Western English professor David Bentley has become the first recipient of a Premier’s Discovery Award for Arts and Humanities.
The Premier’s Discovery Awards celebrate Ontario’s most accomplished researchers, highlighting their individual achievements and showcasing Ontario’s attractiveness as a global research centre. This year the province awarded a total of $12.95 million.
Bentley, who receives $250,000, was evaluated on the impact of his work and its contributions to Ontario’s economy and society, as well as the extent of his international recognition. Award funding is used for research-related expenses.
In its citation, the province says that without Bentley, a great deal of early Canadian literature might have faded into obscurity. Over a 30-year career, Bentley has championed the study of 18th and 19th century Canadian poetry both nationally and internationally.
He almost single-handedly renewed interest in early Canadian literature, prompting other Canadian scholars to recover and edit literary works, preserving our past for future generations. Bentley has also enriched our literary landscape by setting the standard for scholarly criticism. As well, by demonstrating and promoting the importance of clarity, accessibility and scrupulous research, he has helped shape two generations of literary scholars.
The Premier’s Discovery Awards recognizes excellence in research for either a single discovery or a body of work in five categories:
* Life Sciences and Medicine ($500,000)
* Natural Sciences and Engineering ($500,000)
* Social Sciences ($250,000)
* Arts and Humanities ($250,000)
* Innovation Leadership ($250,000)