12th ANNUAL DONNER PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCED

A rich, textured and highly nuanced account of the Canada-US relationship wins $35,000 prize.

Toronto, Thursday, April 28th, 2010 – The winner of the prestigious Donner Prize, an annual award for best book on Canadian public policy, was announced this evening by Allan Gotlieb, Chairman of the Donner Canadian Foundation, at a gala awards dinner at the Carlu.

Brian Bow was awarded the $35,000 prize for The Politics of Linkage: Power, Interdependence and Ideas in Canada-US Relations, published by UBC Press.

Brian Bow is an associate professor of political science at Dalhousie University and co-editor of An Independent Foreign Policy for Canada? Challenges and Choices for the Future. He is also the Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC.

Offering detailed accounts of four major bilateral disputes, The Politics of Linkage traces a history of US - Canadian relations and the post-war diplomatic culture.

"A well organized and accessible analysis based on the bargaining theory of the history of the Canada-US relationship. The underlying research is sound, exhaustive and of exceptional quality." – Donner Jury

"This book is of great importance not only for a better understanding of the exceptional history of Canada-United-States relationships but also to see the need to adapt Canadian negotiations strategies to the new and more complex context." – Donner Jury

The other nominated titles, each of which received $5,000, were:

Who Owns the Arctic?: Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North by Michael Byers (Douglas & McIntyre)

A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future by Larry Campbell, Neil Boyd & Lori Culbert (Greystone Books)

Branding Canada: Projecting Canada’s Soft Power through Public Diplomacy by Evan H. Potter (McGill-Queen’s University Press)

Last year’s winners of the $35,000 Donner Prize were Ken S. Coates, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, William R. Morrison & Greg Poelzer for Arctic Front: Defending Canada in the Far North, published by Thomas Allen Publishers.

The winner of the Donner Prize was chosen from an impressive list of 71 submissions and a shortlist of four by the five-member jury: Anne McLellan (Chairman), Wendy Dobson, Peter Harder, Robert Lacroix, and Denis Stairs.

"We had books submitted on a diversity of subjects again this year. Interestingly we had a significant number of submissions that addressed Canada's role in the world, a fact reflected in this year's short list. In choosing our short list we consider the importance of the subject, the soundness and originality of the analysis, the presentation of the evidence, the support of the conclusions reached, and the accessibility of the text in our discussions," said Anne McLellan.

The Donner Prize, established in 1998, annually rewards excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy thinking, writing and research in Canada; inspiring lively debate on public policy issues and rewarding provocative and excellent work that speaks to an informed readership and an open exchange of ideas and public debate. In bestowing this award, the Donner Canadian Foundation seeks to broaden policy debates, increase general awareness of the importance of policy decision making and make an original and meaningful contribution to policy discourse.

For further information, please contact:
Debby De Groot
Meisner, de Groot & Associates
Phone: (416) 363-1448
E-mail: debby@mdgassociates.com
www.donnerbookprize.com

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12th ANNUAL DONNER PRIZE SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

International Issues – Canadian Solutions

Canada/U.S. Relations, Soft Diplomacy, Vancouver’s Eastside, and the Arctic compete for attention of Canadians

Toronto. 6th April, 2010: The four finalists competing for the 2009/2010 Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, were announced today by Allan Gotlieb, Chairman of the Donner Canadian Foundation.

“The Donner Prize annually rewards excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy writing. Last year’s shortlisted books generated a great deal of discussion on a number of topical, provocative and controversial subjects. We hope that the 2009/2010 selection resonates with Canadians and facilitates another informed, open exchange of ideas. In bestowing this award, the Donner Canadian Foundation seeks to broaden policy debates, increase general awareness of the importance of policy decision making, and make an original and meaningful contribution to policy discourse,” said Mr. Gotlieb.

The Donner Prize was established in 1998 to recognize and reward the best public policy thinking, writing and research in Canada. The 2009/2010 Shortlist books were chosen from 71 submissions. The winner of this year’s Donner Prize will be announced at an awards ceremony in Toronto on Wednesday, April 28th 2010. The winner will receive $35,000, with $5,000 awarded to the other finalists.

The 2009/2010 Donner Prize Finalists are:

The Politics of Linkage: Power, Interdependence and Ideas in Canada-US Relations by Brian Bow (UBC Press)

Who Owns the Arctic?: Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North by Michael Byers (Douglas & McIntyre)

A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future by Larry Campbell, Neil Boyd & Lori Culbert (Greystone Books)

Branding Canada: Projecting Canada’s Soft Power through Public Diplomacy by Evan H. Potter (McGill-Queen’s University Press)

The 2009/2010 Donner Prize Shortlist

The Politics of Linkage: Power, Interdependence and Ideas in Canada-US Relations by Brian Bow (UBC Press)

Do Canada and the United States share a special relationship, or is this just a face-saving myth? Offering detailed accounts of four major bilateral disputes, The Politics of Linkage traces a history of US/Canadian relations and the post-war diplomatic culture.

"A well organized and accessible analysis based on the bargaining theory of the history of the Canada-US relationship. The underlying research is sound, exhaustive and of exceptional quality." - Donner Jury

Brian Bow is an associate professor of political science at Dalhousie University and co-editor of An Independent Foreign Policy for Canada? Challenges and Choices for the Future.

Who Owns the Arctic?: Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North by Michael Byers (Douglas & McIntyre)

In Who Owns the Arctic?, a leading Arctic expert and international lawyer explains the sometimes contradictory rules governing the Arctic and the disputes that still need to be resolved.

"An excellent contribution to our understanding of the so-called sovereignty issues of Canada’s Arctic. Byers gives us a rich historical context, a keen policy analysis and boldly articulates a policy stance for consideration." - Donner Jury

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. He has led two projects for Arcticnet, a Canadian government-funded research consortium.

A Thousand Dreams: Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and the Fight for Its Future by Larry Campbell, Neil Boyd & Lori Culbert (Greystone Books)

A Thousand Dreams raises provocative questions about the challenges confronting not only Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, but most of North America’s major cities and offers concrete, albeit controversial solutions that are needed urgently.

"In a clear and compelling fashion, a case for governments and communities to work together, to think ‘outside the box’ and to achieve longer lasting solutions for complex social problems. Reflects the passion of the major actors in the evolution of policy towards Vancouver’s Eastside" – Donner Jury

Larry Campbell was mayor of Vancouver from 2002 to 2005 and oversaw the establishment of North America’s first legal injection site. He was appointed a Canadian Senator in 2005.

Neil Boyd is a professor and associate director of the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University.

Lori Culbert is an award-winning journalist with the Vancouver Sun.

Branding Canada: Projecting Canada’s Soft Power through Public Diplomacy by Evan H. Potter (McGill-Queen’s University Press)

In offering the first comprehensive overview of the origins, development and implementation of the country’s public diplomacy, Branding Canada offers policy advice on Canada’s approach, and advances the thinking on public diplomacy.

"A useful reference to Canada’s historic use of ‘public diplomacy’ to support our foreign policy objectives and a compelling case that the strategic exercise of these tools of diplomacy can influence other players in the game of international politics. Clearly written, and thoroughly researched" – Donner Jury

Evan H. Potter is assistant professor in the Department of Communication, University of Ottawa.

For further information, please contact:
Debby de Groot
MDG & Associates
Phone: (416) 363-1448
E-mail: debby@mdgassociates.com
www.donnerbookprize.com

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