The New Embassy: The Brave and The Vulnerable

Jen Sookfong Lee, Dainty Smith, Aedan Corey and Zoey Roy

7:00pm

Friday, March 25

Inspired by Toronto’s renowned, historic Bohemian Embassy, meet a new generation of artists inspiring Canada’s ever-evolving literary scene at The New Embassy: a digital mini-series of spoken word, poetry, prose, theatrical readings, music and dance.

Curated by Jen Sookfong Lee, author and co-host of the literary podcast Can’t Lit, this collection of powerful readings offers up deeply open, vulnerable stories that challenge social boundaries. Hear Toronto-based actor, burlesque performer and playwright Dainty Smith read her short story “Prayer and Paradise”; Two Spirit writer and artist Aedan Corey read from their highly anticipated upcoming collection of poetry; and Nehithaw-Dené Métis poet Zoey Roy give an exciting spoken word performance.

This event will take place virtually. This event will be available to watch from Thursday, July 7 to Wednesday, July 13 as part of a special release to celebrate Canadian artists.

Curated by Jen Sookfong Lee
Produced by Toronto International Festival of Authors
The New Embassy event series is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts through the Digital NOW program.

Performance

Virtual

Inspired by Toronto’s renowned, historic Bohemian Embassy, meet a new generation of artists inspiring Canada’s ever-evolving literary scene at The New Embassy: a digital mini-series of spoken word, poetry, prose, theatrical readings, music and dance.

Curated by Jen Sookfong Lee, author and co-host of the literary podcast Can’t Lit, this collection of powerful readings offers up deeply open, vulnerable stories that challenge social boundaries. Hear Toronto-based actor, burlesque performer and playwright Dainty Smith read her short story “Prayer and Paradise”; Two Spirit writer and artist Aedan Corey read from their highly anticipated upcoming collection of poetry; and Nehithaw-Dené Métis poet Zoey Roy give an exciting spoken word performance.

This event will take place virtually. This event will be available to watch from Thursday, July 7 to Wednesday, July 13 as part of a special release to celebrate Canadian artists.

Curated by Jen Sookfong Lee
Produced by Toronto International Festival of Authors
The New Embassy event series is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts through the Digital NOW program.

Performance

Virtual

Featured Authors

Jen Sookfong Lee

Jen Sookfong Lee was born and raised in Vancouver’s East Side and she now lives with her son in North Burnaby. Her books include The Conjoined, nominated for International Dublin Literary Award and a finalist for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize; The Better Mother, a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award; The End of East; Finding Home; and The Shadow List. Jen acquires and edits for ECW Press and co-hosts the literary podcast Can’t Lit.

Read more about Jen Sookfong Lee

Dainty Smith is a Toronto-based actor, burlesque performer, playwright, producer and curator. Her performances often tell deeply vulnerable stories regarding race, religion, sexuality and challenging social boundaries. She wrote Daughters of Lilith, which was part of B Current Theatre’s Playwright Incubation 2021 season, and Blood and Memory, which is currently being workshopped and supported by Obsidian Theatre. Smith has performed on many stages including Mayworks Festival, The Rhubarb Festival and the Luminato Arts Festival. She is the founder of Les Femme Fatales: Women of Colour burlesque troupe, the first burlesque troupe for women and femmes of colour in Canada.

Read more about Dainty Smith

Two Spirit writer and artist, Aedan Corey is the author of the chapbook INUUJUNGA (Coven Editions, 2020) and short story Anaanatiaq (Nipiit Magazine, 2020). They were raised their whole life in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, a town of approximately 1,700 people. Aedan began writing at a young age, and their art is heavily inspired by their lived experiences as a queer, neurodivergent Inuk. Aedan currently resides in Ottawa.

Read more about Aedan Corey

Zoey ‘Pricelys’ Roy is a Nehithaw-Dené Métis poet, creative director, educator, researcher and activist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She is now based in Kingston, Ontario. Zoey released her debut rap album Made Up in May 2021 and is set to release her first spoken word album in January 2022 under her stage name ‘Pricelys’. Zoey uses poetry as therapy and her work often synthesizes the kaleidoscope of mirrors she sees around her. She is often inspired by the state of affairs amongst Indigenous people – particularly the way Indigenous women interact locally and globally as a result of ongoing violent nation state drama.

Read more about Zoey Roy