reinsurance CompanyCanada; journalist Adrienne Clarkson; Stanley Heath, dean of business atRyersonPolytechnicUniversity, and Anne Kingston, journalist and winner of the award in 1994.

Other Nominees:

Stevie Cameron - Blue Trust: The Author, The Lawyer, His Wifer and Her Money

Linda McQuaig - The Cult of Impotence: Selling the Myth of Powerlessness in the Global Economy
BUS HJ793.M36 1998

Rod McQueen - The Eatons: The Rise and Fall of Canada's Royal Family
BUS HF5465.C34E34 1998

13 - 1998

Anthony Bianco - The Reichmanns - Family, Faith, Fortune, and the Empire of Olympia and York
BUS HD316.B53 1997

Related stories and reviews:
"Business Book Award," The Globe and Mail, April 16, 1998, p.D2.
It is noted that "A mere three titles -- one about the Reichmann family empire, one about early Canadian stock markets, and one about the Giant Mine tragedy in Yellowknife -- will compete for this year's $10,000 National Business Book Award."

"Reichmann Story Winner," The Globe and Mail, April 28, 1998, p.C3.

It is mentioned that former Premier Bill Davis headed the jury and that 46 submissions had been considered and 3 were short-listed."

Other Nominees:

Christopher Armstrong - Blue Skies and Boiler Rooms: Buying and Selling Securities in Canada, 1870-1940
BUS HG5152.A84 1997

Lee Sellick & Francis Thompson - Dying For Gold: The True Story of the Giant Mine Murders
BUS HD5329.M732 1992 Y45 1998

12 - 1997

Rod McQueen - Who Killed Confederation Life? The Inside Story
BUS HG9010.Z9C65 1996

Related stories and reviews:
" FP writer Wins Business Book Award," Financial Post, Apr.25, 1997, p.8

"Confed Expose Wins Award", Toronto Star, April 27, 1997, p.B7

11 - 1996

Heather Robinson - Driving Force - The McLaughlin Family and the Age of the Car
DBW TL140.M35R63 1995

Related stories and reviews:
"$10,000 Goes to Driving Force Author," Toronto Star, June 14, 1996.
It is mentioned that at this time that the award was being sponsored by the Bank of Montreal and Coopers & Lybrand.

"Noises Off Wanted: Journalism With No Conscience," The Globe and Mail, June 15, 1996. This article indicates that the awards ceremony could be lively:
"The capitalist establishment and the jackals of leftist journalism broke bread together atop Sutton Place at this year's annual National Business Books awards luncheon. Two of the finalists sat together, Linda McQuaig , author of Shooting the Hippo (once famously described by offended multimillionaire Conrad Black as a "weedy, not very bright leftist") and John Lorinc , another muckraker and author of Opportunity Knocks: The Truth About Canada's Franchise Industry . That politics makes for strange lunchfellows did not escape the author of the winning book, Heather Robertson ( Driving Force : The McLaughlin Family and the Age of the Car ). When she stepped up to the podium to accept her certificate and $10,000 cheque fromOntario's former Tory premier William Davis , she said, " David Frum I'm not. I have only two blue suits, and they're both track suits."

Other Nominees:

John Lorinc - Opportunity Knocks: The Truth About Canada's Franchise Industry
BUS HF5429.235.C2L67 1995

Linda McQuaig - Shooting the Hippo: Death by Deficit and Other Canadian Myths
DBW HJ7663.M34 1995

Michael Woloschuk - Family Ties: The Real Story of the McCain Feud
DBW HD9217.C24M338 1995

10 - 1995

Anne Kingston - The Edible Man: Dave Nichol, President's Choice and the Making of Popular Taste
BUS HD9325.C22K56 1994

Related stories and reviews:

"Paperclips," by Gordon Morash, Edmonton Journal, April 30, 1995.

"Four vie for business book award," The Globe and Mail, Mar.11, 1995.

In this article it is mentioned that 30 books were being considered for the award.

"Nichol Biography: Food for Thought," by James Bagnall, The Ottawa Citizen, Dec. 20, 1994.

Other Nominees:

Dean Jobb - Calculated Risk (runner-up) (an account of the Westray Mine Disaster)

LawrenceSurtees - Wire Wars: the Canadian Fight for Competition in Telecommunications
BUS HE8870.U55S87 1994

Michael Hart - Decision At Midnight: Inside the Canada-US Free Trade Negotiations
DBW HF1766.H3772 1994

9 - 1994

Duncan McDowall - Quick to the Frontier: Canada's Royal Bank
BUS HG2708.R6M336 1993

Related stories and reviews:
There was a brief mention of this winner in "Free Trade in U.S. Southern Gothic," by Philip Marchand in the Toronto Star, April 6, 1994. In the article McDowall is quoted as having said at the awards luncheon that: "This is a commissioned book and I'm proud of the fact. For too long has the commissioned book lived under a stigma inCanada."

"Royal Bank Book Wins Award," The Gazette, Mar. 28, 1994.

"Biography of a Bank Named Best Business Book," by Val Ross, The Globe and Mail, Mar.26, 1994,

Other Nominees:

In the article directly above there is an indication that there were 28 submissions and that Conrad Black's autobiography, A Life in Progress, was also a finalist. See also: "Black a Finalist for Business Book Award," The Globe and Mail, Mar.12, 1994.

Michael Babad & Catherine Mulroney - Pillars: The Coming Crisis in Canada's Financial Industry
BUS HG2704.B3 1993

Ann Finlayson & Sandra Martin - Card Trick$: Bankers, Boomers and the Explosion of Plastic Credit
BUS HG3755.F56 1993

Douglas How & Ralph Costello - K.C.: The Biography of K.C. Irving
BUS HC112.5.I75H68 1993

8 - 1993

Peter Foster - Self-Serve: How Petro-Canada Pumped Canadians Dry
BUS HD9574.C24P4735 1992

Related stories and reviews:

"Books" The Globe and Mail, Mar.20, 1993, p.C14.

The five judges for this year were: former premier William Davis, historian Michael Bliss; Prof. James Gillies; H.Gordon MacNeill (chairman, Jannock Ltd.) and Adam Zimmerman (chairman, Noranda Forest Inc.

"Foster Wins Business Book Award," The Globe and Mail, April 10, 1993, p.C10. The award was to be presented on April 22.

"Our Ink-Stained Wretches are Covered With Glory," by Michael Bliss, Canadian Business,Vol.66, No.5, May 1993, p.16.

[In some accounts there is mention of another nominee in 1992- Sigfusson's Roads, by Svein Sigfusson.]

Other Nominees:

Stuart Logie - Winging It: The Making of the Canadair's Challenger
DBW TL686.C35L63 1992

Wendy Evans, Henry Lane & Shawna O'Grady - Border Crossings: Doing Business in the US
BUS HD2809.E93 1992
[at the time, Lane was a Professor at theWesternBusinessSchool and O'Grady was a doctoral candidate there].

Donald MacKay - The People's Railway: a history of Canadian National
DBW HE2810.C14M32 1992

Jennifer Wells - The Pez: The Manic Life of the Ultimate Promoter
BUS HC112.5.P49W45 1991

7 - 1992

G. Bruce Doern and Brian W. Tomlin - Faith and Fear: The Free Trade Story
DBW HF1766.D64 1991

Related stories and reviews:

"Five Books in Running for $10,000 Prize," The Ottawa Citizen, Mar.29, 1992. p.D8.

"Ottawa Professors Share Book Award," Calgary Herald, April 14, 1992, p.C8.

"Academics Win Book Award," The Globe and Mail, April 14, 1992, pC2
"The judges were former Ontario premier William Davis, former Conservative MP James Gillies, business executives Gordon MacNeill and Adam Zimmerman and historian Michael Bliss. After reading this year's 34 submissions, they singled out two other books for honourable mention...[the ones by Marrus and DeMont noted below].

Other Nominees:

Peter C. Newman - Merchant Princes
DBW FC3207.N49 v.3
See our bibliography of Newman's work.

Michael R. Marrus - Mr. Sam: the life and times of Samuel Bronfman
DBW HD9390.C22B75 1991

John DeMont - Citizens Irving: K.C. Irving and his legacy : the story of Canada's wealthiest family
BUS HC112.5.I75D45 1991

Max Ward - The Max Ward Story
BUS HE9815.W37W36 1991

6 - 1991

Ann Gibson and Peter Hadekel - Steinberg: The Breakup of a Family Empire
BUS HF5469.23.C24S74 1990

Related stories and reviews:
"Finalists Announced for Business Book Award", The Gazette, Mar. 20, 1991.
It was noted that the winners were to be announced on April 24.

For short comments on all the nominees for this year see:
"Bliss on Books: Squabbles & Scandals - The Finalists in a Business-Book Contest Cover Everything from Chocolate-Making at Home to Risk-taking in Europe," Michael Bliss, Report on Business Magazine, Vol.7, No.11, May 1991, p.27.

Other Nominees:

Gordon Pitts - Storming The Fortress: How Canadian business Can Conquer Europe in 1992
BUS HF1480.15.E97P58 1990

David Folster - The Chocolate Ganongs of St. Stephen, New Brunswick
BUS HD9330.C654G3636 1991 T.D. Regehr - The Beauharnois Scandal: A Story of Canadian Entrepreneurship and Politics

5- 1990

Ian Brown - Freewheeling: the Feuds, Broods, and Outrageous Fortunes of the Billes Family and Canada's Favorite Company
BUS HD9161.5.T574C363 1989

Related stories and reviews:

"Brown Wins Book Award, The Globe and Mail, April 17, 1990. p.A17

Other Nominees:

John Schreiner - The Refiners: A Century of B.C. Sugar
BUS HD9114.C24B757 1989

Eva Innes & Lesley Southwick-Trask - The Financial Post Turning It Around: How Ten Canadian Organizations Changed Their Fortunes
BUS HD70.C2I55 1989

4 - 1989

Greig Stewart - Shutting Down the National Dream
DBW TL 685.3.S83 1988

Related stories and reviews:
It was reported that the prize given to Stewart was $10,000 and the runner-up received $5,000. The awards were presented on April 19 at the Sutton Place Hotel, in Toronto. Former Ontario premier William Davis was chair of the panel of judges. At this time the award was sponsored by Coopers and Lybrand and the Financial Times .See: "Business Book Prize Announced," The Windsor Star, April 11, 1989.

"Avro Arrow Book Named for Award," Toronto Star, April 12, 1989, p.B8

"Shutting Down the Avro Myth," Michael Bliss, Report on Business Magazine, Vol.5. No.8, Feb. 1989, p.29

Other Nominees:

Christopher Armstrong & H.V. Nelles - Southern Exposure: Canadian Promoters in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1896-1930.
DBW HG5160.5.A3A7

3 - 1988

Michael Bliss - Northern Enterprise
BUS HF3224.B65 1987

Related stories and reviews:

"History Book Wins Award," Vancouver Sun, April 12, 1988, p.C3.

"Business Book Award Goes to Michael Bliss," The Globe and Mail, April 12, 1988, p.C7.

Bliss is a well-known historian and this book was widely reviewed. Two samples:

Kenneth McNaught, Ontario History, Vol.80, No.2, p.159.

William Marr, The Canadian Historical Review, Vol.69, No.1, Mar. 1988, p.95

Other Nominees:

Kenneth Lefolii - Claims: Adventures in the Gold Trade (runner up)

2 - 1987

Philip Smith - Harvest From the Rock
DBW TN27.O5S52 1986

Related stories and reviews:
"British Writer Wins Book Prize," The Vancouver Sun, May 23, 1987, p.G6

"Colorful Mining Saga Wins National Award, The Globe and Mail, May 22, 1987.

"Harvest from the Rock - Review, Ontario History, Vol.78, No.4, p.377.

"Harvest from the Rock - Review, Canadian Geographic, Vol.106, No.5, p.80 Oct./Nov.1986.

"Harvest from the Rock - Review, The Canadian Historical Review, Vol.68, No.2, June 1987, p.314.

Mr. Smith died in 1996. See: "Journalist Philip Smith Was Honored as Historian," Al. Barnes, Toronto Star, Aug. 28, 1996, p.A8

Other Nominees:

Gareth Morgan - Images of Organization
BUS HD31.M628 1986
See our guide to the work of Morgan.

Peter Foster - The Master Builders - How the Reichmanns Reached for an Empire
BUS HD316.F67 1986

1 - 1986

Ann Shortell and Patricia Best - A Matter of Trust
BUS HG4358.B475 1985

For related stories see:

"Excellent Study Exposes Trust-Company Bungles", Doug Yonson, The Ottawa Citizen, Feb. 15, 1986, p.C2

"Book on Trust firms Wins Business Prize," Toronto Star, June 10, 1986, p.E5.

"Trust Industry Saga Wins New Book Award," ed. By Andrew Coyne, Financial Post, June 21, 1986, p.12

"Best Business Book of 1985 Awarded (A Matter of Trust), CA Magazine, Vol.119, No.8, p.17.

"Bliss on Books: Institutions in Which We No Longer Trust," Report on Business Magazine, Nov.29, 1985, p.133

Other Nominees:

Harry Bruce - Frank Sobey: The Man and the Empire
BUS HF5469.23.C24S624 1985

Albert D. Cohen - The Entrepreneurs: The Story of GENDIS Inc.
BUS HD9696.A3C23 1985
For a review see: Marketing, May 19, 1986. Vol. 91, Iss. 20; p. 5