1980s
- 1981: F.R. Scott, The Collected Poems of F.R. Scott
- 1982: Phyllis Webb, The Vision Tree: Selected Poems
- 1983: David Donnell, Settlements
- 1984: Paulette Jiles, Celestial Navigation
- 1985: Fred Wah, Waiting for Saskatchewan
- 1986: Al Purdy, The Collected Poems of Al Purdy
- 1987: Gwendolyn MacEwen, Afterworlds
- 1988: Erin Mouré, Furious
- 1989: Heather Spears, The Word for Sand
Read more about this topic: Governor General's Award For English-language Poetry