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Events: Summer literary festival roundup

JanFeb_SpringPreview_Non-Fic_Teva-Harrison_Portrait

Author Teva Harrison appears alongside Craig Davidson, Lawrence Hill, Miranda Hill, Richard Van Camp, and others at the NorthWords Writers Festival in Yellowknife, June 2–5.

There’s no shortage of literary festivals across Canada this summer. Here are some highlights of English-language events taking place between now and the end of August:

June

  • NorthWords Writers Festival, June 2–5
    Yellowknife
    Workshops and readings by Teva Harrison, Craig Davidson, Lawrence Hill, Miranda Hill, Richard Van Camp, and more.
  • Prose in the Park, June 3–4
    Ottawa
    Book fair featuring readings and panels with Ian Hamilton, Steven Heighton, Monique Polak, George Elliott Clarke, Claire Rothman, and more.
  • Latitudes Storytelling Festival, June 11
    Kitchener, Ont.
    Story festival hosted by Kitchener Public Library.
  • The Festival at Ochre Pit Cove, June 17–18
    Conception Bay, Nfld.
    Readings by Lisa Moore, Edward Riche, Chad Pelley, and more.
  • WordPlay, June 18
    Tatamagouche, N.S.
    Children’s literature and music festival with a variety of activities, featuring picture book authors Nancy Wilcox Richards, Kate Inglis, and Lisa Dalrymple.
  • Niagara Literary Arts Festival, events throughout the month of June
    Niagara Falls, Ont.
    Discussions and panel events with Daniel Perry, Kristen Smith, Jim Johnstone, Stan Galloway, and more.

July

  • Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, July 6–10
    Nelson, B.C.
    Critique sessions and panel discussions with J.B. MacKinnon, Caroline Adderson, Bill Richardson, and more.
  • Lakefield Literary Festival, July 15–17
    Lakefield, Ont.
    Talks with George Elliott Clarke, Pamela Mordecai, Rosemary Sullivan, Alissa York, Cordelia Strube, Amy Jones, and more.
  • Leacock Summer Festival, July 19–24
    Orillia, Ont.
    Program TBA.
  • Saskatchewan Festival of Words, 20th anniversary, July 14–17
    Moose Jaw, Sask.
    Presentations by Angie Abdou, Farzana Doctor, Connie Gault, Douglas Gibson, Susan Juby, Tracey Lindberg, Nino Ricci, Robert J. Sawyer, Anakana Schofield, and more
  • Read by the Sea, July 9
    River John, N.S.
    Featuring Kim Thuy, James Laxer, Jennifer Robson, and Susan Paddon.
  • Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival, July 14–17
    Denman Island, B.C.
    Readings, discussions, and workshops with Miriam Toews, John Vaillant, Michael Christie, J.B. MacKinnon, Charles Demers, and more.
  • Lakefield Literary Festival, July 15–17
    Lakefield, Ont.
    Hosting Rosemary Sullivan, George Elliott Clarke, Pamela Mordecai, John Boyko, Alissa York, Cordelia Strube, and more.

August

  • Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, August 11–14
    Sechelt, B.C.
    In conversation with Charles Demers, Alissa York, Lawrence Hill, Anakana Schofield, Guy Gavriel Kay, Lorna Crozier, Marina Endicott, Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Ian McAllister, Madeliene Thien, George Elliott Clarke, and more.
  • Winterset in Summer Literary Festival, August 12–14
    Eastport, Nfld.
    Discussions with Lynn Coady, Will Ferguson, Shannon Webb-Campbell, Elizabeth Hay, Sara Tilley, Margaret MacMillan, and more.
  • When Words Collide, August 12–14
    Calgary, Alb.
    Educational, informational, and social programming with Ian Hamilton, Marty Chan, Julie E. Czerneda, Eve Silver, and more.
  • Writers at Woody Point, August 16–21
    Woody Point, Nfld.
    Readings by Lawrence Hill, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Heather O’Neill, Madeleine Thien, Megan Coles, and more.
  • YouthCanSlam, August 23–27
    Toronto
    National youth poetry slam festival featuring emerging spoken word poets.