Bruce Geddes

Kingston WritersFest has appointed novelist and journalist Bruce Geddes as its new festival director.

Geddes assumes the role immediately, the festival said in announcing his appointment on April 22. He takes over from Krista Foss, who stepped down from the position for personal reasons after a short tenure.

Geddes is the author of two novels, Chasing the Black Eagle and The Higher the Monkey Climbs. He has lived in Kingston since 2022, where he has served on the board of the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, including in leadership roles as treasurer and vice-chair.

“I’m excited for this opportunity,” Geddes said in a press release. “Much of my work over the past fifteen years has been in service of literature and supporting storytelling as a powerful tool for building understanding and strengthening community. Kingston is a city rich in arts and culture, and this festival is one of its most valued cultural events. It’s an honour to be part of its future.”

This year’s event, which is scheduled for Oct. 1–4, marks the second time the festival will take place after announcing in January 2025 that it would close due to mounting financial pressures. A new board of directors, initially co-chaired by author Merilyn Simonds and writer and broadcaster Eric Friesen, announced only a few months later that the festival would be resurrected that fall.

Friesen, who remains chair of the board, said the board is confident of Geddes’s appointment to the role.

“He brings creative insight, practical leadership experience and financial expertise along with a clear understanding of what makes literary festivals meaningful and successful,” Friesen said in a press release. “We know he will build on the strong foundation already in place as we move toward our 2026 event.”