Recent News
WordsFest: A cultural explosion
Richard Joseph, Western Gazette November 11, 2015
WordsFest, now on its second year, began with a group of individuals around the city who realized that London had potential as a hub of culture. One of these individuals was Josh Lambier, Director of Public Humanities at Western and the artistic director for this year’s WordsFest. Read more
Tomson Highway to success
Moses Monterroza,Western Gazette November 11, 2015
He speaks seven languages and has written novels, plays and cabarets in French, Cree and English. He has received 10 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and has bolstered a generation of professional Aboriginal playwrights and actors.
His name is Tomson Highway and unsurprisingly he’s a Western alumnus. He grew up in a family of 12 siblings on a patch of land bordering Manitoba. Read more
Journalism fuels Linden MacIntyre’s fiction writing
Iain Boekhoff, Western Gazette November 11, 2015
Fiction and investigative journalism aren’t necessarily a good mix, but for Linden MacIntyre, that mix has worked out just perfectly.
MacIntyre, one of Canada’s most recognizable investigative journalists, has authored four fiction novels, winning the 2009 Giller Prize for The Bishop’s Man, adding another award to his already long list for the groundbreaking journalism he has done in a career spanning 50 years. He’s best known for hosting the CBC’s Fifth Estate for 24 years before retiring last year so younger reporters would keep their jobs in the wake of staff layoffs. Read more
Miriam Toews: Q&A
Richard Joseph, Western Gazette November 11, 2015
The Gazette recently had the chance to sit down with Miriam Toews, an award-winning Canadian novelist, after her appearance at the Words festival in London on Saturday. The event, called “An Afternoon with Miriam Toews,” featured a reading and speech by Toews. Read more
Open mic poetry night with Lucas Crawford
Samah Ali, Western Gazette November 11, 2015
After a successful weekend of the second annual WordsFest, a new addition was made to the roster of events: open mic poetry night in Marienbad Restaurant’s fireplace room.
Often known as a stand-alone event happening the first Wednesday of every month, open mic poetry night joined WordsFest this year and featured renowned Canadian poet Lucas Crawford. The event was held on the top level of the Carling Street eatery and welcomed novice and veteran poets alike to take the stage and share their stories. Read more
The Diary of a Teenaged Girl is supurb
Linden MacIntyre hard-wired for books
Technology — computers, ebooks, social media — may be moving at lightning speed but there’s still nothing like the feel of a good book.
The world of books is alive and well and under no threat of disappearing anytime soon, says one of Canada’s most celebrated writers just as London’s literary and creative arts community prepares for this weekend’s second annual Words festival. Read more
Star’s Words: Julie Berry Q&A
Interview with poet Julie Berry. Read more
The Graphic Art of Growing Up
Jill Clair, London Fuse
Jill Clair had a chance to speak with Phoebe Gloeckner, author of 'The Diary of a Teenage Girl'. Read more
Organizers, sponsors pleased with record crowd
The second-annual London Words festival featuring some of Canada’s best-known literary stars, drew more than a thousand people.
The festival, held mostly at Museum London but with an open mic poetry night at Marienbad Restaurant, “celebrates creative ideas, artistic expression, and cultural diversity” and featured authors Linden MacIntyre, Miriam Toews, Terry Fallis, Emil Sher, Allan Stratton and Tomson Highway, among others. Read more
Words of luv, Words of praise
JBNBlog salutes the participants, fans, organizers, sponsors & everyone involved at the 2015 edition of Words fest . . . wow! Read more
Star’s Words: Tanis Rideout Q&A
James Reaney interviews current Western Writer-in-Residence Tanis Rideout. Read more
CanLit stars to shine at Words fest
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Q&A with Tom Cull
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Lambier: Words turns the page on misconceptions of region
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