Saskatoon joined Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Kitchener in presenting Canada’s Premier Celebration of Reading and Literacy on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Celebrating Reading. Advocating Literacy.
What: The Word On The Street Saskatoon festival – a huge success!
When: Last Sunday – September 25, 2011.
Where: 23rd Street East between 3rd and 4th Avenue and in the Frances Morrison Library
Why: Saskatoon enjoyed the newest festival in town as 3,000 attended the first festival.
Details: www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/saskatoon or call 716.2890.
New Festival in Saskatoon
Saskatoon welcomed The Word On The Street, a national celebration of literacy and the written word, a major, one-day festival to Saskatoon on Sunday, September 25th. And Saskatoon loved it with an audience of 3,000 listening to 33 author readings and performances and browsing a marketplace with 49 exhibitors. Audiences at readings ranged from 20 to over 225 throughout the day. Authors and exhibitors alike were pleased with the crowds. And the organizers are already planning the 2012 festival to be held in September 2012.
Festival Author Line Up
Authors and performers who participated in the festival: Yann Martel, Sandra Birdsell, Judith Benninger, Rita Bouvier, Bev Brenna, David Carpenter, Allan Casey, Jay Conley, Leah Dorion, Dawn Dumont, Bonnie Dunlop, Amy Jo Ehman, Don Freed, Dave Glaze, Mary Harelkin Bishop, Trevor Herriot, Robert Hough, Harold Johnson, Don Kerr, Mary Ann Kirkby, Alice Kuipers, Dave Margoshes, Alexandra Popoff, Adam Pottle, Candace Savage, Arthur Slade, Priscilla Settee, Edward Willett, and Sara Williams and Hugh Skinner. In addition, there was a poetry slam and improv theatre with Don’t Mind Us.
Festival Highlights:
• Yann Martel drew a huge crowd to listen to his reading. Over 225 people listened intently as he read from What is Stephen Harper Reading? and talked about his writing.
• The Poetry Slam featuring Saskatoon’s Slam Team was a huge hit! Five members of the audience were invited to judge the competition. The spoken word poetry was thought provoking and very well received.
• Beeper the Clown entertained children with balloon animals.
• 49 exhibitors participating in the well attended Marketplace.
About The Word On The Street:
Every year on the last Sunday of September, in Vancouver, Kitchener, Toronto, Halifax, Saskatoon and Lethbridge, The Word On The Street unites the country in a national celebration of literacy and the written word. Annually attracting more than 250,000 visitors nationally, The Word On The Street is the largest book and magazine festival in Canada. For current information on the festival, check out www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/saskatoon or follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SaskatoonWOTS and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/WOTS_Saskatoon
Thank You:
This event would not have been possible without contributions from the following: University of Saskatchewan, BHP Billiton, Canadian Heritage, Saskatoon Community Foundation, Saskatoon Public Library, Canada Council for the Arts, Saskatchewan Arts Board, SaskCulture, Saskatchewan Lotteries, City of Saskatoon, C-95, CKOM 650, Rock 102, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Magic 98.3, Handy Special Events, RBC Foundation, Tourism Saskatoon, SaskTel, Gildan, and Mr. Print/Printwest.
Images are available upon request.
Contact Information:
Colleen McKay, Executive Director
The Word On The Street Saskatoon Inc.
Phone: 306-716-2890
Email: saskatoon@thewordonthestreet.ca
www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/saskatoon
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