A group supporting Palestinian rights, CanLit Responds, has declared an end to their boycott of the Giller Prize. The decision came after an email from the prize’s executive director, Elana Rabinovitch, confirming the termination of sponsorship connections with Scotiabank and the Azrieli Foundation. The group initiated the boycott in 2024 due to the sponsors’ ties to Israel, attracting support from notable Canadian authors like David Bergen and Shani Mootoo.
Scotiabank, a long-standing sponsor of the $100,000 prize, faced criticism over its subsidiary’s involvement with an Israeli arms manufacturer, leading to the Giller Foundation cutting ties with the bank last year. Despite this, the boycott persisted as CanLit Responds demanded the prize distance itself from Indigo and the Azrieli Foundation, citing concerns over their associations with Israel.
The controversy extended to Indigo due to its CEO’s charity supporting former Israel Defence Forces soldiers. Rabinovitch clarified in a recent email that Indigo had never financially supported the Giller and only promoted nominated works. The Azrieli Foundation, linked to the Azrieli Group with holdings in Bank Leumi, was also a target of criticism. The foundation emphasized its separate status and commitment to supporting arts in Canada.
While the Azrieli Foundation’s contract ended in 2025, the Giller Prize received donations to sustain its operations for the upcoming year. CanLit Responds hailed the end of the boycott as a victory against normalizing harm to Palestinians 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 authors and readers for the prize’s future participation.