George Bowering wins B.C. lit honour

Veteran Canadian writer and editor George Bowering has received another honour celebrating his lengthy literary career.

The Penticton, B.C.-born poet, who served as Canada's first poet laureate, is the latest recipient of the province's Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence, organizers announced Thursday.

Bowering, 75, is slated to receive the $5,000 award on April 21, as part of a gala celebrating the B.C. Book Prizes.

Bowering co-founded the influential poetry journal TISH with other B.C.-based poets in the 1960s and, over the years,has publishedmore than 80 books, spanning poetry, fiction, biographies and essays.

Canada's poet laureate from 2002 to 2004, he has twice won the Governor General's Literary Award and has been named to both the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia.

Now in its eighth year, the prize celebrates B.C. writers who have contributed to and helped develop literary excellence in the province. Past recipients have included P.K. Page, Patrick Lane andGary Geddes.