20+ Literary Festivals in Canada

From BC to Newfoundland--a year full of literary festivals.

the panel discussion before the panel discussion--that's me on the right
photo by bdyck

I've greatly benefitted from attending writing festivals in so many ways--skill development and inspiration and encouragement and networking and improved self-esteem and... Whether you're attempting to write your first story or just released your 50th book, I highly recommend attending one or several. Here's a year's worth--for your consideration (this isn't a complete list, but I've tried). If you're disappointed by the brevity of the list--bless you--there are more extensive lists at the end of the post.

March

Growing Room:  A Feminist Literary Festival
Vancouver, BC

Reviewing Lit Fest New West

April

Sidney Lit Fest
Sidney, BC

Festival Frye Festival

News Brunswick

the largest literary event in Atlantic Canada

bilingual

Imagination Writers' Festival

Quebec

May

Festival of Literary Diversity (Fold)
Brampton, Ontario


Ottawa International Writers Festival
Ottawa, Ontario


Festival of Trees
'the largest literary event for young readers in Canada'
Waterloo, Ontario 
London, Ontario 
Toronto, Ontario 

Alice Munro Festival of the short story
Huron County, Ontario

June

Take a break. Read a book. Write a story.

July

Lakefield Literary Festival
Lakefield, Ontario


Read by the Sea
River John, Nova Scotia

WordPlay

Children's Festival

River John, Nova Scotia

Ochre Fest

Ochre Pit Cove

Conception Bay, Newfoundland

Saskatchewan Festival of Words
Moose Jaw

August

Writers at Woody Point
Bonne Bay, Newfoundland

Ignite Your Soul Author Event

London, Ontario

September 

The Word on the Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Word on the Street
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Telling Tales Festival
'inspiring a love of reading and raising awareness of literacy'
Rockton, Ontario


The Winnipeg International Writers Festival (Thin Air)
Winnipeg, Manitoba


Kingston Writers Fest
Kingston, Ontario


Word Vancouver
Vancouver, BC

Reviewing Word Vancouver

Victoria Festival of Authors
Victoria, BC

Lunenburg Lit Festival

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

October

Whistler Writers Festival
Whistler, BC


Book Bash Canadian Literature Festival
Chatham-Kent, Ontario


Ottawa International Writers Festival
Ottawa, Ontario


Toronto International Festival of Authors
Harbourfront Centre
Toronto, Ontario


Stratford Writer's Festival
Stratford, Ontario

Surrey International Writers' Conference
Surrey, BC

November

WordsFest

London, Ontario

December, January

Cuddle up with a good book and dream of next year's literary festivals

more extensive lists...

Canadian Festivals and Reading Series
The Writers' Union of Canada



Question:  (maybe you have the same one) Why are there no Canadian literary festivals in June? Huh?

Book review: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes was first published as a short story in1959 and in 1966 as a novel--reprinted in the mid-80s, early 90s, and early 2000s. That's one popular story.

One can only speculate as to why it is so popular. Is it the strong character voice? Is it the unique plot? Is it the quality of the writing?

'[O]n a hot night when everyone is out walking, or sitting in the theater, there is a rustling, and for a moment I brush against someone and sense the connection between the branch and trunk and the deep root. At such moments my flesh is thin and tight, and the unbearable hunger to be part of it drives me out to search in the dark corners and blind alleys of the night.' (p. 197)

Or...

Perhaps Flowers for Algernon addresses a subject that goes largely unnoticed, from a perceptive that remains novel.

The book is comprised of a series of progress reports written by the protagonist Charlie Gordon. I meet Charlie in junior high (middle school). The first thing I noticed about the progress reports were the spelling mistakes. I noticed them because they were similar to the ones I made.

Charlie writes... 'How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes -- how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence.' (p. 199)

I feared I was stupid because I had trouble with things the other kids found easy -- like spelling. Often this meant that I was fuel for the class clown.

Charlie writes... 'People think it's funny when a dumb person can't do things the same way they can.' (p. 43)

I longed to take a pill or undergo an operation that would have made me "Normal".  

After the operation is proven to be a success, Charlie writes... 'Am I a genius? I don't think so. Not yet anyway. As Burt would put it... I'm exceptional -- a democratic term used to avoid the damning labels of gifted and deprived (which used to mean bright and retarded) and as soon as exceptional begins to mean anything to anyone they'll change it. The idea seems to be:  use an expression only as long as it doesn't mean anything to anybody. Exceptional refers to both ends of the spectrum, so all my life I've been exceptional.' (p. 153)

This book is truly unique in that it not only comments on how society sees the intellectually challenged but also the gifted. Society sees the challenged as less then human. The gifted are emotionless robots. Isn't it  sad that society's attitude has remained largely consistent on this matter since the late 50s?

Charlie learns that being a genius isn't all he had hoped it would be. Even with his advanced intellect, he's not as smart as he would have hoped. And neither is anyone else. They are all frauds in his eyes.

So what is the answer? Maybe it is to be happy with what you have. Maybe it is to do the best you can with what you have been given. Maybe it is to realize that under the right set of circumstances we are far more alike then we are different. Maybe we need to realize that we all have two sides to our intellect: an overtrusting moron and a brilliant egoist.

Next post:  Post published on Sunday, July 24th around 5 PM
We'll play this game again.
Book blurb:  A Harvard university professor loses her battle with Alzheimer's, but learns that she's more than just a brain.

(photo by Leanne Dyck)

Picture Books in Canada

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

'The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, established in 2006, honours excellence in the illustrated picture book format.'

For more information, please click this link. 

(photo by Leanne Dyck)

Sharing my author journey...

This week was full of surprises.