Trent University alumnus, Dr. William (Bill) Waiser, has won the 2016 Governor General’s Literary Award for non-fiction for his latest book A World We Have Lost: Saskatchewan Before 1905.

Mr. Waiser graduated from Trent University in 1975 with an Honours B.A. in History. A specialist in western and northern Canadian history, he has published more than a dozen works, including the award-winning centennial history of the province, Saskatchewan: A New History.

He was a long-time member of the department of History at the University of Saskatchewan, where he was named distinguished professor emeritus upon leaving in 2014.

Speaking of his time at Trent, Mr. Waiser said, "I wanted to attend a small liberal arts university where I would not get 'lost' and be little more than a student number."

He credits his experience at Trent with helping him lay a foundation for his future career as an historian. "I learned the value of getting your hands dirty in research, searching for every possible source from different perspectives," he said. "I also developed the skill to read, think, write, and speak critically."

A World We Have Lost examines the history of Saskatchewan up until the province entered confederation in 1905, from the perspective of the Aboriginal peoples and environmental conditions that shaped it. A jury statement from the Canada Council for the Arts described the book as "a sweeping blend of narrative, historical detail, and compelling images," and that it "surprises the reader with its reconsideration of Canada."

Mr. Waiser will receive his award from Governor General David Johnston in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on November 30, 2016. A World We Have Lost: Saskatchewan Before 1905 is published by Fifth House Publishers and distributed by Fitzhenry & Whiteside.