 the amazon.ca first novel award, formerly the books in canada first novel award, is a literary award given annually to the best first novel in english published the previous year by a citizen or resident of canada. it has been awarded since 1976. the first novel award was founded by the literary magazine books in canada. between 1976 and 1994, the award was sponsored by smithbooks. during this period, the award was known as the smithbooks/books in canada first novel award. when smithbooks was acquired by chapters, it became the chapters/books in canada first novel award. the award was reorganized when books in canada was acquired by adrian and olga stein in 1995. the steins retained a first novel editor, introduced a comprehensive first novel review program, and formalized the adjudication process. in 1999, the magazine decided to end its affiliation with chapters and became the amazon.ca/books in canada first novel award. the amazon.com arrangement saw the prize award doubled to $10,000. the award was sold to amazon.com in 2009 and its name was changed to the current incarnation.  ==winners and nominees== {|class="wikitable" width="100%" !year !winner !nominated |- | align="center"| 1976 |  ian mclachlan, the seventh hexagram michael ondaatje, coming through slaughter | *alice boissoneau, eileen mccullough *david kellum, the falling world of tristram pocket *susan kerslake, middlewatch *sharon riis, the true story of ida johnson *carol shields, small ceremonies *mary soderstrom, the descent of andrew mcpherson |- | align="center"| 1977 |  oonah mcfee, sandbars | *shane dennison, sidehill gouger *pauline gedge, child of the morning *jack hodgins, the invention of the world *m.t. kelly, i do remember the fall *helen levi, a small informal dance *morley torgov, the abramsky variations |- | align="center"| 1978 |  joan barfoot, abra | *michael dorland, the double-cross circuit *clive doucet, disneyland, please *margaret drury gane, parade on an empty street *kevin major, hold fast *frank paci, the italians |- | align="center"| 1979 |  clark blaise, lunar attractions | *victoria branden, mrs. job *stan dragland, peckertracks *florence evans, a man without passion *shirley faessler, everything in the window *katherine govier, random descent *betty lambert, crossings |- | align="center"| 1980 |  w.d. valgardson, gentle sinners | *martyn burke, 
1976_establishments_in_Canada Awards_established_in_1976 Canadian_literary_awards First_book_awards