Windsor book fest shutters, citing lack of funding

After over 20 years highlighting books and authors, BookFest Windsor announced on sociel media that 2024 was the last of the annual event.

“With funding decreasing and fewer people able to continue the stellar work of our founders, we are no longer able to mount a literary festival,” organizers said in the post, adding that grant funds will be returned and remaining resources donated to a local arts charity.

The festival, which launched in 2002, has moved its archives to a library at the University of Windsor.

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If a 16-18 year-old in your life has a way with words, a do-it-yourself attitude and a hankering to create, a workshop taking place next weekend might be of interest.

On Sunday, Nov. 9, longtime zine creator Anneliese Schoppe will host a poetry zine workshop for teens presented by poetry journal Contemporary Verse 2; she’ll be joined by Jordyn Sheldon and Ava Glendinning of CV2, who will help facilitate the workshop.

The zine-making workshop runs from noon-4 p.m. at CV2’s office (502-100 Arthur St.), and all materials are free, but advance registration is required by tomorrow (Nov. 2). To sign up visit wfp.to/iXd.

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Saskatchewan-born, Ontario-based author Mark Morton — who taught English at the University of Winnipeg for many years — won the top prize in the science fiction and fantasy category at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) Book Awards.

Morton’s debut young-adult novel The Headmasters, published in February 2024 by Shadowpaw Press, won the $5,000 prize in one of seven different categories.

Jennifer Leason, a Pine Creek First Nations author and illustrator based in Calgary, won the $2,500 Richard Allen Chase memorial award for the book Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee, featuring an Anishinaabemowin translation by her great uncle Norman Chartrand.

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Of note, this was the first year since 2005 that the $50,000 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award was not presented; 2024 was the last year for the prize.

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On Tuesday, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (85 Israel Asper Way) hosts to author and accessibilty consultant Max Brault, launching his new book The Race to the Starting Line, in which he digs into key elements of the Accessible Canada Act, which aims to make Canada barrier-free by 2040.

The event runs from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include a e-book or audiobook copy of The Race to the Starting Line as well as refreshments, and are available at wfp.to/iX9.

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Heiltsuk First Nation member and United Church of Canada minister Carmen Lansdowne launches her new book, Wearing a Broken Indigene Heart on the Sleeve of Christian Mission, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Canadian Mennonite University’s CommonWord Bookstore (2299 Grant Ave.)

Published in August by CMU Press, the book tackles big questions about the relationship between Indigeneity and the Christian mission. The event is free and can be livestreamed at wfp.to/iX3.

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Some forthcoming launches taking place at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location in the coming days…

Terry O’Reilly, Under the Influence host and author of The Age of Persuasion (among others) returns to Winnipeg to launch his new book Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Changed the World at 7 p.m., where he’ll be joined in conversation by CJOB’s Greg Mackling.

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On Wednesday at 7 p.m. it’s a dual book launch of the poetic variety: Winnipeg poet Cam Scott — whose new collection, Manor’s Ransom, was published by the locals at ARP Books — will be joined by Calgary’s ryan fitzpatrick, who launches the collection No Depression in Heaven.

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

On Thursday at 7 p.m., the University of Manitoba Press-published The Keystone Province: Politics and Governance in Manitoba launches in an event featuring co-editors Kelly Saunders of Brandon University and the U of M’s Christopher Adams (also a Free Press book reviewer).

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November’s Speaking Crow open-mic poetry night takes place Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Boniface library (100-131 Provencher Blvd.), hosted by Angeline Schellenberg; this month’s featured reader is Ontario poet Susan Wismer.

books@freepress.mb.ca