Juan Santiago Téllez (Juan Sant) is an indigenous Tutunaku Mexican writer. In his writings he makes visible the situations experienced by people who migrate from the countryside to the city. Topics such as racial discrimination, abuse and social violence are addressed in his work, which some consider as poetry. Since in each work the particularity […]
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Janelle “ecoaborijanelle” Pewapsconias is a multidimensional nehīyaw spoken word artist based in Little Pine First Nation of the Treaty 6 Prairies. Her dedication to honour the Earth inspires her to read, perform and design to speak to Indigenous ways of being, knowing and thriving, despite ongoing settler colonialism in Canada. Influenced by the poetry slam […]
Tanya Neumeyer is a queer poet and educator committed to access and equity. They have led workshops for thousands of students and have been inspired by the spoken word community for 15 years.
Marina Alefosio is a proud Samoan woman born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is a passionate artist who has performed for the last 11 years in spoken word poetry and music, continuously learning new methods and modes of storytelling with the aim of supporting youth and communities to develop their sense of voice and […]
Shagufta K. Iqbal is the founder of Kiota Bristol, an award-winning writer, workshop facilitator and Tedx Speaker. She has been described by gal-dem as a poet whose work “leaves you validated but aching – her narratives are important, heart-wrenching and relatable.” Her poetry collection Jam Is For Girls, Girls Get Jam, has been recommended by […]
Alexandra C. Stewart, 23 years old, is a history maker in the Caribbean Spoken Word community. The first to win the First Citizens National Poetry Slam twice (2020 & 2019) and the first to keep the title, two years in a row. She is passionate about performing, teaching and making connections. Alexandra is known for […]
Robert J. Wiersema is the bestselling author of Before I Wake, Bedtime Story, and four other books. One of Canada’s foremost writers on books, his reviews appear regularly in the Toronto Star, Quill & Quire and other publications, and his Beyond the Bestseller column is featured biweekly on CBC Radio. Born and raised in the […]
Antoni Cimolino is the Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, a post he was named to in 2012, having served as General Director, Executive Director and General Manager, among other roles. He began at the Stratford Festival in 1988, as an actor, taking on his first directing projects in the mid-1990s. Highlights of his career […]
Deandra Lalonde is an international bookseller who has sold books across the world, all from her home in Canada. She is currently the Content Sales Lead for North America at Rakuten Kobo, where she merchandises the eBook storefront. Using her knowledge of the ever-expanding book market, her focus is on making sure readers see the […]
Kim Wheeler is a Mohawk/Anishinaabe kwe who has brought positive Indigenous stories to mainstream and Indigenous media since 1993. She has carved out a career as a writer, publicist and producer across a variety of disciplines. Her audio work has been recognized by the New York Festivals, ImagineNative, Indigenous Music Awards and Prix Italia. Currently, […]
Dina Del Bucchia is a writer, podcaster, literary event host, editor, creative writing instructor and otter and dress enthusiast. She is the author of the short story collection, Don’t Tell Me What to Do, and four collections of poetry, most recently, It’s a Big Deal! She is the Artistic Director of the Real Vancouver Writers’ […]
Ruth Wishart is a journalist and broadcaster who writes a column for the Sunday National in Scotland and contributes to various other media both print and broadcast. She is an experienced book festival chair who has been an interviewer at all of Scotland’s main book festivals. She also runs one of her own in Argyll […]
Dr. Araba Chintoh is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and a Clinician Scientist in the Schizophrenia Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She provides care for patients in crisis at CAMH’s Sheff and Kachan Emergency Department and supports community care at Across Boundaries, Inner City Health Associates and University […]
Tara Cremin is the Director of Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Kobo’s independent publishing platform. She leads a team of book lovers who are actively involved in the indie publishing community and always looking for ways to help authors reach a new audience of readers. Tara hosts monthly live events for KWL with author and industry […]
Janet Somerville taught literature for 25 years in Toronto. She served on the PEN Canada Board and chaired many benefits that featured writers including Diana Athill, Margaret Atwood, Roddy Doyle, Stephen King, Alice Munro, Azar Nafisi and Ian Rankin. She contributes to the Toronto Star Book Pages and has been handwriting a #LetterADay for 7 […]
Professor Deborah McGregor joined York University’s Osgoode Hall law faculty in 2015 as a cross-appointee with the Faculty of Environmental Studies. Professor McGregor’s research has focused on Indigenous knowledge systems and their various applications in diverse contexts including water and environmental and water governance, environmental justice, health and environment and climate justice.
Martin Colthorpe is Programme Director of International Literature Festival Dublin. The festival is one of the country’s major cultural events, presenting writers from around the world alongside the brightest authors from across Ireland. In partnership with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, the festival hosts the annual Dublin Literary Award, one of the most valuable prizes in global literature. He […]
Dr. Audrey Hudson is on the leadership team at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), where she is the Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief of Education & Programming. Her research focuses on museums, art education, hip-hop, Black and Indigenous solidarities, K-12 pedagogies and social change. In recognition of her work at the AGO, Audrey was […]
Eleanor Wachtel is the cofounder and host of CBC Radio’s Writers & Company, now in its 32nd season. She’s also host and moderator of TIFF’s Books on Film series. Five selections of her conversations have been published, most recently The Best of Writers & Company. She has earned numerous accolades, including nine honorary degrees from […]
Esyllt W. Jones is the Humanities Research Professor in the Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba. She is the author or editor of several books on the history of pandemic influenza, medicare and Canadian social history, including the award-winning Influenza 1918: Disease, Death and Struggle in Winnipeg (UTP, 2007). Prof. Jones has recently created a […]
Rinaldo Walcott is a professor and writer. His most recent books are The Long Emancipation: Moving Toward Black Freedom (Duke, 2021) and On Property (Bibiloasis, 2021) which was shortlisted for the Toronto Book award.
Will Aitken‘s most recent novel, The Swells, will be appear in January 2021. His previous novels include Realia, A Visit Home and Terre Haute. He has published two works of non-fiction, Death in Venice: A Queer Film Classic and Antigone Undone: Juliette Binoche, Anne Carson, Ivo van Hove and the Art of Resistance, which was […]
