A group supporting Palestinian rights, CanLit Responds, has declared an end to their boycott of the Giller Prize after confirming that the event no longer has sponsorship connections with Scotiabank or the Azrieli Foundation. Executive director Elana Rabinovitch communicated this update via email to the group, clarifying that Indigo Books is a promotional partner, not a sponsor of the prize.
The boycott, initiated by CanLit Responds in fall 2024 due to the sponsors’ ties to Israel, garnered support from numerous Canadian authors, including David Bergen, Shani Mootoo, and Thea Lim. Scotiabank, a long-standing $100,000 prize sponsor, faced protests in 2023 over its subsidiary’s involvement with an Israeli arms manufacturer, leading to the foundation severing ties with the bank in the past year.
Despite the split with Scotiabank, the boycott persisted as CanLit Responds insisted on dissociating the prize from both Indigo and the Azrieli Foundation. Concerns were raised regarding Indigo’s CEO running a charity supporting former Israel Defence Forces soldiers, while objections were also directed at the Azrieli Foundation for its association with the Azrieli Group, which has ties to Bank Leumi, listed by the UN Human Rights Office for activities in occupied Palestinian territories.
The Azrieli Foundation clarified its distinction from the Azrieli Group, emphasizing its investments within Israel’s internationally recognized borders. Rabinovitch disclosed that the foundation’s contract with the Giller Prize concluded in 2025, with the event sustained by a “bridge” gift and anonymous contributions for the 2026 edition.
CanLit Responds hailed the end of their campaign as a victory against the normalization of Palestinian suffering, urging the Giller Prize to uphold transparent and ethical sponsorships. The group’s organizer, Michael DeForge, emphasized the need for the Giller to rebuild trust with writers and readers, with uncertainties lingering over authors’ future participation in the prize.
Canadian writer Andre Forget expressed willingness to consider submitting his work in the future, contingent on developments and trust restoration. Regulatory filings revealed Scotiabank’s divestment from Elbit Systems Ltd., an Israeli defence manufacturer. The Giller Prize is set to announce its 2026 longlist in mid-September, followed by the shortlist in early October.
