Edmonton’s LitFest is gearing up for another year of bringing together readers, writers, and curious minds to celebrate the power of non-fiction storytelling.
The festival’s theme this year explores how non-fiction shows us who we are.
“We can’t help it; we put who we are into what we write, even if it’s something that’s outside of ourselves,” said Ellen Kartz, LitFest executive director.
The annual festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is special for its focus on non-fiction.
“We have a really unique platform to showcase non-fiction and really explore the genre in depth in a way that other festivals might not get a chance to,” said Kartz.
The festival is Canada’s only non-fiction-focused festival, and has grown in its 20 years to feature panels, readings, performances, and workshops in Edmonton’s downtown core.
“I always try to showcase as much of Edmonton as I can in the programming. The musicians that we incorporate are local; I make sure that there are local artists here, and I make sure that we partner with local, family-owned businesses just to really highlight some of what’s really exciting here in Edmonton,” said Kartz.
The festival will kick off with author Trina Moyles speaking on her book Black Bear, a memoir exploring her coexistence with bears and meditation on sibling loss. Her story begins in the Peace region with her father, who was known in Peace River as “the bear guy.”
Moyles recalls her father bringing home an orphaned black bear cub for a night before sending it south to the Calgary Zoo, sparking a lifelong fascination with coexisting with bears.
This year, the festival will include two book launches from Kai Cheng Thom and Vivek Shraya at MacEwan University.
Additionally, Turi King will also be a speaker at the festival with their new book, The Secrets of our DNA.
“[The Secrets of our DNA] goes through how DNA has been used in solving crime,” said Kartz.
“It’s fascinating.”
Canada’s former top soldier, General Wayne Eyre, will be in attendance this year with his new book Into the Breach: A Soldier’s Journey, chronicling his forty-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The festival will also host a books-and-beats event in which four readers will each select a piece of music to accompany a piece of writing.
“It’s a beautiful event, and I’m really, really looking forward to that one, because the whole event kind of tells the story, and has this sort of narrative arc to it, that’s just beautiful,” said Kartz.
LitFest says it has something for everyone, whether you’re an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations.
“Discover new ideas, find your next favourite book, meet remarkable authors, and become part of a vibrant community that believes stories have the power to change the world.”
For more information and tickets to LitFest on October 14-18, visit litfestalberta.org.
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