TORONTO — Renowned poet and novelist Anne Michaels has received the prestigious Giller Prize for her latest work, “Held,” which provides a profound exploration of war and its associated traumas across multiple generations.

The Giller Prize, valued at 100,000 Canadian dollars (approximately $71,000), recognizes outstanding achievements in Canadian fiction. This esteemed award has previously honored distinguished authors such as Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler, and Alice Munro.

During her acceptance speech on Monday night at a Toronto ceremony, Michaels called for harmony across “all the arts.” This event, however, unfolded amid ongoing anti-war protests by other literary figures advocating for socio-political causes.

Outside the venue, which was the Park Hyatt hotel, demonstrators amplified their calls for the Giller Foundation to sever connections with certain corporate sponsors, including Scotiabank, due to its investment in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Inside, the awards gala proceeded without interruptions, contrasting with the previous year’s event, which faced significant disruptions from pro-Palestinian activists.

“Held” intricately weaves through time, chronicling the life of a photographer who becomes a soldier in the First World War, alongside the stories of his descendants, their partners, and the parents of these partners. The Giller jury praised “Held” for its powerful and captivating exploration of themes such as mortality, resilience, and human desire.

The Giller Prize was established in 1994 by the late Jack Rabinovitch, a businessman who created the award in memory of his wife, Doris Giller, an influential literary journalist.