CBC Books announced on Wednesday that Wab Kinew, the winning defender of Joseph Boyden’s novel The Orenda at this year’s Canada Reads, will be hosting the battle of the books in 2015, to take place March 16-19 in front of a live audience.

Kinew is an award-winning journalist and musician who currently serves as a correspondent for Al Jazeera America and as the interim associate vice-president for indigenous relations at the University of Winnipeg.

The broadcasted debates will discern which of the shortlisted titles is “the must-read book for Canadians in 2015.” This year’s theme is “one book to break barriers,” focusing on titles that challenge stereotypes and offer new perspectives.

Kinew said in a press release that he “can’t wait” to host the debates and that Canada Reads is “an amazing show to be part of because it’s both a chance to celebrate Canadian literature and to have some really important conversations which concern us all.”

The Canada Reads 2015 panelists and their chosen books will be revealed Jan. 20.