#1 Media & Literary Event
The televised gala for the richest prize in Canadian fiction returns to downtown’s Ritz-Carlton hotel this year when 450 authors, editors, and publishers celebrate the $100,000 winner. Next: November 7, 2016
#2 Media & Literary Event
Overall attendance shrank slightly, to 215,000, in 2015 due to a change in location from Queen’s Park to Harbourfront. But the percentage of out-of-town visitors rose to 46 percent. Author Boat Cruises on Lake Ontario were a highlight of 2015 and return again this year. Next: September 25, 2016
#3 Media & Literary Event
More than 12,000 book lovers attended the fest in 2015, an increase from 2014 due to an expansion in programing and the addition of the Humber Conference and the International Festival of Authors Ontario. Irish literature is the focus this year. Next: October 20-30, 2016
#4 Media & Literary Event
Roy Thomson Hall consistently sells out its 2,800 seats for these twice yearly public debates featuring headline names like Henry Kissinger and Tony Blair. The spring debate was focused on the global refugee crisis and was broadcast on CBC and C-SPAN. Next: November 2016
#5 Media & Literary Event
The gala returned to the Arcadian Court in 2016 for a sold-out dinner and awards ceremony for 450 magazine writers, editors, and designers. New sponsors this year included Air Canada and Steven Goetz Storytelling, and Oliver and Bonacini returned as the caterer. Next: June 2017
#6 Media & Literary Event(up from #7)
The gala grew again in 2016, attracting more than 600 journalists and supporters to the Fairmont Royal York. Highlights included a tribute to Tina Brown, former editor of The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, and a special citation to the the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Next: June 2017
#7 Media & Literary Event (up from #8)
About 325 poetry-lovers attended the 2016 event at the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar, where Polynesia was the theme and a German DJ kept the dance floor hopping until 2 a.m. One Canadian poet and one international poet each were awarded $65,000 for their work. Next: June 2017
