Word On The Street

Word On The Street

The Word On The Street is a Canadian book and magazine festival held each September in Toronto, Kitchener, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, and Halifax.

Each city's festival features author readings, workshops, information booths, marketplace, and reading- and writing-related activities. The mandate of the organization is "to unite the country in a national, annual celebration of reading and writing and to highlight the importance of literacy in the lives of all Canadians."

Founding organizations include:

  • Book and Periodical Council
  • Canadian Give The Gift of Literacy Foundation
  • Canadian Authors Association
  • Canadian Book Information Centre
  • Canadian Book Publishers Council
  • Canadian Booksellers Associations
  • Canadian Children’s Book Centre
  • Freelance Editors Association of Canada
  • Canadian Library Association
  • Canadian Magazine Publishing Association
  • League of Canadian Poets
  • Literary Presses Group
  • Ontario Literacy Coalition
  • Periodical Writer’s Association of Canada
  • Playwright’s Union of Canada
  • Writer’s Union of Canada

Over the years, The Word On The Street has attracted numerous famous Canadian authors for author readings, such as Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Arthur Black, Joy Fielding, Timothy Findley, Dennis Lee, Robert Munsch, Paul Quarrington, Michael Redhill, and David Suzuki, to name just a few.

In September 2012, the six single-day regional events welcomed more than 250,000 visitors and offered more than 400 programmed events featuring 585 authors, workshop presenters, and arts performers. The festival also showcased more than 500 book and magazine exhibitors promoting mostly Canadian works.

Read more about Word On The Street:  Toronto, Halifax, Kitchener, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Calgary

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