In Canada, the 1959 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit saw a major change from previous awards. Instead of five categories in English the awards were now presented in two categories in English and two in French. The management of the awards was also transferred to the Canada Council.

Winners

English Language

• Fiction: Hugh MacLennan, The Watch That Ends the Night.
• Poetry or Drama: Irving Layton, A Red Carpet for the Sun.

French Language

• Fiction: Andr Giroux, Malgr tout, la joie.
• Non-Fiction: F lix-Antoine Savard, Le barachois.

Other Governor General's Awards

fr:Prix du Gouverneur g n ral 1959