On Sunday, September 25th, Vancouver was host to droves of people – some were there to shop, some to see the royals, but the really cool people were there to celebrate Canadian literature at Word Vancouver, BC’s free literary festival.
Charles Demers reading at Word Vancouver
This year’s main event at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) attracted a large turnout despite starting out with the typical autumn greyness of Vancity and the recent flooding of the VPL’s lower level. The day was filled with readings, workshops, panels, performances, games, activities, and plenty of prizes at the silent auction. It was a great day for people of all ages: children, adults, seniors, and students. Under the red tents surrounding the library were talks from authors such as Bif Naked, Lynn Johnston (creator of the comic strip For Better or For Worse), and UBC professors Charles Demers and Brett Josef Grubisic.
Poetry vending machine at Word Vancouver
Throughout the day, the presenters spoke about their books, read passages, and readily answered questions from the audience. The presenters’ literary insights could be heard over the buzz of the crowd of people holding tote bags of free goodies. Exhibitors showcased the products and services they had to offer while young performers from Circus Lab walked amongst the crowd on stilts and on each other’s shoulders. A new normal had been established.
The main event of the Word Vancouver festival was a wonderful gathering of people who love literature. From professional writers to book-loving children, it was an event for everyone to enjoy. Word Vancouver resulted from months of hard work from staff and volunteers who programmed events, contacted authors, spoke to donors, and ran the actual festival. The hard work definitely paid off, and I can’t wait to attend next year’s festival.