[4] The Borealis Prize was established to recognize the lifetime achievement of an individual's contributions to the Yukon writing and publishing community.
[5] The current president is Robert Bittner, an educator and researcher in the field of children's and young adult literature.
[3] And, the present treasurer of the non-profit organization overseeing the BC and Yukon Book Prizes is Michelle Chang.
[3] Digby R. Leig, a lawyer practicing in North Vancouver, British Columbia who has a history of community sports involvement.
[3] Frances Peck, a teacher of editing at Douglas College and Simon Fraser University, who volunteers with Editors Canada.
[3] Kathryn Shoemaker, an author and illustrator of children's literature, and former president of the Endeavour Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association, who presently holds a position as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia.
[3] And, Grant T. Smith, a chartered professional accountant with previous experiences working in theatrical revitalization across Canada.
[6] Originally established in 1986 as the BC Poetry Prize, the award was renamed to its current title in 1989[7] after the poet Dorothy Livesay.
Supported by the BC Teacher's Federation, its respects a broad range of subjects as long as the work reflects "quality of research and writing along with insight and originality".
"[16] The category is open to a wide range of writing, including poetry, nonfiction, fiction, work for children, and graphic novels.