The West Coast Book Prize Society announced today (April 14) that revered author George Bowering has been named this year’s winner of the annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence. The award was established in 2003 to recognize British Columbia writers who have made outstanding contributions to the literary culture of the province.

It would be hard to think of a writer who’s contributed more than the Penticton-born Bowering has in his long career, not only as the author of more than 80 books—spanning the genres, from poetry and novels to biography and youth fiction—but also as an educator at universities across the country and as far afield as Berlin and Rome.

The award, which includes $5,000 in cash, will be presented to the 75-year-old author by Lt.-Gov. Steven Point at the B.C. Book Prizes Gala, to be held at West Vancouver’s Kay Meek Centre next Thursday (April 21).