SUPPORT THE LITERARY ARTS BY ATTENDING FREE ONLINE READINGS AND LAUNCHES BASED IN ONTARIO!
NOTE: AS PROVINCIAL RESTRICTIONS EASE, A FEW IN PERSON EVENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN SCHEDULED AND PROMOTED BELOW!
(DISCLAIMER: Information is usually updated twice a month. Please double check with the organization of each respective event to ensure the details haven’t changed before you attend or connect online – May 5, 2023)
TARNISHED TROPHIES BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE: 2014 AND 2015.
MY PREVIOUS READINGS AND WORKSHOPS: 2016-2017 , 2018, 2019, and 2020.
MY RETURN TO LIVE READINGS – AUTUMN 2022.
EVENTS:
Lit Net TO, compiled by the Toronto Literary Organizer, is a weekly e-mailed newsletter that highlights literary activities such as reading series, poetry slams, local author book launches, literary festival events, and more taking place in and around Toronto. Those interested in subscribing to this FREE newsletter may sign-up here.
ONTARIO EVENTS:
DECEMBER 22 TO 24, 2023 IN OTTAWA: Salon du LIvre d’Ottawa/Ottawa Internațional Book Expo 2023. More details TBA.
NOVEMBER 3 TO 12, 2023 IN LONDON: WORDS: The Literary and Creative Arts Festival presents “Crisis, Creativity & Care”. More info to be announced during the summer months.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 IN EDEN MILLS: The 35th Annual Eden Mills Writers’ Festival will feature a full day of readings. More details to come.
AUGUST 12, 2023 IN SARNIA: 2023 COPA Flight 7 Fly In presents “Sarnia Ontario Aviation Rally” with a meet and greet with Col. Chris Hatfield as well as a book signing at the Sarnia Chris Hatfield Airport, 1500 Airport Road. Time is TBD. See poster below:
JULY 14 TO 17, 2023 IN OTTAWA: Salon du LIvre d’Ottawa/Ottawa Internațional Book Expo 2023. More details TBA.
JUNE 24, 2023 IN PARIS: The Riverside Reading Series presents their first annual “Summer Writers Festival”, 9 to 4 p.m. at the Walter Williams Amphitheatre, Lion’s Park. This all-day event will include programming for children, teens, and adults, including readings and performances by Ekiuwa Are, Nic Brewer, Jaclyn Desforges, Farzana Doctor, Kim Fahner, Tanis MacDonald, Fareh Malik, Dwayne Morgan, Tony North, Robert Priest, Bruce Simpson, and more. Additional information to be announced.
JUNE 20, 2023 ONLINE: The League of Canadian Poets presents the 2023 Annual General Meeting, 2 p.m. EST via Zoom. Check the League website for additional information.
JUNE 17, 2023 IN MITCHELL: “A Summertime Poetry Soiree” featuring 14 guest readers followed by an open mic, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Mitchell Community Centre, 185 Wellington Street. Presented by the West Perth Public Library and The Ontario Poetry Society. Admission is free. See additional info on poster below:
JUNE 7, 2023 IN TORONTO: The 2023 Griffin Poetry Prize Readings featuring a selection of readings by some of the world’s best poets, including the five poets shortlisted for the $130,000 Griffiin Poetry Prize, this year’s Lifetime Recognition Award recipient, and the Canadian First Book Prize winner, 7:30 p.m. at Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor Street West. NOTE: This is a ticketed event with additional information on the rcmusic website and event page.
MAY 31, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Canadian launch of Or/And (Paraclete Press 2023) by Jeannine Marie Pitas, 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. short guest readings, 9 p.m. Terry Barker to present the author, at Hirut Cafe, 2050 Danforth Avenue. Hosted by Pat Connors.
Jeannine Marie Pitas PHOTO by Dawn Zacharias Adventurous Life Photography
MAY 29, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Art Bar Poetry Series presents guest readers TBA followed by an open mic, 7 to 9/9:30 p.m. at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street. NOTE: There is a cover charge.
MAY 27, 2023 IN PARIS:The Riverside Reading Series presents in-progress and published work by local writers including Liisa Kovala, Tanis MacDonald, and Adelle Purdham, 3 to 5 p.m. at the Dog-Eared Cafe, 121 Grand River Street North.
MAY 25, 2023 IN TORONTO AND ONLINE: Guernica Editions presents “Symposium on the Literary Words of Michael Mirolla”, 5 p.m. at the Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education, 918 Bathurst. This FREE hybrid event will take place both in-person and via ZOOM and will feature 11 speakers who will be presenting on Mirolla’s work. See the poster below for registration information.
MAY 24, 2023 ONLINE: The Niagara Branch of the Canadian Authors Association will hold their annual general meeting, 7 p.m. via ZOOM. The zoom link, agenda and coordinator reports will be sent to members one week prior to the meeting date.
MAY 22, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Art Bar Poetry Series presents guest readers TBA followed by an open mic, 7 to 9/9:30 p.m. at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street. NOTE: There is a cover charge.
MAY 21, 2023 IN TORONTO: Author Darlene Madott will launch her latest book Winners and Losers. More details to come.
MAY 18, 2023 IN TORONTO: “The Book Launch and Memorial: Instructions for the Drowning by Steven Heighton, 7 p.m. at Queen Books, 914 Queen Street East. This event will “feature words and readings from Michael Redhill, Michael Holmes, and Michael Ondaatje, along with some of Heighton’s music.
MAY 18, 2023 IN HAMILTON: Adventurize Your Summer! book launch with special guest Chris Banks and Shane Neilson, 7 p.m. at King West Books, 1060 King Street West.
MAY 18, 2023 ONLINE: Poetry Night featuring guest readers TBA, 7 to 8 p.m. via Facebook Live. Curated by Banoo Zan. See the Facebook event page for additional information. The event is part of HAPPENING Multicultural Festival, the first and only Toronto festival created by community artists, giving centre-stage to the talent and skills of immigrant, newcomer, and refugee artists.
MAY 17, 2023 IN TORONTO: Book launch featuring Donna Langevin and Kate Marshall Flaherty, 7 to 9 p.m. at Hirut Cafe and Restaurant, 2050 Danforth Avenue (near Woodbine subway stop).
MAY 16, 2023 IN OTTAWA: ARC Poetry with writers festival presents the “Issue 100 Launch” with Frances Boyle, Katia Grubisic, rob McLennan, Sadiqa de Meijer, and Brandon Witt, 6:30 p.m. at Galerie Saw Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street.
MAY 15, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Art Bar Poetry Series presents guest readers TBA followed by an open mic, 7 to 9/9:30 p.m. at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street. NOTE: There is a cover charge.
May 15, 2023 IN SARNIA: Open Stage continues on the second and third Monday evenings every month, at 7 p.m. at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, 127 Christina Street South. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Musicians, poets, storytellers, and writers are welcome to the microphone to perform in a quiet intimate setting. Sign-up at at the door. Hosted by Annette Dillon. Open to the public. Admission is free.
MAY 11, 2023 IN BARRIE: Voices @ Word Up Barrie presents “Final Open Mic Extravaganza”, a celebration of 9 years of readings, writers’ panels, and workshops, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Barrie Public Library, 60 Worsley Street. Their first poet laureate Bruce Meyer will kick off the evening, joined by past and present volunteers as well as featured authors who’ve shared the stage in the past.
MAY 11, 2023 ONLINE: Poetry Night featuring special guest readers TBA 7 to 8 p.m. via Facebook Live. Curated by Banoo Zan. See the Facebook event page for additional information. The event is part of HAPPENING Multicultural Festival, the first and only Toronto festival created by community artists, giving centre-stage to the talent and skills of immigrant, newcomer, and refugee artists.
MAY 11, 2023 IN TORONTO: Palimpsest Press 2023 “Spring Launch” featuring Michelle Brown, Shane Neilson, John Nyman, and Concetta Principe, 7 p.m. at Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalies Avenue. Hosted by Jim Johnstone.
MAY 8, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Art Bar Poetry Series presents guest readers Elisha Alladina, Mike Madill, and Emilio Puerta followed by an open mic, 7 to 9/9:30 p.m. at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street. NOTE: There is a cover charge.
MAY 8, 2023 IN BURLINGTON: Author Jolie Phuong Hoang presents her memoir Three Funerals for My Father, shortlisted for the 29th Annual Hamilton Literary Awards, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Central Library, 3rd floor, 2331 New Street.
MAY 8, 2023 IN SARNIA: Open Stage continues on the second and third Monday evenings every month, at 7 p.m. at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, 127 Christina Street South. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Musicians, poets, storytellers, and writers are welcome to the microphone to perform in a quiet intimate setting. Sign-up at at the door. Hosted by Annette Dillon. Open to the public. Admission is free.
MAY 7, 2023 ONLINE: Gordon Hill Press presents its “Spring Online Launch Party” featuring new work by Emily Osborne, Benjamin C. Dugdale, and Jeffery Donaldson, 4 to 6 p.m. EDT. See the Gordon Hill Press event section of their website for the link and additional information.
MAY 7, 2023 ONLINE: Guernica Editions presents a “Spring Virtual Group Launch” featuring new work by John Young, Adriana A. Davies, Henry Beissel, Christine Verduyn, Tony Ardizzone, and William A Douglass, 3:30 p.m. ET via ZOOM. See poster below:
MAY 6, 2023 IN LONDON: The book launch party for Brewhopping Across London with author Kim Wolfe and artist Cheryl Radford, 2:30 to 5 p.m. EDT at the London Brewing Co-operative, 521 Burbrook Place.
COMPLETED EVENTS:
MAY 4, 2023 ONLINE: Poetry Night featuring guest readers Adriana Onita, Mansour Noorbakhsh, and Monineet Kaur Boparai, 7 to 8 p.m. via Facebook Live. Curated by Banoo Zan. See the Facebook event page for additional information. The event is part of HAPPENING Multicultural Festival, the first and only Toronto festival created by community artists, giving centre-stage to the talent and skills of immigrant, newcomer, and refugee artists.
MAY 3, 2023 ONLINE: The League of Canadian Poets presents the “Shortlist Reading of the League’s Book Awards”, 7:30 p.m. ET . Register on EventBrite.
MAY 2, 2023 ONLINE: The Writers’ Union of Canada Ontario Open Mic Night presents guest readers Barbara Kyle, Michelle Siclair Jef Cottrill, Melanie Martial, Vivian Li, Lucian Childs, and Richard Weiser via ZOOM. The link is available from organizer Kim Fahner.
MAY 1, 2023 IN TORONTO: The Art Bar Poetry Series presents guest readers Hollay Ghadrey, Stedmond Pardy, and Jade Wallace followed by an open mic, 7 to 9/9:30 p.m. at the Free Times Cafe, 320 College Street. NOTE: There is a cover charge.
TO SEE EVENTS FOR PREVIOUS MONTHS, SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM WHERE THERE IS A LIST OF PAGE NUMBERS. CLICK ON THE PAGE NUMBER THAT YOU WANT!
Kites Without Strings 