Discover Canada’s Book Landscape

A lot of work goes into getting books from writers to readers. It often takes the combined efforts of publishers, literary agents, book distributors, booksellers, libraries, and a lot of other people involved in the industry, like book reviewers and bloggers.

Another key part of this equation is all the exciting literary events, festivals and salons du livre that are held every year to celebrate Canadian books and writers. Many of these receive funding from the Canada Book Fund.

Find out more about some events, awards and organizations that are a part of Canada’s vibrant book scene.

Events

Festival international de la poésie de Trois-Rivières
This major international event takes place for 10 days every fall and allows poets from around the world to share their work with the public.
Festival Frye Festival
This event is one of Atlantic Canada’s largest literary happenings.
Blue Met International Literary Festival
This festival, which takes place in Montréal every spring, is a unique platform for promoting Canadian literature.
International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront
This event allows writers from all over the world to come together for 11 days of readings, interviews, roundtable discussions and book signings.
March Hare
The March Hare, conceived by co-founder Al Pittman in 1987, was created to make poetry available to a greater number of people, including those who might not feel inclined to attend poetry readings. The March Hare celebrates words and music through a series of shows featuring literary and musical presenters, and takes place every March in Corner Brook, NL.
French-language Book Fairs (Salons du livre)
French-language book fairs (salons du livre) have become very successful, not only in terms of the number people who attend but also in terms of how many writers take part in them.
Thin Air: Winnipeg International Writers Festival
This festival welcomes Canadian and international authors for a week of readings, book launches and other events. It offers programming in both English and French.
Winterset in Summer
The Winterset in Summer Literary Festival takes place every August in the rural community of Eastport, NL. The festival features local, national and international writers and includes readings, workshops, and panels, thematically complemented by other artistic disciplines, such as theatre, music and visual arts.
Word on the Street
Every September, in communities coast to coast to coast, the public is invited to participate in hundreds of author events, presentations and workshops and to browse a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines you'll find anywhere.
WordFest
This event brings together readers and writers through an international literary festival and year-round literary events in Calgary, Banff and the Bow Valley.
Writers at Woody Point
The Writers at Woody Point literary festival in Woody Point, Bonne Bay, NL, had its inaugural season in 2004.  The festival is organized and presented by Friends of Writers at Woody Point and, each year has played to sold-out audiences.  The event is hosted by CBC Radio’s Shelagh Rogers, host of The Next Chapter, a show about Canadian writing and writers. Writers, artists are drawn to the festival's beautiful venue from around the world. The festival takes place in August.
Freedom to Read Week
Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed to them by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Awards

Arts and Letters Awards
The Provincial Government’s Arts and Letters Awards Program encourages the creation of new works of art by both professional and non-professional artists resident in Newfoundland and Labrador by providing an opportunity to submit works for adjudication at an annual competition and by recognizing excellence through the awarding of monetary prizes and the exhibition of meritorious entries, where appropriate and feasible.
BMO Winterset Award
The BMO Winterset Award is awarded to an outstanding literary work in any writing genre regardless of the subject matter. The overriding consideration is excellence in writing by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.  The Award is sponsored by BMO Financial Group and the Sandra Fraser Gwyn Foundation, and administered by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council.
CBC's Canada Reads
CBC's annual battle of the books was introduced in 2001. During the event, five well-known Canadians each select a book they want Canadians to read. They champion their chosen book in a series of debates, eliminating books one by one until a winner is declared.
Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award
Nova Scotia's highest award for a book of non-fiction written by a Nova Scotian, the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award is presented annually by the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia. The Award is named for Nova Scotia writer Evelyn Richardson, whose book We Keep A Light won the Governor General's Literary Award for non-fiction in 1945.
Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards
The Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards are biennial, covering a two-calendar-year publishing period. The pairings are Children’s/Young Adult Literature and Fiction in one year, and Poetry and Non-fiction the next year. The Writers Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador presents these awards in partnership with the Literary Arts Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Prix France–Acadie
The Prix France–Acadie was created in 1979 by the Amitiés Acadiennes association and the Fondation de France. The award encourages and promotes creation in the fields of literature, humanities and social sciences.
Prix littéraire Antonine-Maillet-Acadie-Vie
The Prix littéraire Antonine-Maillet-Acadie-Vie recognizes Acadians, the quality of whose literary work contributes to the international reputation and promotion of Acadia.
Scotiabank Giller Prize
Established in 1994, the Scotiabank Giller Prize is one of Canada’s most distinguished literary awards. Every year, it recognizes the author of the best Canadian novel or short-story collection published in English.

Organizations

Through its various associations and with support from the Canada Book Fund, the Canadian-owned sector of the book industry works together to bring books to readers everywhere.  These organizations include:

Association des libraires du Québec (ALQ)
The goal of the ALQ is to contribute to the professional development of booksellers and the economic development of bookstores. Every year, it organizes the Prix des libraires du Québec.
Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP)
This association works with Canadian-owned publishers to promote excellence in Canadian books, increase accessibility to Canadian books and expand market shares for Canadian-owned publishers. It represents approximately 135 Canadian-owned book publishers from across the country.
Association nationale des éditeurs de livres (ANEL)
This association represents nearly 100 French-language publishing houses across Quebec and the rest of Canada. It ensures that French-Canadian books are accessible both nationally and internationally.
BookNet Canada
This organization focuses on making the Canadian book industry better at getting books from publishers to customers through technological innovation.
Literary Press Group
This association represents the interests of more than 60 Canadian literary book publishers. It supports the survival, growth and maintenance of Canadian-owned and -operated publishing houses.
Livres Canada Books
This organization supports the export sales activities of Canadian book publishers to improve their international sales.
Newfoundland Writers’ Guild 
The Newfoundland Writers’ Guild was established to help writers develop their writing skills in a workshop setting. The Guild holds monthly workshops and two annual writing retreats.
PEI Writers’ Guild
The Prince Edward Island Writers’ Guild (PEIWG) is a dynamic organization dedicated to promoting the growth and quality of literary arts on PEI. It was founded in 1989 by a group of writers to unify literary programs, such as writing workshops and readings, to create a formal intersection for discussion and action, and to speak periodically as one voice for the Island’s literary community.
Société de gestion de la banque de titres de langue française (BTLF)
This organization plays a key role in promoting French-language books published in Canada and in strengthening the industry’s technological capabilities.
Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1987 to contribute to a supportive environment for writing in the province. It works to establish a community of writers and develop an effective network of communication among writers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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