BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//NOW Toronto - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:NOW Toronto
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://nowtoronto.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NOW Toronto
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260516T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260516T203000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130028Z
UID:10354836-1778959800-1778963400@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:TIFA Presents an Evening with Louise Penny & Mellissa Fung
DESCRIPTION:Join TIFA for this exclusive event with the multi-million best-selling author\, Louise Penny\, and writer and journalist\, Mellissa Fung\, as they launch their new novel\, The Last Mandarin. This fast-paced\, all-too-real thriller features an estranged mother and daughter caught in a global reckoning where family\, loyalty\, and power collide. It is an electrifying study of absolute power and voracious greed\, as well as an intimate examination of choice\, of sacrifice\, of memory and myths. The co-authors will be in conversation with Jared Bland to share their journey as partners in crime writing\, and the personal and political influences that shaped their debut novel together. \nThe conversation will be moderated by Jared Bland. \nA signed copy of The Last Mandarin is available as an optional add-on during checkout. Additional books will be available at the event courtesy of Ben McNally Books . Louise and Mellissa will not be signing after the event. \nTIFA Presents is generously supported by Presenting Donors Beth Nowers and Jack Curtin
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/tifa-presents-an-evening-with-louise-penny-mellissa-fung/
LOCATION:TIFF Lightbox\, 350 King Street West\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5V 3X5
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/tifa-presents-an-evening-with-louise-penny-mellissa-fung.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260517T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260517T150000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130029Z
UID:10354860-1779022800-1779030000@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:METAMOOD ✽ A Reading
DESCRIPTION:Metatron Press x In the Mood Magazine present METAMOOD\, a literary happening\, in Toronto. \nMetatron Press x In the Mood Magazine are pleased to announce METAMOOD in Toronto\, an afternoon celebrating our vibrant literary ecosystem and the launch of Wavering Futures by Kawai Shen! \nWe humbly invite you to dream and conspire with us about the future of art and literature amid great uncertainty. You can expect a banging line-up of readings\, wordy activities\, friendly faces\, a fundraiser for land defenders\, and real talk about what it means to build creative communities today. There will be spice! 🌶️🍵 \nFeaturing readings by: \n✽ Kawai Shen✽ Sennah Yee✽ Trynne Delaney✽ Nirris Nagendrarajah✽ Lee Suksi \nReadings will be followed by a collective discussion led by Ashley Obscura (founder\, Metatron Press)\, Gabrielle Marceau & Sennah Yee (founders\, In the Mood Magazine)\, and Kawai Shen (author\, Wavering Futures) about how to keep dreaming through our collective nightmare\, sustain creative practices\, survive our era of existential crises (together)\, and make connections of support\, care\, and inspiration. We invite audience participation. \nPlease bring your attention\, ideas\, goodwill\, and honesty. No recordings will be permitted ♡ \nEach ticket includes entry into a fundraising raffle. A % of the proceeds will be donated to Grassy Narrows First Nation’s land defence. \nAccessibility notes: \n\nAccessible venue with ground-floor accessible washroom\nAll washrooms are gender neutral\nMasking is encouraged! 😷\nFree N-95 (limited supply) and surgical masks at the door\nSpace is large and will run two HEPA air purifiers (Winix C 535) by seating area\nWe will leave front doors open for air circulation (weather permitting)\nWater will be provided\nComfortable sofa seating\nPlease contact us about ASL interpretation\nIf you have any other accessibility questions or requests\, please do not hesitate to contact us via Eventbrite\n\nSave the date: We will be hosting part two of METAMOOD in Montreal\, June 7th @ Parquette. Tell your friends!
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/metamood-%e2%9c%bd-a-reading/
LOCATION:It’s Ok* Studios\, 468 Queen St. West\, Toronto\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5V 2B2
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/metamood-e29cbd-a-reading.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260519T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260519T220000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130032Z
UID:10354911-1779217200-1779228000@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) CXXI
DESCRIPTION:Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night) CXXI \nShab-e She’r (Poetry Night) is Canada’s most diverse & brave poetry reading + open mic series \nFeatured poets: Rania El Mugammar & A. Daniyal \n+ Open Mic for poetry in any language \nHost: Bänoo Zan  \n Time: Tuesday\, May 19\, 2026  Place: Living Room\, Tranzac Club\, 292 Brunswick Ave\, Toronto\, ON M5S 2M7 \nThis is an in-person event open to the public. \nOpen Mic Sign-up: 6:30 PM at the venue \nOpen Mic Duration: 3 minutes \nShow: 7-10 PM EST  Admission: $10-20 Sliding Scale \nCash at the door \nThere is an ATM machine at the venue. \nRania El Mugammar is a Sudanese artist\, abolitionist\, community organizer\, and social justice educator based in Tkaronto (Treaty 13). Rania’s artistic and community work is deeply rooted in Black liberation\, decolonization\, transformative justice and repair. She is a published writer\, award winning organizer\, reproductive justice advocate\, speaker\, arts educator\, and multidisciplinary performer. \nA. Daniyal was born in Lahore\, Pakistan\, and grew up in a small town in northern Italy. He moved to Canada in 2008. His work has been published in Ahoy Literary\, Ellipse Magazine\, Squid Lit\, The Polyglot\, among others. Clean Ponds (2025) is his first poetry chapbook published by Cactus Press in Montreal. He is based in Toronto. \nEvent Poster: Ghazaleh Zarrinzadeh
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/shab-e-sher-poetry-night-cxxi/
LOCATION:Tranzac Club\, 292 Brunswick Ave\, Toronto\, M5S 2M7
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shab-e-sher-poetry-night-cxxi.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260523T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260523T170000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130037Z
UID:10354998-1779534000-1779555600@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Toronto Dark Arts Market - Book-ish Market
DESCRIPTION:Please join us on Saturday\, May 23rd from 11am – 5pm for our first Book-ish Market. \nWe’ll be hosting 40+ authors\, writers\, and publishers\, as well as makers of zines\, graphic novels\, and magazines\, plus other artisans of all styles\, with a focus on beautiful stationery\, cards\, journals\, and other items essential to readin’ and writin’! \nOur market is family-friendly\, and our gorgeous venue is close to parking and transit\, is fully accessible\, and has an ATM on site. The bar will be open for customers to enjoy a beverage while they shop. \nAdmission is free. \nMore info: www.torontodarkartsmarket.com
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/toronto-dark-arts-market-book-ish-market/
LOCATION:Ground Control\, 1279 Queen Street West\, Toronto
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/toronto-dark-arts-market-book-ish-market.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260530T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260530T180000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260412T130100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260412T130100Z
UID:10295449-1780156800-1780164000@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Music Toronto/COSE: Joanne Yesoi Choi\, Chris Au & Dior Quartet
DESCRIPTION:2026 Canada Council for the Arts Virginia Parker Prize recipient\, cellist Joanne Yesol Choi invites piano collaborator Chris Au and her Dior Quartet colleagues to join her for an intimate presentation of music and original narrated stories that reflect the many sources of inspiration and milestones along her evolving journey as a performer and creator. Taking place in the Aperture Room\, a light filled space on the top floor of a beautifully restored building just north of Yonge and Dundas Square\, each COSE event will be as much a social gathering as it will be an opportunity for musical discovery. \n#2 in a 3-part COSE (Celebration of Small Ensembles) Series \n$40 (3-ticket pass: $100)
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/music-toronto-cose-joanne-yesoi-choi-chris-au-dior-quartet/
LOCATION:Aperture Room\, 340 Yonge St\, Toronto\, ON M5B 1R8\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5B 1R8
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Live Music,Nightlife,Performing Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/music-toronto-cose-joanne-yesoi-choi-chris-au-dior-quartet.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260530T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260530T180000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130049Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130049Z
UID:10355166-1780156800-1780164000@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Music Toronto/COSE: Joanne Yesol Choi\, Chris Au & Dior Quartet
DESCRIPTION:2026 Canada Council for the Arts Virginia Parker Prize recipient\, cellist Joanne Yesol Choi invites piano collaborator Chris Au and her Dior Quartet colleagues to join her for an intimate presentation of music and original narrated stories that reflect the many sources of inspiration and milestones along her evolving journey as a performer and creator. Taking place in the Aperture Room\, a light filled space on the top floor of a beautifully restored building just north of Yonge and Dundas Square\, each COSE event will be as much a social gathering as it will be an opportunity for musical discovery. \n#2 in a 3-part COSE (Celebration of Small Ensembles) Series \n$40 (3-ticket pass: $100)
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/music-toronto-cose-joanne-yesol-choi-chris-au-dior-quartet/
LOCATION:Aperture Room\, 340 Yonge St\, Toronto\, ON M5B 1R8\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5B 1R8
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Live Music,Nightlife,Performing Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/music-toronto-cose-joanne-yesol-choi-chris-au-dior-quartet.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260603T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260604T160000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130054Z
UID:10355243-1780488000-1780588800@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Words to be Scene
DESCRIPTION:Words to be Scene \nBy Compagnie Dérézo \nCo-Presented by Institut Français du Canada and Luminato Festival \n \nSix performers share individual female-led stories as you walk Toronto’s streets. Coming of age\, identity and migration give way to grief and loss in this exploration on the precarious balance between life and death. \nIn this immersive experience\, audience groups will wear headphones and be led through the streets of Toronto to six unique stops. The journey begins in the downtown core and unfolds across a series of surprise locations\, each ushering in a new performance of an English-translated monologue from award-winning French author Maylis de Kerangal’s book Canöes (© Editions Gallimard\, 2021). An audio-led tour accompanies the journey\, guiding participants through the city and enhancing the multisensory experience. \nWords to be Scene is a world premiere\, presented by several of France’s leading cultural institutions: Institut Français\, Région Bretagne\, Ministère de la Culture (DRAC Bretagne)\, Conseil départemental du Finistère\, and the City of Brest (France). \nTicket buyers will receive details of the first stop in advance.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/words-to-be-scene/
LOCATION:Brookfield Place\, 181 Bay St.\, Toronto\, ON M5J 2T3\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5J 2T3
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Performing Arts,Theatre & Opera,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/words-to-be-scene.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260604T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260604T210000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130055Z
UID:10355267-1780599600-1780606800@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Toronto Book Launch - There's Always More to Say
DESCRIPTION:Join us at Verity\, in The Library\, for the launch of Natalie Southworth’s short story collection\, “There’s Always More to Say\,” what Madeleine Thien (“Book of Records”) calls “a beautiful work. A lifetime is gathered in these elegant and deeply moving stories.”  \nIn conversation with Laura Rock Gaughan (“Motherish”).
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/toronto-book-launch-theres-always-more-to-say/
LOCATION:111 D Queen St E\, 111 D Queen St E\, Toronto\, ON M5C 1S2\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5C 1S2
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/toronto-book-launch-theres-always-more-to-say.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260605T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260605T160000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130056Z
UID:10355269-1780653600-1780675200@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:PD Day: Celebrate Pride!
DESCRIPTION:Spend your afternoon at the Bata Shoe Museum on the first Friday of Pride Month enjoying a special storytime presentation with Toronto-based Storyteller Jeffrey Canton. For more than three decades\, Jeffrey has shared folk and fairytales as well as original stories that dig deep into the strata of Toronto’s history as well as\, with a little soft-shoe and a gay show tune or two\, his own queer past. Stick around for a guided tour of our exhibitions to learn about footwear through the ages and around the world. \nSelf-Guided Activities \n\nExplore our four galleries\, including all current exhibitions\nUncover hidden gems with a guided exhibition tour\nLace up in our Try-On Shoes area for some hilarious fun\nTeam up for iSpy challenges throughout the museum\nPut your new knowledge to work with a take-home activity book\n\nSchedule11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Storytime with Jeffrey12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Guided Exhibition Tour2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Storytime with Jeffrey3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Guided Exhibition Tour
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/pd-day-celebrate-pride/
LOCATION:Bata Shoe Museum\, 327 Bloor St W\, Toronto\, M5S 1W7
CATEGORIES:2SLGBTQ+,Community Events,Kids & Family,Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pd-day-celebrate-pride.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260605T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260607T180000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130100Z
UID:10355312-1780653600-1780855200@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival 2026
DESCRIPTION:The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) is turning up the suspense with the announcement that the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival will return for its fifth year\, from June 5-7\, 2026 at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Celebrating a milestone year\, MOTIVE 2026 unveils its most expansive and riveting programme to date\, featuring more than 55 events\, author talks\, and immersive workshops designed to captivate crime and mystery lovers of all kinds. \nFeaturing: \n\nShari Lapena\nNita Prose\nClare Mackintosh\nNicholas Shakespeare\nOlivier Norek\nDon Gillmor\nDoug Johnstone\n& more!
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/motive-crime-mystery-festival-2026/
LOCATION:Victoria College\, 73 Queen's Park Cres E\, Toronto\, ON M5S 1K7\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 1K7
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/motive-crime-mystery-festival-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260605T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260605T203000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130057Z
UID:10355284-1780687800-1780691400@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Clare Mackintosh & Nita Prose at MOTIVE: Twists & Truths
DESCRIPTION:Join bestselling authors Clare Mackintosh and Nita Prose for a lively chat about crafting suspense\, unforgettable characters\, and twists that keep readers guessing. From Mackintosh’s new thriller It’s Not What You Think – where nothing is as simple as it seems – to the return of Prose’s beloved protagonist\, Molly\, in The Maid’s Secret\, this conversation is full of intrigue\, insight\, and a few delightful surprises along the way.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/clare-mackintosh-nita-prose-at-motive-twists-truths/
LOCATION:Isabel Bader Theatre\, 93 Charles St W\, Toronto\, ON M5S 2C7\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 2C7
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/clare-mackintosh-nita-prose-at-motive-twists-truths.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260606T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260607T170000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130100Z
UID:10355310-1780736400-1780851600@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Toronto Comic Arts Festival
DESCRIPTION:The Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) is one of the largest independent comic arts festivals in the world. \nEach year\, TCAF welcomes 28\,000+ visitors and 315+ artists from across Canada and around the world to our two-day celebration of the breadth and diversity of independent comics. \nTCAF is unique in our commitment to accessibility. Unlike other large comic arts festivals in North America\, TCAF has remained completely free to the public since our launch in 2003\, and our programmers seek to spotlight emerging talent alongside established creators. \nOver the years\, TCAF has drawn prominent names such as Art Spiegelman\, Alison Bechdel\, Yoshihiro Tatsumi\, Daniel Clowes\, Junji Ito\, Chris Ware\, Jillian and Mariko Tamaki\, Chester Brown\, Seth\, Kate Beaton\, Adrian Tomine\, Kamome Shirahama\, and Bryan Lee O’Malley\, and we seek to serve as a platform for international artists to showcase their work. \nTCAF 2026 will be held from June 6-7\, 2026 at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre. To kick off the festival\, we’re also offering a full day of professional development programming for comics librarians and staff (Libraries and Education Day) and comics creators (Word Balloon Academy) on June 5.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/toronto-comic-arts-festival/
LOCATION:Mattamy Athletic Centre\, 50 Carlton St\, Toronto\, M5B 1J2
CATEGORIES:Art & Design,Festivals,Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/toronto-comic-arts-festival.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260607T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260607T173000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130104Z
UID:10355358-1780849800-1780853400@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Shari Lapena at MOTIVE: The Couple Next Door 10 Year Anniversary
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate 10 years of the book that had a huge impact on the psychological thriller genre! New York Times Bestselling author\, Shari Lapena\, will be taking the stage to discuss the book that started it all\, The Couple Next Door. Following a young couple who seem to have it all\, things take a turn when their baby is kidnapped from their home while they are next door at a dinner party and their lives begin to unravel\, revealing lies and a shocking twist. Join the author as she talks about writing since the book\, how the genre has changed\, and what is to come. \nFeaturing readings from Samantha M. Bailey\, Hannah Mary McKinnon\, and Bianca Marais \nModerated by Nita Prose
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/shari-lapena-at-motive-the-couple-next-door-10-year-anniversary/
LOCATION:Isabel Bader Theatre\, 93 Charles St W\, Toronto\, ON M5S 2C7\, Canada\, Old Toronto\, Toronto\, Ontario\, M5S 2C7
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shari-lapena-at-motive-the-couple-next-door-10-year-anniversary.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260617T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260617T200000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130122Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130122Z
UID:10355520-1781722800-1781726400@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:Author Talk: Myra Bloom on Evasive Manoeuvres
DESCRIPTION:Confession is everywhere in our culture. It drives banal social media posts\, sensational reality television shows\, revolutionary social justice movements\, and popular fiction. It has also been central to feminist movements throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. But acts of self-disclosure carry significant risks for women and nonbinary writers\, who may be disbelieved or retraumatized\, dismissed as narcissistic or unliterary\, or stereotyped in ways that constrain professional opportunities. \nNaming this tension the “confessional impasse\,” Myra Bloom explores how four contemporary Canadian writers navigate both the possibilities and the perils of confession. Focusing on the work of Tanya Tagaq\, Nelly Arcan\, Sheila Heti\, and Sina Queyras\, Bloom offers a dynamic exploration of confessional writing in poetry and autofiction\, a hybrid form of life writing that blends autobiography with invention. She situates the forces increasingly shaping women’s lives – social media\, digital culture\, beauty culture\, and the relentless pressure to optimize the body – within a broader ecosystem that demands self-display for public consumption. Using the confessional impasse as a theoretical framework\, Bloom shows that although writers deploy evasive manoeuvres to avoid rendering themselves vulnerable\, they are often misread through the very autobiographical discourses they are escaping. \nAs Canadian literature becomes increasingly confessional in its texts\, institutions\, and discourse\, Evasive Manoeuvres provides an exciting in-depth study of an overlooked force driving literary innovation in Canada.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/author-talk-myra-bloom-on-evasive-manoeuvres/
LOCATION:Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema\, 506 Bloor Street West\, Toronto\, M5S 1Y3
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/author-talk-myra-bloom-on-evasive-manoeuvres.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260620T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260620T160000
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130127Z
UID:10355575-1781949600-1781971200@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:STRUT: Drag Queen Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Get ready for a joy-filled Family Pride celebration packed with colour\, creativity\, and plenty of sparkle! Drop in anytime to enjoy hands-on crafts\, a temporary tattoo station\, a photo booth\, and a museum-wide scavenger hunt that will have folks of any age and identity exploring together. \nAt 1:00 pm\, the highlight of the day will be a one-hour Drag Queen Storytelling and dance-party spectacular led by Toronto drag royalty Lucinda Miu and Guy Anabella. Expect big energy\, fabulous moves\, playful stories\, and lots of chances to dance along as they celebrate self-expression\, imagination\, and being proudly yourself.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/strut-drag-queen-storytelling/
LOCATION:Bata Shoe Museum\, 327 Bloor St W\, Toronto\, M5S 1W7
CATEGORIES:2SLGBTQ+,Community Events,Kids & Family,Literature & Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/strut-drag-queen-storytelling.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260915T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260915T204500
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130210Z
UID:10356259-1789498800-1789505100@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:By the Lake Book Club - Claire Cameron
DESCRIPTION:Presented By: City of Toronto\, Humber Polytechnic\, Faculty of Media\, Creative Arts\, and Design. \nHow to Survive a Bear Attack\, by Claire Cameron\, finalist for the 2025 Governor General’s Literary Award in Non-Fiction\, investigates a rare bear attack in Algonquin Park while reflecting on her own battle with genetic cancer. Blending nature writing\, true crime and memoir\, Cameron explores fear\, resilience and survival. \nBy the Lake Book Club hosts six Tuesday-night events from February to December with top Canadian authors and Humber Polytechnics alumni. Each in-person event features readings\, discussions\, Q&A\, book signings and ASL interpretation\, while virtual sessions include live subtitles and audio access.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/by-the-lake-book-club-claire-cameron/
LOCATION:Assembly Hall\, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive\, Etobicoke\, M8V 4B6
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/by-the-lake-book-club-claire-cameron-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261006T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261006T204500
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130216Z
UID:10356382-1791313200-1791319500@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:By the Lake Book Club - Emma Knight
DESCRIPTION:Presented By: City of Toronto\, Humber Polytechnic\, Faculty of Media\, Creative Arts\, and Design. \nThe Life Cycle of the Common Octopus\, by Emma Knight\, shortlisted for the 2025 Scotiabank Giller Prize\, is a spellbinding debut about friendship\, motherhood\, first love and the secrets that shape us. Set against the moody backdrop of Edinburgh\, the novel follows Pen\, a Canadian student unraveling a family mystery while navigating independence and desire. With wit and emotional depth\, Knight explores womanhood and the choices that bind us. \nBy the Lake Book Club hosts six Tuesday-night events from February to December with top Canadian authors and Humber Polytechnics alumni. Each in-person event features readings\, discussions\, Q&A\, book signings and ASL interpretation\, while virtual sessions include live subtitles and audio access.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/by-the-lake-book-club-emma-knight/
LOCATION:Assembly Hall\, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive\, Etobicoke\, M8V 4B6
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/by-the-lake-book-club-emma-knight.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261208T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261208T204500
DTSTAMP:20260515T152129
CREATED:20260515T130224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T130224Z
UID:10356531-1796756400-1796762700@nowtoronto.com
SUMMARY:By the Lake Book Club - Anne Michaels
DESCRIPTION:Presented By: City of Toronto\, Humber Polytechnic\, Faculty of Media\, Creative Arts\, and Design. \nHeld\, by 2024 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Anne Michaels\, is a luminous\, fragmented novel about love\, memory\, and the reverberations of war across generations. Beginning on a First World War battlefield\, the narrative moves through time and place to explore how desire and grief endure beyond a single lifetime. Michaels – renowned poet and author of Fugitive Pieces – weaves history and intimacy into a work of haunting beauty. \nBy the Lake Book Club hosts six Tuesday-night events from February to December with top Canadian authors and Humber Polytechnics alumni. Each in-person event features readings\, discussions\, Q&A\, book signings and ASL interpretation\, while virtual sessions include live subtitles and audio access.
URL:https://nowtoronto.com/event/by-the-lake-book-club-anne-michaels/
LOCATION:Assembly Hall\, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive\, Etobicoke\, M8V 4B6
CATEGORIES:Literature & Spoken Word,Talks & Panels
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nowtoronto.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/by-the-lake-book-club-anne-michaels-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR