By Jasminee Sahoye

She is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and is one of Ontario’s top literary talents but for Dionne Brand, awards for her writings are not new as she has received a number of literary honours.

Next Tuesday (June 16) she will be among six finalists for one of

Ontario’s most prestigious literary prizes, the Trillium Book Award for Love Enough. Brand already has won a Trillium Book Award in 1997 for Land to Light On.

Other finalists this year include veteran authors Margaret Atwood and Thomas King.

Brand has published 18 books, contributed to 17 anthologies, written dozens of essays and articles and in the 1990’s made four documentary films for the National Film Board. She was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at St. Lawrence University in the U.S. and has taught literature and creative writing at universities in both British Columbia and Ontario. She has also held the Ruth Wynn Woodward Chair in Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University.

She is currently a professor of English at the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph where she also holds a University Research Chair.

The Trillium Book Award / Prix Trillium encourages excellence in literature by investing in Ontario-based writers. Award recipients receive $20,000 and their respective publishers receive $2,500 to promote the winning titles. All finalists receive a $500 honorarium.

The award is by the Ontario Media Development Corporation to support, raise awareness and celebrate the work of talented authors throughout the province.

Six English and five French books have been shortlisted for the 2015 Trillium Book Award.

Three titles are also shortlisted for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry in English language and three titles for the Trillium Book Award for Children’s Literature in French language.

“I am pleased to congratulate this year’s gifted finalists and to recognize their important contributions towards a creative, innovative and culturally rich Ontario,” said Michael Coteau, minister of tourism, culture and sport.

“This year’s Trillium Book Award shortlist reflects the remarkable range of Ontario’s authors, whose compelling works contribute to the rich cultural traditions of our province and country. Ontario is very fortunate to be home to literary talent that is enjoyed around the world,” said Kevin Shea, chair, Ontario Media Development Corporation.