Vancouver
#1 Media & Literary Event
The event on Granville Island, with sponsors including Simon & Schuster Canada, offers a mix of readings, panels, author interviews, and poetry jams with international guests. This year two songwriters join the list of celebrity writers: Bruce Cockburn and Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea. Next: October 21-26, 2014
Toronto
#2 Media & Literary Event
Almost 500 members of the literati attended the Scotiabank-sponsored black-tie dinner in 2013, which was hosted by CBC Radio’s Jian Ghomeshi and saw Lynn Coady win the $70,000 prize. The younger arts crowd gathers at six Giller Light Bashes held in bars and restaurants across the country. Next: November 10, 2014
Toronto
#3 Media & Literary Event
With the Great War as the theme this year, some of the world’s best contemporary literature writers will gather at Harbourfront Centre for interviews, lectures, and book signings. Events include readings by finalists for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Next: October 23-November 3, 2014
Toronto
#4 Media & Literary Event (up from #6)
This year marks the 25th edition of Canada’s largest outdoor book and magazine festival. Toronto’s event—the country’s biggest—takes place in Queen’s Park Circle one last time, with almost 220,000 book lovers expected, before moving to Harbourfront in 2015. Headlining authors include Frances Itani and Dionne Brand. Next: September 2015
Ottawa
#6 Media & Literary Event
Politicians, diplomats, and writers mingle at the fund-raiser in support of the Writers’ Trust at the Fairmont Château Laurier. The highlight is the awarding of the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, sponsored by Bell Media, which went to Paul Wells in 2014 for his biography of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Next: Spring 2015
Toronto
#7 Media & Literary Event
Produced and presented by media maverick Moses Znaimer, the event invites 600 attendees to listen to, learn from, and mingle with some of the brightest minds around. The 2014 roster included Buzz Aldrin and Rabbi Shmuley. Next: June 17-19, 2015
Woody Point
#8 Media & Literary Event (new to the list)
The literary and musical festival attracts writers and musicians from abroad and those nurtured on “the Rock.” Hosted by CBC Radio’s Shelagh Rogers and sponsored by Scotiabank, the event sells out every year, likely due to its intimate nature and breathtaking setting. Notable names for 2014 included novelist Joseph Boyden and Ontario indie rocker Gord Downie. Next: August 2015
