Journalist and author Terry Glavin is the winner of the 2009 B.C. Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Literary Excellence.

The 54-year-old writer is an adjunct professor of creative writing at the University of British Columbia and is being honoured for his books and articles in magazines and newspapers.

Established in 2003, the $5,000 annual prize celebrates writers who have contributed to the literary life of the province.

The award's jury praised Glavin for having "an extraordinarily holistic vision that … shows us a world where culture and nature, human aspiration, natural beauty, language, history and social justice are inextricably intertwined."

Glavin — who has written for the Georgia Straight, the Vancouver Sun and the Globe and Mail — had his first book, A Death Feast in Dimlahamid, published in 1990. It examined the struggles of the Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en peoples.

His other books include The Last Great Sea: A Voyage through the Human and Natural History of the North Pacific Ocean and The Sixth Extinction: Journeys Among the Lost and Left Behind.

Winners must have maintained their primary residence in B.C. for at least the past five years. Writers of poetry, fiction, children's books, drama and creative non-fiction are eligible.

Last year's winner was writer, poet, editor, critic and translator Gary Geddes. Previous winners have included P.K. Page, Jack Hodgins and Patrick Lane.

The award will be officially handed out at the lieutenant-governor's B.C. Book Prize Gala on April 25.