Events Schedule
Brunch of Writers
OnlineIt's Food Matters + the annual Brunch of Writers rolled into one online potluck! Host Jennifer Cockrall-King leads the way with contributors to Beyond the Food Court Luciana Erregue and Mila Bongco-Philipzig.
Divine Bodies & Disfigured: Narratives on Disability
OnlineA one-on-one conversation with author Amanda Leduc (Disfigured: On Fairy Stories, Disability, and Making Space) and poet Brandon Wint (Divine Animal).
Masterclass: To The Bone: The Poetic in the Personal with Titilope Sonuga
OnlineIf “the poem does not start until you start to tell the truth” then a poet’s work is to be relentless in the search for that truth both on and off the page. This workshop is an excavation into the bone, into the truth, to write poems from the depth of our personal experiences. Through a series of writing exercises and discussion, the workshop will ask, “Who am I?”, “What do I want to say?”, "Why does my story matter?" and “What is my responsibility to myself and to the audience in telling my story?” To maintain accessibility for all audiences, a limited number of free or by-donation tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through our Community Access Ticket Program. If you have any questions about this program, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at outreach@litfestalberta.org. In collaboration with Edmonton Poetry Festival.
Masterclass: Confronting Our Own Bias with Lauren McKeon
OnlineWhether we’re writing memoir, fiction, or reported non-fiction, our ability and willingness to confront our own bias and privilege informs the quality, richness, and intellectual rigour of our work. Editor and journalist Lauren McKeon knows that recognizing bias is a messy and often uncomfortable task. It involves talking—and, more importantly, listening—to people who have different lived experiences than we do, and being deeply honest about our own assumptions, experiences, and shortcomings. In this 90-minute workshop, McKeon discusses strategies for tackling bias in our research and writing, and how to intentionally hold space for diverse voices. The author also talks about how she learns from each project, and why recognizing privilege and bias is constant, ever-evolving, and always worthwhile work. With host Anya Zoledziowski. Want to buy the book? Find it here. Lauren McKeon’s critically acclaimed first book, F-Bomb: Dispatches from the War on Feminism, was a finalist for the Kobo […]
The Polyglot: Indigenous Languages Issues Launch
OnlineAre you fascinated by poetry, languages, and art? Are you curious to witness Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization through creative self-expression? Then please join us for The Polyglot’s launch of our double issue—nimitêyaniy and nitêh. These issues were curated by Naomi McIlwraith and Dorothy Thunder, and feature 36 brilliant Indigenous poets and artists. This launch showcases sixteen of our contributors read their poems or talk about their art, weaving their insights on language, culture, and Indigenous identities. The Polyglot would like to acknowledge and deeply thank the Edmonton Arts Council for their support and funding of this project. A special mahsi cho to the Edmonton Poetry Festival for supporting us with this launch. The covers of the issues feature art by Lana Whiskeyjack (nimitêyaniy) and Jade Roberts (nitêh). The words of the issues correspond to tongue and heart in nêhiyawêwin (Cree).
Sh*t, Actually with Lindy West
OnlineSh*t, Actually is a love letter and a break-up note all in one: to the films that shaped us and the ones that ruined us. More often than not, West finds, they’re one and the same. New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West will be in conversation with Vivek Shraya. Admission to this event includes a copy of Sh*t, Actually, with free delivery from Glass Bookshop! To maintain accessibility for all audiences, a limited number of free or by-donation tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through our Community Access Ticket Program 48 hours prior to the event. If you have any questions about this program, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at outreach@litfestalberta.org.
Masterclass: On Biographies with Michael Posner
OnlineEverything you need to know about oral biography in one easy lesson, with renowned biographer Michael Posner. Want to buy the book? Find it here. Michael Posner is an award-winning writer, playwright, journalist, and the author of seven books. These include the Mordecai Richler biography, The Last Honest Man, and the Anne Murray biography, All of Me, both of which were national bestsellers. He was Washington Bureau Chief for Maclean’s magazine, and later served as its national, foreign, and assistant managing editor. He was also managing editor of the Financial Times of Canada for three years. He later spent sixteen years as a senior writer with The Globe and Mail. To maintain accessibility for all audiences, a limited number of free or by-donation tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through our Community Access Ticket Program. If you have any questions about this program, please don't hesitate to […]
Nonfiction Sto-Po Slam
OnlineCo-curated by LitFest and Edmonton Poetry Festival, this year's Nonfiction Slam will feature prose stories and poetry entries. 4 stories, 4 poems, one winner. All glory. Grab a beverage and join in to be part of the live audience that votes for winner!
In Conversation: Jordan Abel
OnlineJordan Abel is a multimedia artist with roots in exploring colonization through textual and poetic interpretation. His work encompasses multifaceted research and presents an intense, calculated and human look at the conditions of living in a colonial state. His works weave a technical mastery of elements and story, provoking us to think about how we read and what we're reading. His new work, out soon, is again defiant of a single genre. Join us in this reading and Q and A, hosted by Matthew James Weigel.
In Conversation: Billy-Ray Belcourt
OnlineThe youngest ever winner of the Griffin Prize, Billy-Ray Belcourt mines his personal history to reconcile the world he was born into with the world that could be in his debut memoir, A History of My Brief Body. With startling honesty, and in a voice distinctly and assuredly his own, Belcourt situates his life experiences within a constellation of seminal queer texts, among which this book is sure to earn its place. Want to buy the book? Find it here. Billy-Ray Belcourt (he/him) is a poet, author, and scholar from the Driftpile Cree Nation. He won the 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize for his debut collection, This Wound Is a World, which was also a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award. Belcourt is a recipient of the prestigious Rhodes scholarship and an Indspire Award, the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows on its leaders. He is currently working on his […]
Harnarayan Singh: One Game at A Time
OnlineFrom the distinct and vibrant voice behind Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi comes the story of pursuing a dream and defying the odds, reminding us all of hockey’s power to unite. Author Harnarayan Singh discusses his new book with Sportsnet senior columnist Mark Spector.
In Conversation: Ian Keteku
OnlineJoin us in meeting Ian Keteku, spoken word poet, musician, and artist, with a look into his celebrated body of work, his new book and latest album, and an immersive Q and A about his process of writing, his history as an artist, and where he is headed next. Ian's work is transcendent, defying the boundaries of single disciplines and genres, and asking listeners to lean in and embrace art for all it has to offer. This event is not to be missed for fans of sound, words, and music. Hosted by Edmonton Poet Laureate, Nisha Patel.
Panel: Get Outside
OnlineIn these pandemic times, we're all looking for ways to spend time in the great outdoors. Authors Gina Rae La Cerva (Feasting Wild), Julia Zarankin (Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder), and Tørbjørn Ekelund (In Praise of Paths) offer stories and ideas on how to make the most of your time outside.
Masterclass: Jottings from a Nonfiction Insomniac with Lorna Crozier
Online"This seminar will touch upon some of the questions that keep me awake: How do you write a memoir when your memory’s shot? How do you tell the truth when the truth hurts others? When is nonfiction therapy and when is it art?" Want to buy the book? Find it here. Lorna Crozier is the author of seventeen books of poetry, including God of Shadows, which was longlisted for the Raymond Souster Award, What the Soul Doesn't Want, The Wrong Cat, Small Mechanics, The Blue Hour of the Day: Selected Poems, and Whetstone. She is also the author of The Book of Marvels: A Compendium of Everyday Things and the memoir Small Beneath the Sky. She won the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry for Inventing the Hawk and three additional collections were finalists for the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry. She has received the Canadian Authors Association Award, […]
In Conversation: Michelle Parise
OnlineAlone: A Love Story is Michelle Parise's memoir of falling in love, the fallout of infidelity, and everything messy in between. Her memoir is the inspiration behind the hit CBC podcast of the same name.
The Memoir Hour: Helen Knott, David A. Robertson & Christa Couture
OnlineThree panelists with memoirs on incredible resilience, and finding your identity amid challenges of all kinds. Panelists include Helen Knott, David A. Robertson and Christa Couture.
Masterclass: Adventurous Writing: Exploring the Environment Through Creative Non-Fiction with James Raffan
OnlineJames Raffan explores the challenges and opportunities that come with writing about the environment. He discusses creative nonfiction as an effective approach to engaging readers, and addresses the connections between wild spaces and Indigenous peoples, along with the challenges of voice and appropriation that exist for the creative nonfiction writer. To maintain accessibility for all audiences, a limited number of free or by-donation tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through our Community Access Ticket Program. If you have any questions about this program, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at outreach@litfestalberta.org.
Big Friendship
OnlineTop-ranking podcasters of Call Your Girlfriend on their new book, Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close, in conversation with host Adrienne Pan.
Beyond the Food Court Launch
OnlineTo kick off the festival in virtual space, the contributors to Beyond the Food Court —all writers from diverse ethnic backgrounds that call Edmonton home — gather to celebrate the launch of their anthology, along with editor and publisher Luciana Erregue.
Immersive Reading: David Berry
OnlineDavid Berry, On Nostalgia: Nothing says "memories of Edmonton" like a walk along the High Level Bridge, along with a cup of cocoa and sweet treats.
Immersive Reading: Michelle Parise
OnlineMichelle Parise, Alone: A Love Story: Experience a bit of Parise's Calabrese heritage as you cook along with her reading. Food is love, family, and all things Italian.
Immersive Reading: Vivek Shraya
OnlineVivek Shraya, God Loves Hair: Colour in Juliana Neufeld's illustrations from the 10th anniversary edition of the book as you listen. This book comes with an author-signed bookplate.
Immersive Reading: Beyond the Food Court
OnlineBeyond the Food Court: An Anthology of Literary Cuisines: The authors of this book are all writers from diverse ethnic backgrounds that call Edmonton home. The reading is a selection of short parts from five of the contributors, each with a musing on foods found here and in their homeland. Enjoy this with a mix of international spices and accompanying recipes.
Preparing Your Manuscript with Jordan Abel
OnlineThe Edmonton Poetry Festival is happy to share that award-winning author Jordan Abel will be hosting a special workshop on manuscripts. Are you an author with a whole lot of writing, and no idea what to do next? This workshop might be just what you need! Registration is free! This workshop will help writers of all disciplines prepare their manuscripts for submission, walking through helpful insight for writers hoping to take their next steps. Click here to register! This event is funded by the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Community Foundation. Please share with writers all around! Registration is limited, so register early to secure your seat.