Acclaimed author Miriam Toews, originally from Steinbach, Manitoba, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for her significant contributions to Canadian literature. The announcement was made on June 30 by Governor General Mary Simon, recognizing Toews as a "pre-eminent writer whose novels explore human tragedy and comedy in one fell swoop."
Rooted in Steinbach
Born and raised in Steinbach, Toews has often drawn upon her Mennonite heritage and experiences in the community to inform her writing. Her novels, including A Complicated Kindness and All My Puny Sorrows, are set in the fictional town of East Village, widely regarded as a representation of Steinbach.
In September 2024, a bronze plaque was unveiled at Toews's childhood home on Brandt Street in Steinbach, honouring her literary achievements. The initiative, led by local author Andrew Unger, aimed to acknowledge Toews's impact both nationally and within her hometown. "Miriam Toews has received accolades all around the world, awards and so on. But here in Steinbach, there isn’t really anything that really acknowledges her in any public way," Unger stated.
National and International Recognition
Toews's work has garnered numerous awards, including the Governor General's Award for Fiction and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Her novel Women Talking was adapted into a film that won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2023.
Despite her international acclaim, Toews's relationship with Steinbach has been complex. Some residents have viewed her portrayals of Mennonite life as critical. However, Unger encourages locals to engage with her work, stating, "Read her books with an open mind... the message in her books is 'we can get better,' and we are getting better."
Toews's appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada adds to her distinguished career, which includes being a recipient of the Order of Manitoba.