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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260718T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260718T153000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260709T182809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T182809Z
UID:57022-1784383200-1784388600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:North Shore Authors Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Hear from many of the talented writers who are featured in the 2025/26 North Shore Authors Collection! \nThe North Shore Authors Collection inspires\, supports\, and celebrates the talent of North Shore authors by showcasing locally-created content in all three North Shore libraries. \nJoin us on July 14 and 18 as we highlight some of the talented writers who are featured in the 2025/26 collection! \nWith only a few minutes to grab your attention\, this group of established and emerging local authors will showcase their recent work. \nLearn more about the NSAC at https://northshoreauthorscollection.com/\, or browse at either the North Vancouver City Library\, West Vancouver Memorial Library\, or Lynn Valley Library (NVDPL). \nTuesday’s authors:\nJohn D’Eathe\nSusan Erikson\nCarmen Farrell\nMikaela Jordan\nM.J. Milne\nAna Miranda\nKirsten Pendreigh\nLindy Pfeil\nL.J. Vanterra\nPeter Zednik \nSaturday’s authors:\nElspeth Bradbury\nJane Callen\nLaurel Gurnsey\nWiley Wei-Chiun Ho\nBill Koch\nToby Rogers\nMarie Sadro\nMary-Anne Taylor\nLucy Yang
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/north-shore-authors-showcase-2/
LOCATION:West Vancouver Memorial Library\, 1950 Marine Dr.\, West Vancouver\, BC\, V7V 1J8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260714T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260714T193000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260706T221417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T221417Z
UID:57012-1784052000-1784057400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:North Shore Authors Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Hear from many of the talented writers who are featured in the 2025/26 North Shore Authors Collection! \nThe North Shore Authors Collection inspires\, supports\, and celebrates the talent of North Shore authors by showcasing locally-created content in all three North Shore libraries. \nJoin us on July 14 and 18 as we highlight some of the talented writers who are featured in the 2025/26 collection! \nWith only a few minutes to grab your attention\, this group of established and emerging local authors will showcase their recent work. \nLearn more about the NSAC at https://northshoreauthorscollection.com/\, or browse at either the North Vancouver City Library\, West Vancouver Memorial Library\, or Lynn Valley Library (NVDPL). \nTuesday’s authors:\nJohn D’Eathe\nSusan Erikson\nCarmen Farrell\nMikaela Jordan\nM.J. Milne\nAna Miranda\nKirsten Pendreigh\nLindy Pfeil\nL.J. Vanterra\nPeter Zednik \nSaturday’s authors:\nElspeth Bradbury\nJane Callen\nLaurel Gurnsey\nWiley Wei-Chiun Ho\nBill Koch\nToby Rogers\nMarie Sadro\nMary-Anne Taylor\nLucy Yang
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/north-shore-authors-showcase/
LOCATION:West Vancouver Memorial Library\, 1950 Marine Dr.\, West Vancouver\, BC\, V7V 1J8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260707T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260707T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260625T002826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T002826Z
UID:56418-1783450800-1783454400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Richmond Reads: Author Event with Robyn Harding
DESCRIPTION:You are invited to a free upcoming author event featuring bestselling local author Robyn Harding\, who will be talking about her brand new psychological thriller Strangers in the Villa. This book is the Richmond Reads Adult Summer Book Club pick for 2026\, and the reading club runs from June 24 to August 31. Membership in the Richmond Reads Summer Book Club is not required to sign up to attend this author event. Robyn will be talking about her book and will take questions from the audience. After the event\, participants will have the chance to meet Robyn and get a signed copy of her book – copies of her book will be available for purchase.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/richmond-reads-author-event-with-robyn-harding/
LOCATION:Richmond Public Library\, Brighouse Branch\, 7700 Minoru Gate\, Richmond\, BC\, V6Y 1R8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SRC26-Adults-biblioevents.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Richmond Public Library":MAILTO:askus@yourlibrary.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260628T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260628T160000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260625T185246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T185246Z
UID:56534-1782655200-1782662400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Poetry & Art Salon
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy an afternoon of poetry readings\, art “Show & Tell”\, chats\, and more! Come listen\, share\, and connect. Presented by Janet Kvammen\, Poet Laureate of New Westminster. In partnership with Royal City Literary Arts Society. \nAdmission Fee: Free\, Drop-in \nFeature Poet Lozan Yamolky\nFeature Artist Tristan Wright
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/poetry-art-salon/
LOCATION:Anvil Centre\, 777 Columbia St.\, New Westminster\, British Columbia\, V3M 1B6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/675540275_122107228118846705_91599995447513964_n.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Royal City Literary Arts Society":MAILTO:janetkvammen@rclas.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260627T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260628T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260525T220811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260525T220811Z
UID:54600-1782565200-1782676800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:LiterASIAN 2026: Re-Generation
DESCRIPTION:The LiterASIAN Festival returns for its 14th annual edition with “Re-Generation\,” a timely exploration of how Asian Canadian writers are reshaping literary culture today. \nRunning from June 27-28 across Vancouver\, the festival brings together leading and emerging voices for a national celebration of storytelling\, community\, and creative exchange. \nWidely recognized as Canada’s premier festival dedicated to Asian Canadian literature\, LiterASIAN 2026 spotlights a new generation of writers who are reimagining inherited narratives and pushing the boundaries of form\, voice\, and identity. \nThis year’s lineup features Jinwoo Park (Oxford Soju Club)\, Evelyn Lau (Parade of Storms)\, Yasuko Thanh (To the Bridge)\, Larry Grant and Scott Steedman (Reconciling)\, Kagan Goh (Surviving Samsara)\, Steffi Tad-y (Notes from the Ward)\, Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho (Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street)\, and Keiko Honda (Hidden Flowers). \nAdditional speakers include Jessica Gin-Jade Chan (former Ricepaper Editor-in-Chief)\, Bonnie Quan Symons (poet and chapbook author)\, and Taslim Jaffer (editor\, writer\, and professor at the University of King’s College MFA program). \nFestival programming includes feature readings\, panel discussions\, and workshops. Events will take place at leading cultural and literary venues across Vancouver\, including the Chinatown Storytelling Centre\, the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum\, and Centre A: Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. \n“Fifty years after Inalienable Rice\, the first anthology of Asian Canadian writing\, we are witnessing a renewal\,” said Festival Director Allan Cho. “LiterASIAN 2026 brings together writers who are not only reflecting on cultural inheritance\, but actively transforming it.” \nHighlights include: \n● Literary Walking Tour — A guided exploration of Vancouver’s Chinatown through history and literature with filmmaker and photographer Larry Chin \n● Emerging Writers Showcase — Featuring new voices from the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers’ Award \n● Writing Workshop — Exploring expressive writing as a practice for reflection and healing \n● Chapbook-Making Class — A hands-on introduction to editing\, sequencing\, and design for a cohesive\, self-published work \n● ACWW Community Builders Award — Honouring leadership in advancing racial equity in Asian Canadian communities \n● Live Drafting Session — An intimate\, behind-the-scenes look at writers developing new work in real time \nLiterASIAN 2026: Re-Generation is presented by the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW)\, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts\, ACCESS Copyright Foundation\, the Department of Canadian Heritage\, the City of Vancouver\, and community partners. \nFor tickets and full program details\, please visit www.literasian.com.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/literasian-2026-re-generation/
LOCATION:Chinese Cultural Centre Museum\, 555 Columbia Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6A 3X3\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Festival,Panel,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LiterASIAN-2026-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Asian Canadian Writers Workshop":MAILTO:allancho@asiancanadianwriters.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260612T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260612T183000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260407T214018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T214018Z
UID:51418-1781289000-1781289000@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Author reading: Theresa Kishkan in celebration of The Art of Looking Back
DESCRIPTION:Join Theresa Kishkan for a reading from her new memoir\, The Art of Looking Back. \nAt 23\, Theresa Kishkan met an artist who became obsessed with her. She was young\, she was flattered\, and the situation quickly overwhelmed her. He drew and painted her for a few months\, after which she went away for a year. When she returned\, she was determined not to resume the relationship. \nBut the artist made contact with her after the birth of her first child and became a family friend\, bringing gifts of paintings. Those images hung in Theresa’s home\, and one in particular reminded her almost daily of her younger self\, in ways both positive and not so much. She avoided looking too closely at his images of her and at his long\, passionate and often troubling letters. \nDecades later\, while sorting old correspondence\, she was taken back to those early days and began\, at last\, to write about her relationship with the now-deceased artist. The Art of Looking Back is a meditation on the male gaze\, on reclaiming one’s younger self\, and on agency: how we lose it\, how we find it again. This poetic memoir asks questions about older men and younger women and girls\, and the persistence of that dynamic in art.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/author-reading-theresa-kishkan-in-celebration-of-the-art-of-looking-back/
LOCATION:Upstart & Crow\, 1387 Railspur Alley Vancouver\, BC V6H 3R7\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3R7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/9781997702061_fc.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Upstart &amp%3B Crow":MAILTO:hello@upstartandcrow.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T210000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T180126Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T180126Z
UID:49543-1780513200-1780520400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Author Reading with Theresa Kishkan and Keiko Honda
DESCRIPTION:Join Theresa Kishkan\, author of The Art of Looking Back\, and Keiko Honda\, author of Hidden Flowers\, for a reading and discussion of writing memoir.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/author-reading-with-theresa-kishkan-and-keiko-honda/
LOCATION:Munro’s Books\, 1108 Government Street\, Victoria\, BC\, V8W 1Y2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Meet & Greet,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Munro-Book-events-02-02.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Munro's Books":MAILTO:events@munrobooks.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260519T175030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T175030Z
UID:54016-1780509600-1780516800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Armchair Detectives Special Event with Author Amber Cowie
DESCRIPTION:Join crime and mystery author Amber Cowie (“The Off Season” and “Last One Alive”) for a special edition of Armchair Detectives. \nDiscuss the author’s work with the author herself. \nAll books are available through NVDPL.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/armchair-detectives-special-event-with-author-amber-cowie/
LOCATION:North Vancouver Public Library – Capilano branch\, 3045 Highland Blvd.\, North Vancouver\, BC\, V7R 2X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Armchair-Detectives-with-Amber-Cowie.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T091500
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260603T101500
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260519T175053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T175053Z
UID:54011-1780478100-1780481700@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:NVDPL Illustrator Visit: Vivian Truong
DESCRIPTION:Join us in virtually-welcoming our special illustrator guest\, Vivian Truong! \nVivian Truong is a British-born Chinese comic artist. Her works include the bestselling middle grade series: City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm; a manga-inspired teen series Cooking with Monsters; Beano: The Day the Teachers Disappeared; and her latest cookbook graphic novel\, Buddha Jump Over the Wall\, which recently received Google Play’s best of 2025 award. She is currently working on the fourth instalment of City of Dragons. \nBest for school-age kids. Registration required. \nLink to join will be emailed to all registrants before the start of the event.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/nvdpl-illustrator-visit-vivian-truong/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NVDPL-Illustrator-Visit-Vivian-Truong-2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260531T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260531T150000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260525T220901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260525T220901Z
UID:54521-1780234200-1780239600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Spaal' : Library Book Launch with Patrick Aleck Jr.
DESCRIPTION:Join Patrick Aleck Jr. for the launch of his debut children’s book\, Spaal’: A Raven with Different Wings. This event will feature drumming and a reading of Spaal’ by Patrick\, followed by a Q&A. \nAbout Spaal’: Being born with different wings makes flying very challenging for Spaal’. What’s worse\, the other ravens laugh at him which makes him feel sad. But with help from two kind teachers\, and the support of the Elder Ravens\, Spaal learns that his difference is a gift\, and how he can use that gift to help others. Spaal’: A Raven with Different Wings is based on a true story about determination\, kindness\, and strength. \nAbout Patrick: Patrick embodies a spirit of resilience. Living with cerebral palsy\, Patrick learned how to walk when he was around eight years old and since 2011\, he has been on an ongoing intergenerational healing journey. In 2012\, Patrick reconnected with his culture\, and he regularly drums\, publicly speaks about his story\, and began composing music in 2015. Patrick is a Raven with different wings and his unique experiences continue to carry him forward in important and meaningful ways. \nNow a published author\, Patrick is a recording artist and Stz’uminus and Penelakut Knowledge Keeper.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/spaal-library-book-launch-with-patrick-aleck-jr/
LOCATION:Vancouver Island Regional Library\, Nanaimo Harbourfront Branch\, 90 Commercial Street\, Nanaimo\, BC\, V9R 5G4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Patrick-Aleck-Author-Event-Poster-1536x591-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Island Regional Library":MAILTO:info@virl.bc.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260505T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260505T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T183412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T183412Z
UID:49671-1778004000-1778011200@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Pretendianism
DESCRIPTION:Esteemed novelist Joseph Boyden\, acclaimed film director Michelle Latimer and former University of Saskatchewan professor Carrie Bourassa have all made front-page news in recent years for the same reason: each is alleged to have been a “pretendian.” \nThe term “pretendian” has come to refer to someone who claims distant Indigenous heritage that doesn’t stand up to deeper scrutiny. But why would someone fake an Indigenous identity? \nThat question is the premise of The Pretendians (2022)\, a documentary from The Passionate Eye and the latest film featuring Anishinaabe author and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor. The documentary follows his cross-Canada journey\, revealing what really lies behind this explosive issue. \nRating: PG / Runtime: 44 mins\nPresented in partnership with CBC Gem.\n— \nAfter the film\, join Cee Peal\, the 2026 VPL Storyteller in Residence for a discussion around Pretendianism and the harm and division that it creates in Indigenous communities. \n— \nCee Peal is a theatre artist from the Nisga’a First Nation of Northern B.C. now working in Vancouver on the traditional\, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)\, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-waututh)\, and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. He brings to the library his experience in storytelling\, theatre\, and image making\, drawing from his experience working as an actor\, director\, writer\, dancer\, and producer on various productions. With a passion for Indigenous studies and cultural evolution\, Cee is also the Indigenous outreach coordinator at The Cultch and the artistic associate at The Carmen Arts Group. \nTo find out more about Cee’s residency and keep up with his upcoming events visit: vpl.ca/storyteller
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/pretendianism/
LOCATION:VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY – CENTRAL LIBRARY
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ThePretendians.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Public Library":MAILTO:candie.tanaka@vpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260502T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260502T203000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260422T230906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T232021Z
UID:52698-1777748400-1777753800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:An Evening with Eve Joseph and Patrick Friesen
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a beautiful evening of poetry with local legends Eve Joseph and Patrick Friesen. The duo will be launching their latest collections and invite you to join them in readings and conversation. Tickets are free\, but please RSVP for your spot here as capacity is limited. \nIn Eve Joseph’s latest book\, Dismantling\, the poet is occupied with the idea of poetic imagination and how that often elusive thing can transform the mundane into the mysterious. In a book where fish are classified as bees and rivers are legally people\, things are not always as they seem. As the title suggests\, sometimes the act of taking something apart and building again from scratch allows a poem to find its true form. \n​​The poems in Patrick Friesen’s latest collection\, Sightings\, move between the visible and invisible\, between the contradictions of human history and the immediacy of a complex present. Friesen examines memory and music\, rivers and personalities\, open to all possibilities and sceptical of wisdom. Instead\, these poems rely on the kind of knowledge that comes from experience: tremors and fragments riding on the movement of thinking. The distance from Friesen’s first book\, published 50 years ago\, to this one\, speaks to what it means to have known the world through poetry. \nMore about Upstart & Crow: \nUpstart & Crow is a not-for-profit creative studio and literary incubator that champions writers\, readers and stories\, and the role they play in shaping our lives. We develop original programs\, support artists and revel in creative projects focused on Literature In Translation / Climate Solutions / Poetry / Civic Dialogue / Community & Skills Building … all with the aim of elevating the role of literature and storytelling in our lives. Find us on Granville Island\, Gibsons and online at upstartandcrow.com. \nAccessibility: \nThe main studio of our shop is accessible for folks with mobility aids. There is a washroom on the main floor available for attendees. \nQuestions: hello[at]upstartandcrow.com.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/an-evening-with-eve-joseph-and-patrick-friesen/
LOCATION:Upstart & Crow\, 1387 Railspur Alley Vancouver\, BC V6H 3R7\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6H 3R7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Launch,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/New-Leaf-Event-Banner-1180x590-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Upstart &amp%3B Crow":MAILTO:hello@upstartandcrow.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260501T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260501T203000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260422T232527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T232527Z
UID:52703-1777662000-1777667400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Talonbooks Spring 2026 Launch
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall for the launch of the Talonbooks spring 2026 titles! Come help us celebrate this season’s authors and books. Here’s the lineup! It’s going to be an amazing evening. \nTaryn Hubbard will read from Beautiful Unknown Future\nJenn Ashton (attending digitally) will read from Growing My Way Home\nGeorge Bowering (attending digitally) will read from Pearl\nJónína Kirton will read from Save Your Prayers – Send Money\nElee Kraljii Gardiner will read from sometimes\, forest\nNicole Raziya Fong will read from SUBTEXT and\nDanielle LaFrance will read from Verbal Violence! \nThe launch will be hosted by the author of Future Works\, Jeff Derksen! \nA live stream will be available on the Talonbooks YouTube page. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Hope to see you there! \nTalonbooks Spring Launch\nMartha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall\nVancouver\, BC\nMay 1\, 2026\nDoors at 7 p.m.\, readings begin at 7:30 p.m. PDT
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/talonbooks-spring-2026-launch/
LOCATION:Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall\, 1955 McLean Dr\, Vancouver\, BC V5N 3J7\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5N 3J7\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Launch,Meet & Greet,Panel,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4122.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260428T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260428T143000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260325T202221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T202221Z
UID:50419-1777383000-1777386600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Canadian Children's Book Week Author Visit: Marsha Skrypuch
DESCRIPTION:In celebration of Canadian Children’s Book Week\, children’s author Marsha Skrypuch will present on her book trilogy Kidnapped from Ukraine. \nMarsha Skrypuch is an internationally bestselling children’s author whose books span a century of wars from a kid’s view\, concentrating on those stories that have been erased by oppressive regimes. Her best-known book is Making Bombs for Hitler. Her most recent is the Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. She has received death threats and honours for her writing. Marsha lives in Brantford\, Ontario\, and you can visit her online at calla.com \nMarsha talks about the war\, the books\, how she did her research\, and the challenges she encountered. She also talks about what happens when you’re banned for life by Russia (she is the only children’s author in North America thus targeted). \nTeachers of grades 4-6 may register their group to attend. Maximum of 3 classes. Please include the number of students attending. \nInterested members of the public may also register to attend. \nBest for children grades 4-6
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/canadian-childrens-book-week-author-visit-marsha-skrypuch/
LOCATION:North Vancouver Public Library – Lynn Valley branch\, 1277 Lynn Valley Road\, North Vancouver\, BC\, V7J 0A2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Marsha-Skrypuch.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260424T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260424T210000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260407T213556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T213556Z
UID:51076-1777057200-1777064400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Off the Shelf Poetry Reading Series with Cornel Bogle\, Lisa Richter\, Salena Wiener
DESCRIPTION:Please join SFU English and Poetry in Canada for a poetry reading featuring Professor Cornel Bogle\, Lisa Richter\, and Salena Wiener. \nDetails: \nDate/Time: Friday\, April 24th (Doors 6:30 PM; Event: 7-9 PM) \nLocation: SFU Belzberg Library at Harbour Centre campus \nThis is a free event\, no RSVP required. \nBios \nCornel Bogle engages Caribbean archives and diasporic memory through erasure\, found\, and lyric poetry. Their work has been published in literary platforms such as “brick”\, “Arc Poetry Magazine”\, and “Pree: Caribbean Writing”\, and has been presented in readings across Canada and the Caribbean. \nAt SFU\, they teach in areas such as Black and Caribbean literatures\, decolonial literary studies\, diaspora\, transnationalism\, and creative writing\, guiding students to explore how storytelling travels across borders\, histories\, and communities. Originally from Kingston\, Jamaica\, they earned their BA at the University of the West Indies\, and both their MA and PhD at the University of Alberta\, joining SFU in 2023. \nLisa Richter is a Toronto-based poet\, writer\, and educator. She is the author of two books of poetry\, “Closer to Where We Began” and “Nautilus and Bone”\, winner of the Canadian Jewish Literary Award\, the National Jewish Book Award (U.S.)\, and the Robert Kroetsch Award. Her work has been longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize\, a National Magazine Award finalist\, and appeared in “Best Canadian Poetry”\, “The Fiddlehead”\, “The Malahat Review”\, and “The New Quarterly”\, among other places. She holds an MFA from the University of Guelph and teaches at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. Her third book\, “Sublunary”\, is forthcoming with University of Alberta Press in March 2026. \nSalena Wiener is a poet and PhD student in English Literature at Simon Fraser University. Her research interests include British Romantic women’s writing\, print and manuscript culture\, digital humanities\, and ecopoetics. She has worked as a Research Assistant for SpokenWeb and the Women’s Print History Project. Her critical and creative work appears in “Honey & Lime Lit Magazine”\, “Peculiars Magazine”\, “Montreal Review of Books”\, “Digital Studies”\, and elsewhere. She is the author of two poetry chapbooks\, “bodies like gardens” (Cactus Press 2023) and “Cities of Delusions” (Anstruther Press 2026). \nVenue Accessibility \nThis in-person event takes place at the SFU’s Harbour Centre campus. It is easily accessible by transit and near SkyTrain. The campus is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair accessible washrooms. Gender neutral washrooms are also available.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/off-the-shelf-poetry-reading-series-with-cornel-bogle-lisa-richter-salena-wiener/
LOCATION:SFU Harbour Centre\, 515 West Hastings Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ORGANIZER;CN="SFU English":MAILTO:englcmns@sfu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260414T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260414T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T180418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T180418Z
UID:49564-1776189600-1776196800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Stage Your Own Play with Cee Peal - Part One
DESCRIPTION:Gain a comprehensive understanding of the playwriting process from initial concept to production and finally opening night in this three-part series program. Learn about the concepts of Scene and Monologue Writing\, Text Analysis\, Staging\, Performance\, Production and more. \nUse this time to explore the early stages of theatre development and experiment with others in a collaborative and unique process. \n— \nCee Peal is a theatre artist from the Nisga’a First Nation of Northern B.C. now working in Vancouver on the traditional\, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)\, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-waututh)\, and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. He brings to the library his experience in storytelling\, theatre\, and image making\, drawing from his experience working as an actor\, director\, writer\, dancer\, and producer on various productions. With a passion for Indigenous studies and cultural evolution\, Cee is also the Indigenous outreach coordinator at The Cultch and the artistic associate at The Carmen Arts Group. \nTo find out more about Cee’s residency and keep up with his upcoming events visit: vpl.ca/storyteller
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/stage-your-own-play-with-cee-peal-part-one/
LOCATION:VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY – CENTRAL LIBRARY
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Meet & Greet,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ISiR_CeePeal_2026_Biblioevents_760x380px_Alt2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Public Library":MAILTO:candie.tanaka@vpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260411T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260411T210000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T180352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T180352Z
UID:50380-1775934000-1775941200@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading featuring Wayde Compton
DESCRIPTION:Please join SFU English and Poetry in Canada for the 4th annual Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading featuring award recipient Wayde Compton. This free event takes place on Saturday\, April 11th (Doors: 6:15 PM; Event: 7-9 PM) at SFU Harbour Centre (Room 1400). Special guests include Cecily Nicholson and Courtenay Chan. Hosted by Professor Stephen Collis. Enjoy readings\, discussion\, and light refreshments. \nThe Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading honours a Canadian poet(s) with a cash award and a celebration of their work. This event will occur each April and will be organized and administered by the Poetry in Canada Society\, https://www.poetrycanada.org/. \nA Governor General’s Award–winning poet and a member of the Order of Canada\, Phyllis Webb was a major Canadian cultural figure from the 1950s through the 1980s\, publishing ten celebrated collections of poetry and prose and co-founding the CBC Radio program Ideas (in 1965). When “words abandoned” her in the early 1990s and she was no longer able to write\, she took up photography\, photocollage\, and eventually painting. \nAs Stephen Scobie once wrote\, the work of Phyllis Webb “has always been distinguished by the profundity of her insights\, the depth of her emotional feeling\, the delicacy and accuracy of her rhythms\, the beauty and mysterious resonance of her images – and by her luminous intelligence.” It is this legacy that the Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading seeks to honour\, by selecting a poet who is distinguished by similar qualities. \nIn 2026\, the fourth annual Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading honours poet Wayde Compton\, who is the author of six books and the editor of two literary anthologies. His collection of short stories\, “The Outer Harbour”\, won the City of Vancouver Book Award in 2015 and his work has been a finalist for three other City of Vancouver Book Awards. He won a National Magazine Award for Fiction in 2011 and was nominated for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize in 2000. In 2002\, Compton co-founded the Hogan’s Alley Memorial Project\, an organization devoted to researching and promoting Vancouver’s historical Black community and later helped establish the Hogan’s Alley Working Group and the Hogan’s Alley Society\, its successor organizations. From 2006-2011 Compton co-published Commodore Books\, Western Canada’s first Black Canadian literary press. He has been writer-in-residence at Simon Fraser University\, Green College at the University of British Columbia\, and the Vancouver Public Library. Compton currently teaches in the Department of Writing at the University of Victoria\, and his latest book is “Toward an Anti-Racist Poetics” (U of Alberta P\, 2024). \nImportant Information: \nVenue and Accessibility: This in-person event takes place at the SFU Harbour Centre (Room 1400). It is easily accessible by transit and near SkyTrain. The campus is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair accessible washrooms. Gender neutral washrooms are also available. \nPlease note: This event may be recorded and/or photographed. If you do not wish to be photographed\, please inform the photographer.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/phyllis-webb-memorial-reading-featuring-wayde-compton/
LOCATION:SFU Harbour Centre\, 515 West Hastings Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Award,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Livewhale-Phyllis-Webb_Compton-2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SFU English":MAILTO:englcmns@sfu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260409T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260409T203000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260325T202541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T202541Z
UID:50795-1775759400-1775766600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Book Launch - Exhumations: Inside the Body of a Petrostate by Joanne Leow
DESCRIPTION:Join Simon Fraser University English Professor Joanne Leow at Enabling Arts on April 9th (6:30 PM) for the launch of her new book\, “Exhumations: Inside the Body of a Petrostate”. \nAbout the book: \n“What unknowable chemical? How slow was this damage\, this violence? … How might any of us stay uncontaminated by all that was built around us?” \n“Exhumations: In the Body of a Petrostate” oscillates between an unflinching critique of the author’s birth island\, Singapore\, and a memoir of grief and illness. Seeing our porous bodies as part of a contaminated and compromised system based on extraction\, violence\, and political repression\, the book asks what must be made visible in our current moment. Drawing on her experience as a journalist for state-controlled media\, and her current work as a scholar\, Leow explores histories of activism\, censorship\, weapons manufacturing\, terraforming\, and petroleum refining. In doing so\, she traces the networks of power that link Singapore with Canada\, Palestine\, Israel\, England and beyond. Drawing on art\, photography\, film\, and literature\, she considers how they exhume truths that cannot otherwise be told. \nThis launch is supported by Simon Fraser University’s Department of English and the David See-chai Lam Centre\, and Alchemy/Knopf. \nProfessor Leow will be joined by UBC Professors Phanuel Antwi and John Paul (JP) Catungal. (Photo Credits: for Joanne Leow: sweetmoon photography; for Phanuel Antwi: Rachel Topham Photography) \nSpeaker Bios: \nJoanne Leow grew up in Singapore and now lives on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)\, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)\, and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair of Transnational and Decolonial Digital Humanities at Simon Fraser University. She is the author of the academic monograph\, “Counter-Cartographies: Reading Singapore Otherwise” (Liverpool University Press\, 2024) and the poetry collection\, “Seas Move Away” (Turnstone Press\, 2022). Her creative work and research lie at the intersections of the environmental humanities\, transnational and diasporic cultural production\, global Asia studies\, autotheory\, and decoloniality. \nJP Catungal (he/him) is Assistant Professor in the Institute for Gender\, Race\, Sexuality and Social Justice\, and Co-Director of the Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement at the University of British Columbia. A queer\, first generation\, Filipinx Canadian scholar\, JP’s research\, teaching and public facing works are in conversation with critical human geography and feminist and queer of colour theories and methods. He is particularly interested in how migrant\, racialized and LGBTQ+ communities address their experiences of marginalization in the fields of sexual health\, education and social services. He has served as co-edit of the book\, “Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility”\, as well as special journal issues for “BC Studies”; “ACME: International Journal of Critical Geographies”; “TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies”; and “Alon: Journal for Filipino American and Diasporic Studies”. He received the Killam Teaching Prize at UBC. \nPhanuel Antwi is an artist\, an organizer\, a curator\, and an associate professor of English concerned with race\, poetics\, movements\, intimacy\, and struggle. He works with text\, dance\, film\, and photography to intervene in artistic\, academic\, and public spaces. Dr. Antwi holds a Canada Research Chair in Black Arts and Epistemologies at the University of British Columbia\, Canada. His recent book\, “On Cuddling: Loved to Death in the Racial Embrace”\, is from Pluto Press. He’s currently finishing a manuscript called “Currencies of Blackness: Faithfulness\, Cheerfulness and Politeness in Settler Writing”.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/book-launch-exhumations-inside-the-body-of-a-petrostate-by-joanne-leow/
LOCATION:Enabling Arts\, 104-343 Railway Street\, Vancouver\, British Columbia\, V6A 1A4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Launch
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Eventbrite_Exhumations.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SFU English":MAILTO:englcmns@sfu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260407T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260407T203000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260325T202632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260325T202632Z
UID:50861-1775588400-1775593800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Robin Ducharme Launches Real Love Ready
DESCRIPTION:Victoria author Robin Ducharme launches Real Love Ready: A Guide to Relational Literacy\, a compassionate guide to the knowledge\, skills\, and daily practices that help us love with greater intention\, truth\, and heart. In conversation with Monique Gray Smith\, Robin will discuss how relational literacy can shape the way we connect in love\, friendship\, family\, work\, and self. A meaningful literary event for readers drawn to relationships\, personal growth\, and conscious living.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/robin-ducharme-launches-real-love-ready/
LOCATION:Bolen Books\, #111-1644 Hillside Ave.\, Victoria\, BC\, V8T 2C5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Book Signing,Interview
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-9.49.30-PM.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Real Love Ready":MAILTO:kate@realloveready.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260402T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260402T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260122T012505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T004457Z
UID:47682-1775152800-1775160000@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:A Reading of the Play El Terremoto by Christine Quintana
DESCRIPTION:Touchstone Theatre and Neworld Theatre present a reading of Christine Quintana’s play El Terremoto (directed by Daniela Atiencia). Twenty years have passed since the three Jurado sisters lost their parents\, and life just seems to continue on in their East Vancouver home. \nA birthday party\, a failed proposal\, and a missed connection fill the days and months until an earthquake nearly destroys the city\, and brings forward a shocking turn of events that splits their world wide open.\nFrom Dora-Award winning playwright Christine Quintana\, El Terremoto is a dramatic comedy about how nothing matters\, so everything matters. \n— \nA reading of the full play by seven actors will be followed by a Q & A at the end of the evening with Christine and Lois Anderson\, Artistic Director at Touchstone Theatre. Join us for a delightful evening around the playwriting process and the Canadian theatre scene. \n— \nChristine Quintana was born in Los Angeles to a Mexican-American father and a Dutch-British-Canadian mother. Christine grew up as a grateful visitor to the unceded lands of the Musqueam\, Squamish\, and Tsleil-Waututh people. Christine is an actor\, playwright\, and co-Artistic Producer of Delinquent Theatre. In these various capacities\, she has worked with Tarragon Theatre\, the Arts Club Theatre Company\, Bard on the Beach\, The Cultch\, Neworld Theatre\, Electric Company Theatre\, Rumble Theatre\, Boca Del Lupo\, Zee Zee Theatre\, Caravan Farm Theatre\, Ruby Slippers Theatre\, Playwrights Theatre Centre\, Pi Theatre\, Gateway Theatre\, Nightswimming Theatre\, Belfry Theatre\, Stratford Festival\, and Young People’s Theatre. Her writing has been translated and performed in Spanish\, French\, ASL\, and German. \nDaniela Atiencia is the Artistic Associate at Touchstone Theatre and a Latinx-Canadian theatre artist born and raised in Colombia. She has a BFA in Theatre Performance from SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts and holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from The University of Essex’s East 15 Acting School. Daniela works as a freelance bilingual director\, dramaturg\, and deviser. She is currently working on two plays as co-director for Neworld and Green Thumb Theatre. As dramaturg she is collaborating with Tetsuro Shigematsu’s latest commissioned piece for Pacific Theatre and served as Spanish Language Dramaturg for Made in Canada\, an agricultural podcast for rice & beans theatre. She is currently based on the Unceded Territories of the Coast Salish peoples (Vancouver\, B.C.) and her work recently earned her a finalist spot in the RBC Rising Star Emerging Director award. \nLois Anderson is the Artistic Director of Touchstone Theatre\, and an Adjunct Professor at UBC in the Department of Theatre and Film. She won the Jessie Award for Best Direction (Pericles\, Bard on the Beach) and the 2019 Critic’s Choice Award for Innovation (Lysistrata). She has worked extensively in Canada and Australia and has been an artistic associate with The National Arts Centre most recently directing You Used to Call Me Marie by Tai Amy Grauman.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/a-reading-of-the-play-el-terremoto-by-christine-quintana/
LOCATION:Vancouver Public Library\, Central Branch\, 350 West Georgia St.\, Vancouver\, BC\, V6B 6B1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/El_TERREMOTO-image_760X380.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Public Library":MAILTO:candie.tanaka@vpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260331T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260331T193000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T180303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T180303Z
UID:49559-1774980000-1774985400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Introducing Cee Peal: 2026 Indigenous Storyteller in Residence
DESCRIPTION:Vancouver Public Library is honoured to introduce Cee Peal as the 2026 Indigenous Storyteller in Residence. \nCee Peal is a theatre artist from the Nisga’a First Nation of Northern B.C. now working in Vancouver on the traditional\, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)\, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-waututh)\, and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. He brings to the library his experience in storytelling\, theatre\, and image making\, drawing from his experience working as an actor\, director\, writer\, dancer\, and producer on various productions. With a passion for Indigenous studies and cultural evolution\, Cee is also the Indigenous outreach coordinator at The Cultch and the artistic associate at The Carmen Arts Group. \nTo find out more about Cee’s residency and keep up with his upcoming events visit: vpl.ca/storyteller \n— \nJoin us for an evening of storytelling and theatre magic with special guests.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/introducing-cee-peal-2026-indigenous-storyteller-in-residence/
LOCATION:VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY – CENTRAL LIBRARY
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Launch,Meet & Greet
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ISIR2026_CeePeal.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Public Library":MAILTO:candie.tanaka@vpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260327T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260327T210000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260316T180310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T180310Z
UID:49604-1774638000-1774645200@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Off the Shelf Poetry Reading Series: Joanne Leow\, Garth Martens\, Fenn Stewart
DESCRIPTION:Please join Simon Fraser University’s Department of English and Poetry in Canada for a poetry reading featuring our own Professor Joanne Leow and Garth Martens and Fenn Stewart. \nDetails:\nDate/Time: Friday\, March 27th (Doors: 6:30 PM; Readings 7-9 PM)\nLocation: SFU Belzberg Library (SFU’s Harbour Centre campus – 515 West Hastings St.\, Vancouver) \n*Free Event; No RSVP Required \nBios \nJoanne Leow is Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair of Transnational and Decolonial Digital Humanities in the Department of English at Simon Fraser University. Her first academic monograph is “Counter-Cartographies: Reading Singapore Otherwise” (Liverpool University Press\, 2024). She is also a poet and writer with a debut collection of poetry\, “Seas Move Away” (Turnstone Press\, 2022) and a forthcoming creative-critical memoir\, “Exhumations: In the Body of a Petrostate” (Alchemy Press\, 2026). Her writing and research interests lie at the intersections of spatial theory\, decolonial theory\, postcolonial studies\, transnational and diasporic texts\, and the environmental humanities. \nGarth Martens is the author of “Prologue for the Age of Consequence” and “Who Else in the Dark Headed There”. For his first book\, he was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. He is also a past winner of the Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. His poetry appears in “Dark Mountain Project”\, “Poetry Ireland”\, “Hazlitt”\, “This Magazine”\, “Vallum”\, “Fiddlehead”\, and “Best Canadian Poetry”. He is a co-founder and producer for Palabra Flamenco\, a literary flamenco ensemble that joins traditional flamenco dance and music with poetry and oral storytelling. He lives in Victoria\, BC. \nFenn Stewart is the author of three chapbooks and two poetry collections – “Better Nature”\, which was longlisted for the 2018 Gerald Lampert Memorial Prize\, and “women & roosters” (2025). A former editor of “The Capilano Review”\, she continues to serve on the magazine’s editorial board. Stewart holds a PhD in social and political thought\, and teaches literature and writing at Capilano University. She lives with her kids\, and the world’s nicest dog\, on unceded Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish)\, xʷməθkʷəỷəm (Musqueam)\, and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories. \nVenue Accessibility \nThis in-person event takes place at the SFU’s Harbour Centre campus. It is easily accessible by transit and near SkyTrain. The campus is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair accessible washrooms. Gender neutral washrooms are also available.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/off-the-shelf-poetry-reading-series-joanne-leow-garth-martens-fenn-stewart/
LOCATION:SFU Harbour Centre\, 515 West Hastings Street\, Vancouver\, BC\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LiveWhale_Off-the-Shelf-Poetry-12.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SFU English":MAILTO:englcmns@sfu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260310T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260310T170000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260202T201217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T201217Z
UID:47923-1773158400-1773162000@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:FREE Celebration of Outdoor Learning Books!
DESCRIPTION:Free 1 Hour Virtual Event on Tues\, March 10 at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern Time. \nSign-up: https://outdoorlearning.com/event/spring-celebration-2026/ \nThis is a chance to connect virtually with the incredible authors of some of the outdoor and Indigenous learning resources that we’ve published. Get the inside scoop\, hear about their process\, and ask any burning questions. Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside\, with the support of Creative BC. \nAll registrants will receive: \n– Access the recording\, in case you can’t join us live\n– Access a Certificate of Attendance\n– Entry for some great prizes!\n– A 15% coupon code to access any of the books featured! \nOffered in partnership with Take Me Outside\, with the support of Creative BC.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/free-celebration-of-outdoor-learning-books/
LOCATION:https://outdoorlearning.com/event/spring-celebration-2026/\, Virtual Event
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Day of Celebration,Panel
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Outdoor-Learning-Spring-Celebration-2026-Feature-CreativeBC.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Outdoor Learning School &amp%3B Store":MAILTO:info@outdoorlearning.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260308T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260308T210000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260302T211518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T211518Z
UID:49266-1772996400-1773003600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Poetry Reading: Steven Seidenberg & Danielle LaFrance
DESCRIPTION:Poets Steven Seidenberg and Danielle LaFrance will be reading at People’s Co-op Bookstore on Sunday\, March 8th (7-9 PM).\nThis is a free event and all are welcome – no need to RSVP. \n*This event is hosted by Simon Fraser University’s Department of English. \nBios:\nWriter and artist Steven Seidenberg’s literary works include “Coda” (Omnidawn\, Fall 2025)\, “Anon” (Omnidawn\, 2022)\, and “plain sight” (Roof Books\, 2020). His books have been published in Italian\, Portuguese and Swedish translation\, and his most recent collection of photographs is “The Architecture of Silence” (Contrasto\, 2023). \nDanielle LaFrance is a poet and information malprofessional. Their commitments are anchored to liberation\, resistance\, and pleasure. LaFrance is the author of “species branding” (Capilano University Editions\, 2010)\, “Friendly + Fire” (Talonbooks\, 2016)\, “JUST LIKE I LIKE IT” (Talonbooks\, 2019)\, and “#postdildo” (Talonbooks\, 2022). LaFrance co-created the reading and journal series\, “About a Bicycle” and currently collaborates on the ad infinitum intertextual sound project\, “Yes\, Sydo”. Their forthcoming book\, “Verbal Violence” (Talonbooks\, 2026) is a scrolling indictment of the professional managerial class. They reside as a guest on still occupied and still unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm\, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh\, and səlilwətaɬ lands.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/poetry-reading-steven-seidenberg-danielle-lafrance/
LOCATION:People’s Co-op Bookstore\, 1391 Commercial\, Vancouver\, British Columbia\, V5L 3X5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/LiveWhale_March-8-2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="SFU English":MAILTO:englcmns@sfu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260210T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260210T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260204T224419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T224625Z
UID:48056-1770750000-1770753600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Incite: Maggie Helwig on Encampment
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library. \nThe housing crisis plaguing major urban centres across Canada has sent countless people into the streets. In spring 2022\, some of them found their way to the yard beside the Anglican church in Toronto’s Kensington Market\, where Maggie Helwig is the priest. They pitched tents\, formed an encampment\, and settled in. Known as an outspoken social justice activist\, Helwig has spent the last three years getting to know the residents and fighting tooth and nail to allow them to stay. \nWinner of the 2025 Toronto Book Award and one of CBC Books’ and the Globe and Mail’s best books of 2025\, Encampment tells the story of Helwig’s life-long activism as preparation for her fight to keep her churchyard open to people needing a home. More importantly\, it introduces us to the Artist\, to Jeff\, and to Robin: their lives\, their challenges\, their humanity. It confronts our society’s callousness in allowing so many to go unhoused and demands\, by bringing their stories to the fore\, that we begin to respond with compassion and grace. \nHelwig shares her story and theirs\, and answers audience questions\, with The Tyee senior editor Jackie Wong\, whose journalism on housing and drug policy has been published widely. Books will be for sale at the event by Upstart & Crow\, with a signing afterwards.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/incite-maggie-helwig-on-encampment/
LOCATION:VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY – CENTRAL LIBRARY
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Incite_Maggie-Helwig_social-banner-1536x768-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Vancouver Writers Fest":MAILTO:info@writersfest.bc.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260207T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260207T153000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260122T012647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260207T002539Z
UID:47461-1770472800-1770478200@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Once Upon This Land: Archaeology in British Columbia and the Stories It Tells with Bob Muckle
DESCRIPTION:In celebration of Heritage Week later this month\, Bob Muckle\, author of Once Upon This Land: Archaeology in British Columbia and the Stories It Tells\, will talk about British Columbia’s fascinating array of famous and lesser-known archaeological sites\, from footprints left in mud on Calvert Island 13\,000 years ago to remnants of COVID-19 left behind in urban landfills. Bob is a registered professional archaeologist who taught for many years in the Department of Anthropology at Capilano University. \nFollowing this talk\, the District of West Vancouver Archivist Reto Tschan will moderate a question-and-answer period about Bob’s archaeological work. \nPresented in partnership with the District of West Vancouver Archives.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/once-upon-this-land-archaeology-in-british-columbia-and-the-stories-it-tells-with-bob-muckle/
LOCATION:West Vancouver Memorial Library\, 1950 Marine Dr.\, West Vancouver\, BC\, V7V 1J8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Once-Upon-This-Land_fc-low-res.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260131T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260131T143000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260105T195102Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T195102Z
UID:46528-1769864400-1769869800@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:The Strangest Thing in the Sea and Other Curious Adventures: an Afternoon with Author Rachel Poliquin!
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate Family Literacy Week at Parkgate Library! Join us for an exciting\, engaging\, and interactive program with a local author. \nRachel Poliquin explores wonder and curiosity in her gorgeous book The Strangest Thing in the Sea. During this program\, Rachel will share the inspiration behind the book – then invite participants to dive deep into a world of creative thinking and strangeness by creating their very own Strangest Thing in the Sea! \nRegistration is required. This program is best suited for children aged 6-12. Parents are highly encouraged to participate and to attend if they feel their child may benefit from extra support. \nRachel Poliquin is an award-winning author of children’s non-fiction. She mostly writes about animals and particularly likes exploring the overlooked heroes of the natural world. Her books include I Am Wind: An Autobiography\, This is Orange\, and The Museum of Odd Body Leftovers\, which has been translated into 10 languages. She lives in Vancouver\, Canada with her husband\, three children. \nFor more information\, please reach out to Parkgate Library at 604-929-3727 ext. 8166.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/the-strangest-thing-in-the-sea-and-other-curious-adventures-an-afternoon-with-author-rachel-poliquin/
LOCATION:North Vancouver Public Library – Parkgate branch\, 3675 Banff Court\, North Vancouver\, BC\, V7H 2Z8\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rachel-Poliquin-The-Strangest-Thing-in-the-Sea.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260128T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260128T200000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20260105T195148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T195148Z
UID:46522-1769625000-1769630400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:North Shore Reads - A Couple's Story of Confronting Chronic Pain
DESCRIPTION:In the fifth North Shore Reads\, Kara Stanley\, Simon Paradis\, and Marsha Lederman discuss Stanley’s new book “The Pain Project.” \nTen years after her husband Simon Paradis’ catastrophic injury to his brain and spinal cord\, Kara Stanley and Simon decide to spend one year researching pain\, interviewing experts\, reading self-help books\, and trying new and alternative methodologies to deepen their knowledge and bring ease back into their lives. In “The Pain Project: A Couple’s Story of Confronting Chronic Pain\,” Kara and Simon record their honest conversations\, insightful journal entries\, and affectionate banter\, all while addressing the nature of suffering and pain. Ultimately hopeful\, their story is one for anyone looking for a greater understanding of pain as a phenomenon and in their own lives. \nDon’t miss this thoughtful online conversation between Kara\, Simon\, and The Globe and Mail’s Marsha Lederman on what it means when we confront pain head on. \nThe event is held virtually via Zoom webinar. A link will be emailed to you two days before to the email address you used to register.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/north-shore-reads-a-couples-story-of-confronting-chronic-pain/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion,Interview
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/North-Shore-Read-2026-The-Pain-Project.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251126T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251126T193000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20251027T213034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T213034Z
UID:43419-1764181800-1764185400@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Author Talk: Robert J. Muckle
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening with Robert Muckle as he discusses his book Once upon This Land: Archaeology in British Columbia and the Stories It Tells. \nOnce upon This Land introduces readers to some of the most notable archaeological investigations\, including footprints left in mud on Calvert Island 13\,000 years ago\, the remains of a large First Nations village near Lillooet\, and the body of a man frozen in ice for centuries in the Tatshenshini region. He also investigates more recent phenomena\, such as a fur-trade fort\, remains of the gold rush\, a First World War internment camp near Fernie\, a Japanese logging camp in North Vancouver\, shipwrecks\, airplane crashes\, and even the remnants of COVID-19 left behind in urban landfills. \nRobert will discuss the book\, answer questions\, and have copies of the book for sale.
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/author-talk-robert-j-muckle/
LOCATION:North Vancouver Public Library – Lynn Valley branch\, 1277 Lynn Valley Road\, North Vancouver\, BC\, V7J 0A2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Robert-Muckle-Author-Talk.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="North Vancouver District Public Library":MAILTO:info@nvdpl.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251113T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20251113T183000
DTSTAMP:20260722T082728
CREATED:20251107T200720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T200720Z
UID:44991-1763055000-1763058600@www.readlocalbc.ca
SUMMARY:Neveah North (ON EDGE READING SERIES: FALL 2025)
DESCRIPTION:The On Edge Reading Series showcases the work of writers who are doing the freshest\, most interesting\, and relevant work\, writers who are also artists\, volunteers\, literary award winners\, social justice organizers\, prison abolitionists\, literary organizers\, dancers\, managing editors\, filmmakers\, creative writing instructors\, and scholars. \nFEATURING: \nNeveah North\nThursday\, November 13\, 2025 at 5:30PM PT\nIN-PERSON in the Aboriginal Gathering Place at Emily Carr University (520 E 1st Ave\, Vancouver\, BC)\nLivestream option: Visit linked Zoom registration page! \nNevaeh Emily North is 36 years old and a proud member of the Carrier Nation\, born in Kelowna and raised in Prince George\, British Columbia. Her journey hasn’t been easy — she spent almost 16 years incarcerated. Those years shaped her in deep and lasting ways. They were some of the hardest of her life\, but they also gave her strength\, perspective\, and a powerful sense of purpose. Today\, Nevaeh stands rooted in her culture and identity. She carries forward the teachings of her ancestors and the lessons learned through both pain and resilience. She passionate about healing\, growth\, and giving back to her community — especially to others who feel forgotten or silenced. Navaeh’s story is still unfolding\, but she walks forward with honesty\, pride\, and hope. \n——- \nAll readings are FREE and open to the public. ASL interpretation is provided for all readings. On Edge is organized and hosted by Mercedes Eng and assisted by Eliza. \nFor any other inquiries: Please email onedge@ecuad.ca \nThe series is support by the Emily Carr Writing Centre with grateful acknowledgement to the Canada Council for the Arts and the Coast Salish First Nations whose traditional lands we are on. \nInstagram: @onedgereadingseries
URL:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/event/neveah-north-on-edge-reading-series-fall-2025/
LOCATION:Emily Carr University of Art + Design\, 520 E 1st Ave\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5T 0H2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Author Discussion
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.readlocalbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ONEDGEPOSTER_Nevaeh-North-20255.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="On Edge Reading Series":MAILTO:onedge@ecuad.ca
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR