Read Local BC

I Read Canadian Day
2025-02-19 - 2025-02-20 | BC
I READ CANADIAN DAY is a national day of celebration of Canadian books for young people. This is a day dedicated to ‘reading Canadian’ and will empower families, schools, libraries and organizations to host local activities and events within the week.

World Day of Social Justice
2025-02-20 - 2025-02-21 | BC

Pink Shirt Day
2025-02-26 - 2025-02-27 | BC
Pink Shirt Day is national day to raise awareness against bullying, particularly in schools. Participants wear a pink shirt in solidarity of anti-bullying and bullying prevention.

International Women's Day
2025-03-08 - 2025-03-09 | BC

Writing the Queer Short Story at Wildfires Bookshop
2025-03-16 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver) | BC
Join writers Corinne Manning, Adele Barclay, and Alex Leslie, as they read from their work and discuss working in the short story form at Wildfires Bookshop (a lovely, queer-owned bookstore, if you haven’t been there yet!) in New West on Sunday March 16, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

A Short Story Celebration
2025-03-17 13:00 - 14:00 | BC
Alex Leslie and Shashi Bhat on March 17th at a Short Story Celebration in the University of Fraser Valley library, Abbotsford Campus— They’ll be reading in two fiction classes and doing a public reading.

Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading featuring Erín Moure and Chantal Neveu
2025-04-05 19:00 - 21:00 | SFU Segal Building, 500 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1W6
Please join Simon Fraser University’s Department of English and Poetry in Canada for the third annual Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading, featuring award recipients Erín Moure and Chantal Neveu in conversation with special guests Oana Avasilichioaei and Annie Lafleur. This free event takes place on Saturday, April 5th (Doors: 6:15 PM; Event: 7-9 PM) at the SFU Segal Building (SG 1300). Enjoy readings, discussion, and light refreshments.
The 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/.
A 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.
As 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.
In 2025, the third annual Phyllis Webb Memorial Reading honours two poets: Erín Moure and Chantal Neveu.

TriCities Writers Fest
2025-04-07 08:00 - 17:00 | BC
Get ready for the Tri-Cities Writers Festival 2025!
We’re welcoming more than a dozen celebrated authors to our community for four days of talks, panels, and workshops this May. Sessions will be in-person and online, and include a kick-off cocktail reception, where you can enjoy great food and drink alongside your fellow book lovers, and our panel of guest authors.
The Writers Festival is a collaboration between local libraries and the Tri-City Wordsmiths, with support from OverDrive, Evergreen Cultural Centre, and the Writers’ Union of Canada. With funding from Canada Council for the Arts/Conseil des arts du Canada.
For the schedule and author lineup, visit: https://www.coqlibrary.ca/seasonal-pages/tri-cities-writers-festival

BC Book Day
2025-04-15 - 2025-04-16 | BC
BC Book Day invites British Columbians to celebrate the province’s book & magazine publishers, authors, illustrators, bookstores, libraries, festivals, and literary prizes that connect us with local stories.
The goal of BC Book Day is to raise awareness among government and the public of BC’s publishing ecosystem and its cultural and economic contributions.
BC Book Day is coordinated by the Association of Book Publishers of BC, which works to support the long-term health and success of the Canadian-owned book industry in British Columbia.
www.readlocalbc.ca/bcbookday/

Enabling Arts Poetry Open Mic
2025-04-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Enabling Arts, 104-343 Railway Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1A4, Canada
We’re back & we can’t wait to hear your words!
Join us for a poetry night at 343 Railway St (#104). Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a first-timer, this event is the perfect opportunity to share your work in a supportive and welcoming environment. It’s a chance to connect with fellow poetry enthusiasts and be inspired by the power of spoken word, whether or not you get behind the mic.
All ages, all stages of your poetry journey!
Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the event starting at 7 pm.
The open mic is first come- first serve, each poet will have 5 minutes MAX to share 1 poem.
Hate speech will not be tolerated.
$13.13 general admission
Email: info@enablingarts.com with any questions.
*No one turned away for lack of funds; let us know if you need an accessible spot*

An Evening with Holly Howe, author of Mouthwatering Sauerkraut
2025-04-17 18:00 - 20:30 | Vinca’s Kitchen Shop, 5042 48 Ave, Delta, British Columbia, V4K1V8, Canada
Join us at Vinca’s Kitchen for a special evening with Chef Holly Howe to celebrate the release of her new cookbook Mouthwatering Sauerkraut: Fermentation Made Easy!
Tickets are $40.00 plus tax and come with a copy of the new cookbook. There are only 35 tickets available.
Doors open at 6:00 pm and the event will start at 6:30 pm. Chef Holly will be demonstrating a couple of recipes, providing samples, and answering all your questions!
PLEASE NOTE – to purchase a ticket for this event online you MUST have your shopping location set as the Ladner store.
Your receipt is your ticket. Your book will be available for pick up at the event. Thank you!

Earth Day
2025-04-22 - 2025-04-23 | BC
April 22nd is Earth Day, a day dedicated to celebrate environmental protection movements. This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet” highlighting the impact of collective climate action.
Earth Day Canada encourages action around biodiversity, citing a strong desire among Canadians for access to information on this topic and its crucial role in supporting food security and climate resilience.

Celebrating Elise
2025-04-23 18:30 - 21:00 | Book Warehouse – Main Street, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, V5V 3P7, Canada
Celebrating Elise Partridge
Wednesday Apr 23rd, 2025
6:30 PM
–
9:00 PM
Main St.
Main St. Book Warehouse
Celebrating Elise
A National Poetry Month reading to celebrate the work and life of Elise Partridge (1958-2015) on the tenth anniversary of her passing. A number of Elise’s friends will read poems by or about her, or poems she loved.
Stephanie Bolster, John Donlan, Mary Gomez Fonseca, Elee Kraljii Gardiner, Christopher Levenson, George McWhirter, Barbara Nickel, Bonnie Nish, Rachel Rose, Rob Taylor, and Fiona Tinwei-Lam will be reading. Elise’s and participating readers’ books available for purchase.
Thanks to the League of Canadian Poets and the Canada Council for the Arts for their support.
Doors at 6:30 pm, event starts at 7:00 pm; free to attend and all are welcome.

Rodney DeCroo Book Launch + Concert
2025-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | VIFF Centre, 1164 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3N3, Canada
Come celebrate the launch of Night Moves, Rodney’s first collection of street photography. Happening at VIFF Centre on Wednesday April 23, count on a lively evening of poetry, music, film, and thought-provoking discussion.
7:00 pm — Reception
7:30 pm — Introduction and slide show featuring work from Night Moves
7:45 pm — Conversation with The Georgia Straight’s Mike Usinger on the art and ethics of street photography, followed by Q&A and intermission
8:30 pm — Poetry, Music and Short Films with Rodney and his band, The Wise Blood

Crime Writers of Canada: A Night of Suspense and Intrigue!
2025-04-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Book Warehouse – Main Street, 4118 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, V5V 3P7, Canada
The Crime Writers of Canada invite you to an electrifying evening where the shadows deepen and the truth is unveiled.
Witness the unveiling of the 2025 Awards of Excellence shortlist, a moment where literary titans clash and the best in crime fiction are crowned.
And brace yourselves for the grand reveal of The Derrick Murdoch Award, honouring a legendary figure whose contributions have shaped the very landscape of our beloved genre. A whisper on the wind suggests a celebrated western author (a long-standing CWC luminary) holds this coveted prize. But the identity remains shrouded in mystery… Only those who dare to attend will unlock the truth. Are you ready to play detective?
Book Warehouse, 4118 Main St., Vancouver

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
2025-04-26 - 2025-04-27 | BC
Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) is the annual day when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and others come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada. By joining the celebration, you are advocating for independent businesses, supporting a flourishing bookselling community, and investing in Canadian culture.

Here are some ways you can participate in Canadian Independent Bookstore Day:
Buy books! Purchase books and other items in-person, online, or by phone to show your support and to enter our annual Contest for Book Lovers.
Check out bookstore activities. Local shops across Canada are planning celebratory activities for the big day including customer giveaways, discounts, exclusive products, author events, and more. Visit their websites and social channels for details.

Want to find your local indie bookstore? See this list for indie bookstores in BC!

Tawahum Bige: Book Launch & Conversation at Enabling Arts
2025-04-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Enabling Arts, 104-343 Railway Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1A4, Canada
Tawahum Bige will launch a new poetry collection, Stages of Tanning Words and Remembering Spells, at Enabling Arts on Granville Island on April 26, 7pm.
In their second poetry collection, Tawahum Bige explores belonging and voice of a Two-Spirit Dene youth. These poems are a stark plunge—an answer to how voice emerges for a young Two Spirit growing up in so-called “Surrey, BC,” far from his Łutselk’e Dene territories.

Orca Book Publishers Book Launch
2025-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Munro’s Books, 1108 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1Y2, Canada
Join Orca Book Publishers on April 30th at Munro’s Books for a group book launch. Meet the authors, enjoy refreshments and get a book signed. All ages welcome!

Anna Veprinska and Joseph Kidney: Dual Poetry Launch
2025-05-05 19:00 - 20:30 | BC
A dual launch of poetry books Devotional Forensics and Bonememory at
Cross and Crow Books. Featuring the wonderful Dominique Bernier-Cormier.
2836 Commercial Drive, Vancouver B.C.

Indie Kids Book Buzz
2025-05-06 10:00 - 11:00 | BC
Join on May 6 for an indie kids bonanza as five publishers chat through their fall 2025 titles with host Kellyanne Healey, children’s librarian at Lake Hiawatha Branch Library / 2024 ALA Emerging Leader.Register for the event here!

Iona Winshaw and Gregor Craigie
2025-05-08 06:30 - 20:30 | Munro’s Books, 1108 Government Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1Y2, Canada
Join Munro’s Books as Iona Whishaw discusses the latest installment of her popular Lane Winslow mystery series with CBC host and author Gregor Craigie.
Publishers Weekly calls The Cost of a Hostage “highly entertaining,” as Lane ventures through Mexico while the team back in Nelson works on a kidnapping case that’s as open-and-shut as it is complicated.

Six Little Sticks Book Launch
2025-05-10 12:30 - 15:30 | BC
Book launch for Tiffany Stone’s new book Six Little Sticks!
Book signings, snacks, and crafts with author Tiffany Stone to celebrate the release of her new kids picture book!
This event will be held at the Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art on May 10th from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
www.christianneslyceum.com
4433 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, V6R 2H8

Mother's Day
2025-05-11 - 2025-05-12 | BC

Enabling Arts Poetry Open Mic
2025-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Enabling Arts, 104-343 Railway Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1A4, Canada
Join us for a poetry night at 343 Railway St (#104). Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a first-timer, this event is the perfect opportunity to share your work in a supportive and welcoming environment. It’s a chance to connect with fellow poetry enthusiasts and be inspired by the power of spoken word, whether or not you get behind the mic.
All ages, all stages of your poetry journey!
Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the event starting at 7 pm.
The open mic is first come- first serve, each poet will have 5 minutes MAX to share 1 poem.
Hate speech will not be tolerated.
$13.13 general admission
Email: info@enablingarts.com with any questions.
*No one turned away for lack of funds; let us know if you need an accessible spot*

Celebrating the Finalists of the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes
2025-05-22 18:30 - 19:30 | BC
Join BC and Yukon Book Prizes on May 22nd at Book Warehouse on Broadway to celebrate the finalists of the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes. This is a great opportunity to come and buy copies of the shortlisted books, have them signed by authors and illustrators in attendance, and enjoy some snacks and beverages. This event is free and open to the public.
Book Warehouse, 632 West Broadway, Vancouver

Talonbooks Spring 2025 Launch
2025-05-23 19:00 - 21:00 | BC
Celebrate the new spring releases from Talonbooks! Please join us at the Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall on Friday, May 23, to welcome the following books to the world:
allostatic load by Junie Désil
Crowd Source by Cecily Nicholson
Future Works by Jeff Derksen
Revolutions by Hajer Mirwali
Uiesh / Somewhere by Joséphine Bacon, translated by Jessica Moore!
The launch will be hosted by andrea bennett, author of the berry takes the shape of the bloom.

Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall
1955 McLean Drive
Vancouver, BC
May 23, 2025
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; readings begin at 7:30 p.m.

Bill Arnott: Engaging the Senses
2025-05-24 15:30 - 17:00 | Okanagan Regional Library, Kelowna branch, 1380 Ellis St., Kelowna, BC, V1Y 2A2, Canada
Kelowna, Bill Arnott is headed your way. He’s offering a free workshop at Kelowna Downtown Library Okanagan Regional Library. This workshop titled “Engaging the Senses” is perfect for writers of all genres and experiences. Bring whatever you need to write and get ready to be inspired!
See more and register here!

Bones of a Giant with Brian Thomas Isaac
2025-06-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Native Education College, 285 East 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1H2, Canada
Join Massy Books, Penguin Random House, and Brian Thomas Isaac for the launch of “Bones of a Giant” at 7 pm on Monday, June 2nd!
Books will be for sale at the event, including “All the Quiet Places.”
Venue:
The event will be hosted at the Massy Books, at 229 East Georgia Street in Chinatown, Vancouver.
Registration is free or by donation and required for entry.
The bookstore is wheelchair accessible and a gender-neutral washroom is on-site.
Please refrain from wearing scents or heavy perfumes.
Covid Protocols: Masks keep our community safe and are recommended and will be provided at the venue. We ask if you are showing symptoms, that you stay home. Thank you kindly.
About the Book:
Summer, 1968. For the first time since his big brother, Eddie, disappeared two years earlier—either a runaway or dead by his own hand—sixteen-year-old Lewis Toma has shaken off some of his grief. His mother, Grace, and her friend Isabel have gone south to the United States to pack fruit to earn the cash Grace needs to put a bathroom and running water into the three-room shack they share on the reserve, leaving Lewis to spend the summer with his cousins, his Uncle Ned and his Aunt Jean in the new house they’ve built on their farm along the Salmon River. Their warm family life is almost enough to counter the pressures he feels as a boy trying to become a man in a place where responsible adult men like his uncle are largely absent, broken by residential school and racism. Everywhere he looks, women are left to carry the load, sometimes with kindness, but often with the bitterness, anger and ferocity of his own mother, who kicked Lewis’s lowlife father, Jimmy, to the curb long ago.
Lewis has vowed never to be like his father—but an encounter with a predatory older woman tests him and he suffers the consequences. Worse, his dad is back in town and scheming on how to use the Indian Act to steal the land Lewis and his mom have been living on. And then, at summer’s end, more shocking revelations shake the family, unleashing a deadly force of anger and frustration.
With so many traps laid around him, how will Lewis find a path to a different future?
About the Author:
Brian Thomas Isaac was born in 1950 on the Okanagan Indian Reserve, near Vernon, British Columbia. After completing grade eight, he found work in the Alberta oil fields and in construction, eventually retiring as a bricklayer. He came to writing late in life. In 2022, his bestselling debut, All the Quiet Places, won an Indigenous Voices Award, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction and the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, and was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and CBC’s Canada Reads. He lives with his wife in West Kelowna, BC.

Books & Ideas: Scott Turow – Presumed Guilty
2025-06-03 19:30 - 20:30 | BC
#1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent redefined the legal thriller genre, and was turned into a box office smash hit starring Harrison Ford, and more recently an Apple Original series starring Jake Gyllenhaal that became Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever. Now, Turow joins us with his highly anticipated new court drama, Presumed Guilty—a suspenseful, emotionally charged thriller that follows retired judge Rusty as he’s called back to court by a case too close to home.
Turow speaks with award-winning author and screenwriter Susin Nielsen, the creator of Global TV’s “Family Law”, on June 3 at the Granville Island Stage. Books will be for sale at the event from Book Warehouse / Black Bond Books, with a book signing after the talk.
Click here to buy your tickets!

The Teachings of Mutton: A Coast Salish Woolly Dog
2025-06-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 6B1, Canada
Mutton was a Coast Salish Woolly Dog whose pelt lay forgotten in a Smithsonian drawer for 150 years until it was uncovered by an amateur archivist. According to Indigenous Oral Histories of the Pacific Northwest, this small dog was bred for thousands of years for its woolly fibres, which were woven into traditional blankets, robes and regalia.
Authors Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa, Debra Sparrow and Dr. Kerrie Charnley will read excerpts from THE TEACHINGS OF MUTTON and take part in a discussion.
The book brings together narratives of science, post-contact history, and the profound effects of colonization, all grounded in Mutton’s journey—a tale of research, reawakening, and resurgence that will interest Pacific Northwest history buffs, textile and fiber enthusiasts, and dog lovers.
Click here for more information!
