Media & Literary Events Toronto 2019

Canada’s premier literary gala, with a $140,000 purse and 450 top literati in attendance, moves to the Four Seasons Hotel this year, where the event started off 25 years ago. Scotiabank remains the title sponsor, and Audible, Cineplex, and Air Canada play supporting roles. Last year’s big winner was Esi Edugyan for Washington Black. Next: November 18, 2019

Up from #3
This 11-day book bash has rebranded for its 40th year, including the word Toronto in its revised moniker. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend in 2019, with students and youth being heavily targeted to attend readings and other free, pop-up events hosted by 200 renowned writers and thinkers. University of Toronto Bookstore returns as a sponsor. Next: October 24-November 3, 2019

For its 30th edition, the festival is adding an off-site keynote address focused on urbanism and the arts to kick off the event. The City Imagines is the theme for Saturday programing and the Sunday book fair, when about 200,000 lovers of literature are expected to attend. TD Bank returns to sponsor TD KidStreet. Next: September 22, 2019

Following the live debate at a sold-out 2,600-seat Roy Thomson Hall in spring 2019, a one-hour version of the debate was aired on Buffalo public broadcaster WNED-TV, a first for the event. The topic of the spring debate was: Be it resolved that China is a threat to the liberal international order. Next: Fall 2019

Up from #7
The literary-political gala moved to a larger venue, the Carlu, and hosted a sold-out crowd of 275 this year where tributes were paid to Canadian power couple Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson. Comedian Rick Mercer led the live auction, helping set a fund-raising record for the organization. Next: Spring 2020

This invitation-only award gala, dinner, and dance returned to the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar this year, with 325 attendees. Nicole Brossard received the $20,000 Lifetime Recognition Award, and two other poets each received $65,000 as the International and Canadian winners this year. The event celebrates 20 years in 2020. Next: June 9, 2020

This grand gala sold out again in 2018, with 450 attendees in the Four Seasons Hotel Ballroom, when BMO returned as a presenting sponsor. The evening culminated in the announcement that author Charles Foran would be awarded the $50,000 Writers’ Trust Fellowship. New committee co-chairs aim to revamp the event format for 2019. Next: November 14, 2019

This fete for magazine writers, artists, editors, and publishers returned to the Arcadian Court in 2019 with attendance dropping to 300 from last year’s 400, and only 70 magazines nominated, down from last year’s 81. Caterer Oliver & Bonacini Events was responsible for dinner, and Readers’ Digest Foundation returned as a sponsor. Next: Spring 2020

About 500 journalists and media executives attended the gala honoring courageous and impactful reporting, held at the Fairmont Royal York in June. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to John Honderich, chair of Torstar Corp., and sponsors included Labatt Breweries of Canada and Thomson Reuters Canada. Next: June 2020