The Canadian Historical Association held its annual awards gala in Montreal recently, where it handed out the François-Xavier Garneau Medal. This is the most prestigious history award in Canada. It is only offered every five years, and goes to the book that displays "exceptional merit" in the preceding five-year period.

This year’s winner was John C. Weaver, for his 2003 book, "The Great Land Rush and the Making of the Modern World, 1650-1900. Weaver, a professor of history at McMaster University in Hamilton, spoke to Canada’s History shortly after winning his award.