McNally Robinson
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McNally Robinson Booksellers is a family-operated chain of Canadian independent bookstores. It is managed by Holly and Paul McNally.
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[edit] Overview
McNally Robinson was founded by Holly McNally in 1981 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with her partner Ron Robinson, who quit the book business a year later to pursue a career with CBC Radio. Robinson's name has remained attached to the enterprise because at the time he left, McNally didn't have the money to replace the store's sinage. Beginning with just one small corner bookstore, Holly and her husband Paul gradually built McNally Robinson Booksellers into one of the largest independent bookstores in Canada, spreading to Saskatoon and Calgary. Their daughter, Tory McNally, is taking over management as her parents retire.[citation needed] The stores provide a meeting place and a haven of the arts for readers and intellectuals of all interests and ages. They host readings and book launches by authors from Winnipeg, Canada and beyond. McNally Robinson operates four stores: at Portage Place and Grant Park Mall in Winnipeg, on 8th Street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and on Stephen Avenue in Calgary, Alberta. The stores in Calgary, Saskatoon, and at Grant Park in Winnipeg are all larger than 2000 square meters. Each bookstore is home to a full-service licenced restaurant, Prairie Ink.
In spring 2008 a new store will open in the Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, which will replace the Portage Place location. A store in Toronto, Ontario is also planned.
There is also a McNally Robinson bookstore in New York City's Nolita district. It is run by Sarah McNally, a daughter of Holly and Paul McNally, but is operated independently of the Canadian company.
[edit] Awards
McNally Robinson sponsors three literary awards:
- The McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award
- The McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award
- The McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year
[edit] McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award
The McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award is presented to the Manitoba writer whose adult English language book is judged the best written. The author receives a cash award of $5,000, donated by McNally Robinson Booksellers. The award is administered by the Manitoba Writers' Guild.
[edit] Winners
- 1988 — Jan Horner, Recent Mistakes
- 1989 — Kristjana Gunnars, The Prowler
- 1990 — Di Brandt, Agnes in the sky
- 1991 — Margaret Sweatman, Fox
- 1992 — Sandra Birdsell, The Chrome Suite
- 1993 — Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries
- 1994 — Patrick Friesen, Blasphemer's Wheel
- 1995 — Victoria Jason, Kabloona in the Yellow Kayak
- 1996 — David Bergen, A Year of Lesser
- 1997 — Catherine Hunter, Latent Heat
- 1998 — Miriam Toews, A Boy of Good Breeding
- 1999 — Gordon Sinclair, Jr., Cowboys and Indians
- 2000 — Miriam Toews, Swing Low: A Life
- 2001 — Margaret Sweatman, When Alice Lay Down With Peter
- 2002 — Jake MacDonald, Houseboat Chronicles: Notes from a Life in Shield Country
- 2003 — Armin Wiebe, Tatsea
- 2004 — Miriam Toews, A Complicated Kindness
- 2005 — David Bergen, The Time in Between
- 2006 — Faith Johnston, A Great Restlessness: The Life and Politics of Dorise Nielsen
[edit] McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award
The McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award is presented to the two Manitoba writers whose books for young people are judged the best written. Since 1997 this award has been given in two categories: Young Adult and Children. The two winning authors each receive a cash award of $2,500 donated by McNally Robinson Booksellers. The award is administered by the Manitoba Writers' Guild.
[edit] Pre 1997 winners
- 1995 — Margaret Buffie, The Dark Garden
- 1996 — Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon, Tiktala
[edit] Young Adult category
- 1997 — Diana Wieler, RanVan: Magic Nation
- 1998 — Diana Wieler, Drive
- 1999 — Martha Brooks, Being with Henry
- 2000 — Linda Holeman, Raspberry House Blues
- 2001 — Eva Wiseman, My Canary Yellow Star
- 2002 — Linda Holeman, Search of the Moon King’s Daughter
- 2003 — Duncan Thornton, The Star-Glass
- 2004 — Margaret Buffie, The Finder
- 2005 — Diane Juttner Perreault, Breath of the Dragon
- 2006 — Larry Verstraete, Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery
[edit] Children category
- 1997 — Sheldon Oberman, By the Hanukkah Light
- 1998 — No award given
- 1999 — Colleen Sydor, Smarty Pants
- 2000 — No award given
- 2001 — Sheldon Oberman, The Wisdom Bird
- 2002 — No award given
- 2003 — Connie Colker Steiner, Shoes for Amélie
- 2004 — No award given
- 2005 — Colleen Sydor, Camilla Chameleon
- 2006 — Colleen Sydor, Raising a Little Stink
[edit] McNally Robinson Aboriginal Book of the Year
The McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award is presented to the Aboriginal writer whose adult English language book is judged the best written. The author receives a cash award of $5,000, donated by McNally Robinson Booksellers.
[edit] Winners
- 2005 — Joseph Boyden, Three Day Road
- 2006 — Thomas King, A Short History of Indians in Canada
