Cue the drum roll.... and the winners are...Okay, so let's step back, just even for the sense of maintaining suspense.

The Montefiore Club, located on Rue Guy in Montreal's forest-fire-smoke-shrouded downtown, was packed with some of the brightest historical minds in the country. Mingling, chatting, drinking red and white wine, they were all wondering who would take away the 18 prizes to be handed out later in the night.

The evening's event was to be extra special, because the rarest prize in Canadian history -- the Francois-Xavier Garneau Medal -- was also slated to be awarded. This award is only offered every five years, and goes to the book that displays "exceptional merit" in the preceding five-year period.

MC Peter Gossage, a historian at Concordia University got things started around 7 p.m. Waiting in the wings was the house band, who, rumour has it, includes Gossage's brother as a band member.

Amid camera flashes and rounds of applause, the awards began. Here are the winners, beginning with the three main awards:
 
* Francois-Xavier Garneau Medal, awarded once every five years for the best history book published during that time period: John Weaver, for his 2003 book, "The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900.

* Sir John A. Macdonald Prize, for best book on Canadian history: Beatrice Craig, for "Backwoods Consumers and Homespun Capitalists: The Rise of a Market Culture in Eastern Canada.

* Wallace K. Ferguson Award, for the best book not focused on Canadian history: Luke Clossey, for "Salvation and Globalization in the Early Jesuit Missions.

Other award winners:
* CHR Prize for Best Article: Mary Ellen Kelm
* Eugene A. Forsey Prize: Arnaud Bessiere.
* Neil Sutherland Biennial Article Prize: Ellen Boucher.
* History of Sexuality Prize: Patrick Dunae.
* Hilda Neatby Prize:
-- English language, Shirley Tillotson.
-- French Language, Elise Detellier.
* Canadian Aboriginal History Book Prize: Shirleen Smith and Erika Tiza, representing Vuntut Cwitchin First Nation.
*Journal of Canadian Historical Association Prize
-- Vol. 1: Michael Gauvreau;
-- Vol. 2, Jane Sampson.
*John Bullen Prize: Amelie Bourbeau.
* Clio Atlantic, Beatrice Craig
* Clio B.C.: Becki L. Ross.
* Clio North: Liza Piper
* Clio North: William Morrison.
* Clio Ontario: Sharon Wall.
* Clio Prairies: Royden Loewen and Gerald Friesen.
* Clio Quebec:  Eric Bedard.

So there you have it. As I type this, the historians are partying the night away in Le Belle Province. Tomorrow, however, it's back to work, with more presentations as Congress wraps its final day.

I recorded fantastic interviews with both John Weaver and Beatrice Craig; they both speak eloquently about what inspired them to write their books, and what messages or insights they hoped to pass on to their respective readers. These will both be on the podcast when I return to Winnipeg.
Thanks for reading, and bonne nuit!
Mark