Each winner of the 1965 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit was selected by a panel of judges administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Winners

English Language

• Poetry or Drama: Al Purdy, The Cariboo Horses.
• Non-Fiction: James Eayrs, In Defence of Canada.

French Language

• Fiction: G rard Bessette, L'incubation
• Poetry or Drama: Gilles Vigneault, Quand les bateaux s'en vont.
• Non-Fiction: Andr S. Vachon, Le temps et l'espace dans l'oeuvre de Paul Claudel.

Other Governor General's Awards

fr:Prix du Gouverneur g n ral 1965