A group supporting Palestine that previously initiated a boycott against the Giller Prize has declared an end to their protest. CanLit Responds, the group behind the boycott, confirmed receiving an email from the Giller’s executive director, Elana Rabinovitch, stating that the prize no longer has sponsorship connections with Scotiabank or the Azrieli Foundation. Rabinovitch also clarified in the email that Indigo Books was only a promotional partner, not a sponsor.
The boycott was launched by CanLit Responds in the fall of 2024 due to the Giller sponsors’ ties to Israel. Notable Canadian authors, including David Bergen, Shani Mootoo, and Thea Lim, joined the protest. Scotiabank, the naming sponsor of the $100,000 prize for twenty years, faced backlash in 2023 over its subsidiary’s investment in an Israeli arms manufacturer, leading to the Giller Foundation severing ties with the bank last year.
Despite the Giller cutting ties with Scotiabank, the boycott persisted as CanLit Responds demanded the prize to not be associated with Indigo or the Azrieli Foundation. Protesters objected to Indigo due to its CEO’s involvement in a charity offering scholarships to former Israel Defence Forces soldiers without family in Israel.
Additionally, criticism was directed at the Azrieli Foundation for its links to the Azrieli Group, which has ties to Bank Leumi, listed by the United Nations Human Rights Office for activities in occupied Palestinian territory. The foundation clarified its distinction from the Azrieli Group on its website.
Rabinovitch mentioned in an email that the Giller’s contract with the Azrieli Foundation ended in 2025 but assured the prize’s continuation for 2026 with donations from anonymous individuals and foundations. CanLit Responds hailed the end of the boycott as a victory against genocide normalization and urged the Giller to ensure transparent and ethical sponsorships in the future.
The group’s organizer, Michael DeForge, emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust with writers and readers. Author Andre Forget expressed cautious willingness to submit future work to the Giller Prize, contingent on developments. Regulatory filings revealed Scotiabank’s divestment from Israeli defence manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd.
The 2026 Giller Prize longlist will be disclosed in mid-September, with the shortlist following in early October.
