Read The North

The Word On The Street’s annual festival in downtown Toronto has endured for more than 30 years. But with the onset of a global pandemic in 2020, the festival’s future was far from assured…

Hosted by Rebecca Diem

Produced by Quinton Bradshaw

Music by James Ellercamp

Special thanks to Carolyn Taylor, Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, Cory Doctorow, Jael Richardson, Anjula Gogia, and Nick Mount.

For more information about the Festival of Literary Diversity, visit thefoldcanada.org.

Reading List:

Gutter Child - Jael Richardson

The Stone Thrower - Jael Richardson

Attack Surface - Cory Doctorow

Brother - David Chariandy

Presented by The Word On The Street & CJRU 1280AM, with support from the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

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Tune in to Read The North, a history of CanLit, as told by Toronto's favourite book festival!

In this five-episode miniseries, WOTS' Rebecca Diem interviews authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, readers, & historians to discover the origins of the festival, the creation of a Canadian Literature, and how the story we tell ourselves about ourselves continues to evolve.

The 33rd edition of The Word On The Street returns to the street at Queen's Park on June 11 & 12, 2022.

It's the behind-the-scenes look into the workings of Canada's literary industry you've always wanted, a deep dive into publishing, bookselling, and writing. Tune in to Read The North, a history of CanLit, as told by Toronto's favourite book festival!

Since 1990, The Word On The Street (a.k.a. "WOTS") has featured books by Canadian and Indigenous authors at a free, annual street fair created to promote literacy and celebrate the written word.

In this five-episode miniseries, Rebecca Diem interviews authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, readers, & historians to discover the origins of the festival, the creation of a Canadian Literature, and how the story we tell ourselves about ourselves continues to evolve.

Presented by The Word On The Street & CJRU 1280AM. Tune in Mondays at 11:00AM beginning May 9, 2022 to listen to the Read The North series live on CJRU 1280AM or at CJRU.ca. Also available on the podcast platform of your choice.

The 33rd edition of The Word On The Street returns to the street at Queen's Park on June 11 & 12, 2022. Details and more at: toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca! Follow us @torontoWOTS.