May 2023: Truth in Our Time
What is truth? The festival offers the opportunity for writers to challenge each other—and us—to broaden our views and question our beliefs based on lived experiences and stories of others in a real-time setting.
2023 Authors, Artists & Hosts: In Conversation: Ann-Marie MacDonald, Elizabeth Hay, Lucy van Oldenbarneveld. Verbatim Theatre: Andrea Rowe, Ann Cavolvic, Dawn Moore, Hilary Jocelyn, Ian McMullen, Jeff Froggett, Joel Bernbaum, Laura Wesley, Leia Shea Ranger-Drouin, Lo Sirois, Melisa Kamibayashi, Osa Natalie Fraser, Steve Powers, Teresa Bandrowska, Yvette Nolan, Low Down 50th: Adrian Harewood, Gary Dimmock, Nikki Mantell, Sean Silcoff, Trevor Greenway, Tête-à-Tête: Adrian Harewood, T’áncháy Redvers, Tomson Highway, Steven Heighton Remembered: Angie Abdou, David O’Meara, Ginger Pharand, Hugh Christopher Brown, Rhonda Douglas, Sarah McDermott, Wayne Grady.
Festival 2020 – Cancelled
Festival 2019
The 2019 Writers Fête was particularly outstanding. Audience vibe and feedback were overwhelming in their generous praise—not hard with the extraordinary writers and singer songwriters we were privileged to welcome. There was something else that shone through with each person on stage throughout the weekend: a genuine desire to share their deepest thoughts, feelings, perspectives, and hard truths. The spaces we create help make these conversations possible, where authors and their works come alive in a very real way–all sprinkled with humour, laughter, tears, delicious food & wine, and fine music.
2019 Authors & Hosts: Adrian Harewood, Alan Neal, Darrel J. McLeod, David Chariandy, Esi Edugyan, Jay Odjick, Jean Marc Dalpé, Jesse O’Brien, Jim Corcoran, Julie Huard, Linda Spalding, Lucy van Oldenbarneveld, Lynn Miles, Marjolaine Beauchamp, Randy Boyagoda, Sally Armstrong, Tanya Talaga, Tom Howell, Tom Wilson, Waubgeshig Rice
Festival 2018
With eight events and 18 authors, 2018 was the festival’s edgiest and most entertaining yet—one that pushed the most boundaries through spoken word, graphic novels, journalism and poetry. Authors debated the #MeToo movement, gave us a glimpse of warlord culture and its impact, poetically examined (in Innu and French) the limits of mankind’s ability to be present, took us behind the hijab, criticized the commoditization of poverty, and celebrated Indigenous youth empowerment. And in local English and French schools students learned about the harmful effects of plastic and their alternatives. What a way to celebrate our 5th anniversary!
2018 Authors & Hosts: Adrian Harewood, Amal El-Mohtar, Barâa Arar, Blaise Ndala, Brendan McLeod, Carol Off, Chantal Plamondon, Daniel Poliquin, Frances Itani, Gary Barwin, Jay Sinha, Joel Thomas Hynes, Josephine Bacon, Julie Huard, Linden MacIntyre, Mary Walsh, Melanie Scott, Neal Shannacappo, Nikki Mantell, Oliver Walter-Greenhorn, R.J. Harlick, Stu Mills, Terry Mosher (Aislin), Trevor Greenway
Festival 2017
With our most diverse and provocative festival to date, 48 authors, artists and musicians examined the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, vowed to burn the residential schools, explored transgender politics, debated cultural appropriation, and shared a love story with the power of legend. One offered a poignant Mother’s Day greeting from a world no longer remembered. The value of literary translation for broadening our understanding of other cultures was explored. We collectively created an imaginative, artistic narrative based on dance, music and words. Local anglophone, francophone and Indigenous youth connected with artists and elders and created and performed new works of poetry, stories and song.
2017 Authors & Hosts: Heather O’Neill, Terry Fallis, Adrian Harewood, Annie St. Jean, Bob Webb, Catherine Leroux, Catherine Veilleux, Chris MacLean, Christian Quesnel, Claude Weil, Darrell Comeau, David Sachs, Deborah Thomson, Elkahna Talbi, Gaye Chicoine, Geneviève Duong, Guy Jean, Ian Keteku, Jasmine Aziz, jia qing wilson-yang, Julie Huard, Laurie Gough, Lazer Lederhendler, Louise Poirier, Louise Profeit-Leblanc, Madeleine Stratford, Mary Lou van Schaik, Monia Mazigh, Natasha Kanopé Fontaine, Nathalie Coutou, Nicolas Dickner, Patrick Nicol, Phil Jenkins, R.J. Harlick, Raouf Omar, Seymour Hamilton, Sheena Turcotte, plus 14 local youth writers
Festival 2016
Local writers kicked off the much-anticipated 2016 bilingual Wakefield Writers Festival La Pêche as their works-in-progress were celebrated in a casual wine & cheese atmosphere. Quirky music, spoken word, poems and memories revved up the energy at the pub scrawl; dramatic stories and a symphonic bande dessinée offered tastes of artistic expression at the scrumptious brunch; imaginations and pens ran wild at the workshops; at the gala reflections of belonging fed appetites for pondering life; dons de la prose, la poésie et la chanson ont été offerts à La Pêche des mots, and a dozen youth writers created a remarkable evening with their stories and poems.
This bilingual “signature” cultural, literary and educational event—managed by an engaged and active volunteer 10-member advisory committee and over 20 skillful volunteers, with continuing support by the Municipality of La Pêche and many other generous government and local sponsors—came of age this year: seven events, seven venues, with growing audiences left wanting more.
Festival 2015
A feast of music and poetry introduced the festival’s second annual edition with the House of Anansi Poetry Bash, a co-launch with the Ottawa International Writers Festival. New this year were La Pêche des mots, an all-francophone round table with five authors, plus writing workshops for youth that culminated in an impressive performance by seven local young authors. The pub scrawl, authors brunch, workshops and gala proved so popular that the organizers recognized they had created valued programming for English and French audiences.
2015 Authors & Hosts: Charlotte Gray, Sean Michaels, Frances Itani, Georges Lafontaine, Charles de Lint & MaryAnn Harris, Alan Cumyn, A.F. Moritz, Alan Neal, Allegra McKenzie, Annie St-Jean, Barbara Bond, Daniélle Vallee, David O’Meara for Elise Partridge, Éric Charlebois, Janet LeRoy, Karen Solie, Laurie Fyffe, Lise Careau, Madeleine Lefebvre, Oliver Walter-Greenhorn, Phil Jenkins, Ray Verdon, Shane Book, Valerie Perreault, plus seven local youth writers
Festival 2014
On a beautiful weekend in May 2014, the bilingual Wakefield Writers Festival La Pêche was launched. Fifteen authors—poets, musicians, playwrights, storytellers, and writers of fiction and nonfiction—as well as local youth, shared their creativity, insights and humour in English and French. Sold-out events in six venues testified to the success of the area’s first-ever literary festival, filling a gap in a village already rich in art, music, heritage and community spirit.
The brainchild of members of Friends of the Wakefield Library, the festival’s success was due to a dedicated team of volunteers with organizational-building skills, imagination and positive attitudes.
2014 Authors: Frances Itani, Trevor Ferguson, Tim Wynne-Jones, Alison MacLeod, Brian Doyle, Georges Lafontaine, Janet LeRoy, Jeff Ross, John Hardie, Kimberley Mansfield, Larry McCloskey, Laurie Gough, Nadine Doolittle, Phil Jenkins and Una McDonnell, plus local youth writers
