The Writers’ Union of Canada today announced that it will present its 2010 "Freedom to Read Award" to Alan Borovoy, the former General Counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

"We are pleased to honour Alan Borovoy with our 2010 Freedom to Read Award, said Erna Paris, Chair of the Writers’ Union. “For years Mr. Borovoy has defended free expression in Canada, in addition to combatting racism. Canadian writers, among other groups, have benefitted from his powerful commitments.”

Alan Borovoy became general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in 1968, a position he held until his retirement in July 2009. He received the Order of Canada in 1982; and in 1988 his book, When Freedoms Collide; the Case for our Civil Liberties, was nominated for the Governor General’s Award. Mr. Borovoy's most recent work, Categorically Incorrect: Ethical Fallacies in Canada’s War on Terror was released in 2007.

Each year during Freedom to Read Week, the Writers’ Union of Canada honours a recipient who has worked to defend the right of Canadians to free expression. Previous Freedom to Read Award winners have included lawyer Clayton Ruby, Little Sisters Bookstore in Vancouver, and author Derek Finkle. The 2009 award was awarded posthumously to Nancy Fleming. Ms Fleming was the executive director for the Book and Periodical council for 20 years and was instrumental in the success of the annual Freedom to Read Week.

The award will be presented February 23rd at the Freedom to Read Week gala at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto.

The Writers' Union of Canada is our country's national organization representing professional authors of books. Founded in 1973, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well being of all writers. For more information, please visit www.writersunion.ca.

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For additional information
Deborah Windsor, Executive Director
The Writers’ Union of Canada
416. 703.8982 Ext. 221
dwindsor@writersunion.ca