It’s that time of year again. Word Vancouver, Western Canada’s largest literary festival is happening next week. 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the festival. Held September 24-29th at various venues throughout Vancouver, the festival promotes books and authors with free exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities for a wide range of ages and interests. The final day of the festival Sunday, September 29th at the central Vancouver public library (350 West Georgia St.) is by far the largest event of the festival attracting over twenty thousand book lovers to seven stages and eighty exhibitors. This year the organizers have made some changes to the Sunday event at the VPL by adding an Indigenous Stage (curated by Russell Wallace) and by bringing many of the presentation stages inside the library. Outside on the library plaza the festival has added a covered family picnic area with a children’s stage, games, children’s book exhibitors and the Poetry in Transit Bus. The festival remains 100% free of charge to festival-goers. Inside the library in the Atrium and 8th and 9th floors, festival-goers will find the Indigenous Stage, Fiction Stage, Non-Fiction Stage, Poetry Stage, Community Stage, Magazine Stage along with panels and workshops. Over 100 authors will be onsite at the Vancouver Public Library from 11AM to 5PM Sunday, September 29th. Make sure to pop by and say hi to BC Parent when you’re there.
Dates in Summary: (click on link in date for details)
Sept 24th: Pandora’s Collective and Britannia Library Present: Poetic Pairings
Sept 25th: Italian Cultural Centre: Books and Biscotti Meet Word Vancouver with authors Monica Meneghetti, Anna Foschi.
Sept 26th: Joel Kroeker – Jungian Music Psychotherapy: When Psyche Sings at Banyen Books and SoundSept 26th: Pandora’s Collective’s presents Twisted Poets featuring Shazia Hafiz Ramji, Kate Braid & Onjana Yawnghweat at Hood 29.
Sept 27th: Christianne’s Lyceum features local illustrators Aidan Cassie, Karen Holman, Karen Hibbard, Scott Ritchie and Jami Gigot.
Sept 27th: Joy’s Historic Joy Kagawa House and Pocket Book Publishing invite Vancouver’s Francophone community to launch a new edition of the classic Obasan novel by Joy Kagawa.
Sept 28th: Carnegie Centre – Various Workshops plus an Opec Mic
Sept 28th: SFU Harbour Centre – Various Workshops
Sept 28th: Pandora’s Collective and Word Vancouver Present Still/ed Here – A Transmedia Poetry Project.
Sept 29th: Main VPL Library 11AM -5PM multiple stages, exhibitors, workshops, panels, one on one talks, and a more.
About Word Vancouver The Vancouver Book and Magazine Fair Society has produced Word Vancouver (FKA Word on the Street) since 1995. It is the primary literary festival for Western Canadian book lovers. Word Vancouver’s goal is to celebrate Canadian authors by bringing people of all ages and backgrounds to a festival in which each event is at once educational and entertaining.
