The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that one year ago, Canada's richest literary award, the $100,000 Giller Prize, urgently sought government funding due to financial struggles. The Globe's Brad Wheeler writes that while the federal aid did not come through, the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation pledged a total of $4-million over several years to expand the Giller Prize's year-round programming. The gift was made in honour of the late Hilary Weston, philanthropist and writer who served as lieutenant-governor of Ontario. She died Aug. 2, 2025, at 83. Her husband, W. Galen Weston, died in 2021. "As both an author and a champion of the literary arts, our mother understood the power of storytelling to expand our thinking and help us make sense of the world around us," Alannah Weston said in a statement. The substantial donation comes at a time when private cultural sponsorships are becoming tougher and tougher to come by. "I think that all arts organizations, especially small ones like ours, are facing funding challenges," Giller executive director Elana Rabinovitch said. "We have worked diligently to find corporate, philanthropic and individual donors to support our programs and continue to do so."