Awards
His novel 2023 novel Breaking and Entering examines the life of a 50-year-old woman who deals with her mid-life crisis by breaking into houses. The New York Times called it “thrilling and relatable.” It was both a Globe and Mail Best Books and an Oprah Winfrey Best Books of 2023 and was nominated for the Republic of Consciousness Prize (US)
His previous book, To the River (2018, Random House) explores his brother’s suicide. It won the 2019 Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction and was a CBC Best Books of 2019.
His novel Long Change (2015, Random House) examines the world of oil through the life and loves of one man; both stories are epic.
His previous novel, Mount Pleasant (2013, Random House), is a darkly comic meditation on privilege and debt set in contemporary Toronto, and his first novel, the critically acclaimed Kanata (2009, Penguin), dealt with the whole sweep of Canadian history. He is also the author of a two-volume history of Canada, Canada: A People’s History, and three other books of non-fiction, The Desire of Every Living Thing, Stratford Behind the Scenes, and I Swear by Apollo.
He has written nine books for children, two of which were nominated for a Governor General’s Award. His journalism and criticism have appeared in The Walrus, where he was a senior editor; Saturday Night and Toronto Life, where he was a contributing editor; and Rolling Stone, GQ, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star, among other publications. He has won 12 National Magazine Awards, along with the Prix Jean-Charles Page (for medical journalism), two Western Magazine Awards and one National Newspaper Award. His two-volume companion to CBC Television's award-winning Canada: A People’s History won the prestigious Libris Award in 2001. His children’s books have received the Governor General’s Award, the Mr. Christie Award and the Torgi Award from the CNIB.
2019: Governor General’s Literary Award for Non Fiction for To the River: Losing my Brother
2018: Canadian Online Publishing Awards, nomination Battle of the Atlantic”
2018: Canadian Online Publishing Awards, nomination, “Battle of the Somme”
2017: Canadian Online Publishing Awards, Gold, “O Canada: Our Journey to 150.” Legion
2016: National Magazine Award, Silver, “A Poet Self-Destructs.” Walrus
2015: Phoenix Award, nomination The Fabulous Song
2013: National Magazine Award, Honorable Mention, Essays, “The Descent of Man.”
2013: National Magazine Award, Sport, Honorable Mention. “The Descent of Man.”
2013: National Newspaper Award, Long Feature, "Baby boomers and suicide: The surprising trend," Toronto Star
2012: Silver Birch Express Award, Finalist, The Time Time Stopped
2012: National Magazine Award, Profiles, Honorable Mention, “Munsch’s Monsters,” Toronto Life
2012: National Magazine Award, Personal Journalism, Honourable Mention, “All In,” Eighteen Bridges
2012: National Magazine Award, Gold, Arts and Entertainment, “All In,” Eighteen Bridges
2010: National Magazine Award, Honourable Mention, One of a Kind, “Bush Agonistes,” Report on Business
2010: National Magazine Award, Honourable Mention, Arts and Entertainment, “That Old Flame,” The Walrus
2009: National Magazine Award, Honourable Mention, Travel, “Paradise Found,” EnRoute Magazine
2009: National Magazine Award, Honourable Mention, Personal Journalism, “Shelter From the Storm,” The Walrus
2009: National Magazine Award, Honourable Mention, Essays, “The Events Leading up to Sir Norman Foster,” The Walrus
2008: National Magazine Award, Honourable mention, Short Feature, “Killer Tomatoes,” Toronto Life
2008: National Magazine Award, Gold, Politics and Public Affairs, “Once Upon a Country,” The Walrus
2008: National Magazine Award, Gold (shared) Editorial Package, “The Future of Food,” Report on Business
2007: Silver Willow Award, Nomination, Sophie and the Sea Monster
2007: National Magazine Award, Silver, Lifestyle, “Domestic Terroir”
2007: National Magazine Award, Nomination, Humour, “A Billion Little Pieces”
2007: National Magazine Award, Nomination, Business, “Domestic Terroir”
2007; Blue Spruce Award, Nomination, Sophie and the Sea Monster
2006: National Magazine Award, Silver, One of a Kind, “Terminal Velocity”
2006: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Travel, “America the Beautiful”
2006: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Politics and Public Interest, “Shifting Sands”
2006: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Essays, “America the Beautiful”
2006: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Business, “Shifting Sands”
2005: National Magazine Award, Honorable Mention, Social Affairs, “The Next SARS”
2004: National Magazine Award, Honourable mention, Society, “Surreal Estate.”
2004: National Magazine Award, Honourable mention, Arts and Entertainment: ‘Anatomy of a Best Seller’
2003: National Magazine Award, Honourable mention, Society, `Farm Fatale Toronto life
2003: National Magazine Award, Honourable mention, Arts and Entertainment, `The Big Picture`
2003: Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Calgary
2002: Nomination; Pearson Canada Reader's Choice Award, The Fabulous Song
2002: NationalMagazine Award, honourable mention, Politics and Public Issues "Eating Our Young," Toronto Life
2001: Torgi Award, honourable mention; Yuck, A Love Story
2001: Prix de l'incorruptible (France); nomination Beurk! une Histoire d'Amour (Yuck, ALove Story)
2001: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Editorial Package "Cops" Toronto Life
2001: Libris Award, Non-Fiction Book of the Year, Canada: A People's History
2000: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Sports and Recreation, "On the Rebound" Saturday Night
2000: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Social Affairs, "Semi-Detached" Toronto Life
2000: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Personal Journalism, "Semi-Detached" Toronto Life
2000: Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award, shortlist, special citation, The Desire of Every Living Thing
1999: National Magazine Award, silver, Social Affairs, "Killing Cousins" Toronto Life
1999: National Magazine Award, silver, Investigative Reporting, "Fire Alarm" Toronto Life
1999: National Magazine Award, honourable mention; Investigative Reporting, "Killing Cousins" Toronto Life
1999: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Fiction, "Gubermann" Toronto Life
1999: Governor General's Award, shortlist, children's literature, The Christmas Orange
1998: National Magazine Award; honourable mention, Arts and Entertainment; "Allthe Rage" Saturday Night
1997: Storytelling World Awards (United States); Honor title, The Fabulous Song
1997: National Magazine Award, gold, Public Affairs and Social Issues, "The Punishment Station" Toronto Life
1997: Mr. Christie Book Award; The Fabulous Song
1996: Torgi Award (from the CNIB) for children's literature, When Vegetables Go Bad!
1996: Governor General's Award; shortlist for children's literature for The Fabulous Song.
1995: nomination for Torgi Award given by the Canadian Institute for the Blind for children's literature; The Trouble With Justin
1995: National Magazine Award, honourable mention, Arts and Entertainment journalism; "Satisfaction" Saturday Night
1994: National Magazine Award for Travel Journalism, silver; "Shetland Shores" Destinations
1993: National Magazine Award; honourable mention, Profiles; "Don Cherry Unleashed" Saturday Night
1992: National Magazine Award, silver, for Business Journalism; "Dangerous Liasons" Saturday Night
1991: National Magazine Award, silver, for Environmental Journalism; "A Fine Kettle of Fish" Equinox
1991: Author's Award for Arts Journalism; "Concrete Errors" Saturday Night
1990: Author's Award for Arts Journalism; "The Reincarnation of Kathryn Dawn" Saturday Night
1990: Author's Award for Arts Journalism; "Back in the Saddle" Saturday Night Magazine
1989: Western Magazine Award; "The Cowboy Boot" West Magazine
1988: Prix Jean-Charles Page (medical journalism) "Psychiatric Hubris" Vie a Montreal
1987: nomination; Western Magazine Awards, Commentary; "America Writ Small" LastIssue