2008 Presenter Full Presenter List

Margaret Atwood

Canadian Literature Icon

Margaret Atwood is a world-renowned poet, novelist, cartoonist and critic who has received numerous awards internationally for her literary works, including The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence, the National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Literature, Le Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the London Literary Prize and the Governor General’s Award.

Margaret’s love for writing began with “poems, morality plays, comic books and an unfinished novel about an ant.” Since then, she has published more than 30 books in 35 countries and her contributions to the world of literature include The Margaret Atwood Society, a foundation that connects writers who share a passion for literature.

As an activist she supports civil rights organizations such as PEN Canada, Artists Against Racism, Literature for Life, World Wildlife Fund Canada and SaveOurClimate.ca. In addition to activism, Atwood is also the inventor of LongPen, a pen and ink signing device that electronically connects writers with their fans over great distances.

The face of Canadian literature would not be the same without her.