THE RED ROSE AND ITS ROOTS
One of the most enduring symbols of the Scotiabank Giller Prize is the long red rose. It comes with the invitations, is given out to all who attend the shortlist announcement and appears in the centrepieces at the gala prize announcement at the Ritz hotel in Toronto.
It’s all about Doris The prize was founded to honour Doris Giller, a former books editor at the Star. The rose reflects her love of colour, flowers, fragrance and romance. Long or short-stemmed, Doris loved how flowers, especially the elegant rose, made her feel, how it lifted her spirits and brightened a room.
10,000 The Freedom rose from South America is affixed to the gala invitations. In the now 22 years of the prize, it is estimated that nearly 10,000 Freedom roses have been given out to guests. They are imported because of the unforgiving season for any rose varietal in the fall in Canada.
250 The rose used for the short list announcement is called Heart, which is also the rose to be used in the centrepieces for the Gala. About 150 roses are used for the arrangements at the shortlist announcement, while about 100 long-stemmed are handed out to guests.
1,000 Just over 1,000 of the Heart roses, ordered two to three weeks in advance from South America, are used at the gala. The floral team from Nik & Nic Events begins creating the arrangements two days before the event. They’re kept in a cold room, then brought into the Ritz hours before the gala so they have time to open to their maximum beauty.