Paul Quarrington - In Memory

With the passing on January 21 of author Paul Quarrington, The Word On The Street lost one of its most unique voices and one of its most supportive advocates. By our count, Paul officially appeared at the Toronto festival more times than any other author (at least six times). Beyond that, he attended almost every year whether he was reading, sitting on a panel, helping out at the PEN Canada booth or bringing his girls to share the joy of reading.
Paul and I joked that he was a person who just couldn’t say no to anyone who asked a favour of him, but that’s one of the most touching and wonderful things about him. Those of us who knew him well only asked him to do things for us when we really needed him (and often had to beg him to ask us if he ever needed anything – In fact I think he had no idea how many favours were sitting on the table for him to cash in at any time.)

So when I applied for the position of Festival Director at The Word On The Street Toronto, who better to ask to be a reference than my old friend Paul? And when I got the job, he and I corresponded constantly about it and how great it was for me to be back in the publishing world. So when the board decided to create a 20th Festival Patron’s Council, and we wanted an author to become its honorary chair, we agreed that Paul would be the right person for the job. He was well-known, well-liked and well-placed in the arts community to represent this special endeavour.

I approached him about it in early May. He said yes right away (as I knew he would) then we drafted talking points for him to use to create a personal letter to be sent to potential donors. When I didn’t hear back from him for a while (and that was never unusual when working with Paul) I chased him down and he told me he’d been hospitalized but not to worry, he’d be all better soon. We made a date for him to come by the office and sign the printed letters. He showed up, signed the letters, singing to himself and commenting on who he thought might, should or wouldn’t come through with support, personalizing some of the letters with lines like “I know you’ve got it, so fork over the cash…”

Then we went out for lunch. He broke the news of his cancer to me with humour but I could tell he was still struggling to deal with the fresh information and its implications. We held hands across the table, and I suddenly had no appetite. He cheerfully abandoned his risotto (I warned him it was watery and not to order it), proclaimed my meal the better choice and proceeded to eat the rest of my food (also not an uncommon Quarrington action). The 20th Festival Donations Campaign went on over the summer and Paul kept cheerfully signing letters and supporting the festival.

I invited Paulie, and some of the members of his band Porkbelly Futures, to open our kick-off event on September 22. I didn’t get an immediate answer (see comment above) but phoned him and caught him in the car on the way to a gig in Haliburton and, after a moment conferring with his band mates, he said they would love to do it. That was the highlight of our kick-off event for me and, I think, for quite a few of the people in the room who were there to share the experience.

The Word On The Street has lost a literary icon, a friend, a supporter and a magical entertainer. On a personal note, I have lost a long-time friend and mentor. On behalf of the board, staff, performers, exhibitors and friends of The Word On The Street, I would like to say thanks, Paul, for being there for us all those years. I know you will be with us in spirit at future festivals and we’ll celebrate that even as we mourn our loss.

Love,
Cindy Goldrick
Festival Director, The Word On The Street Toronto

Only 1 day left!

In our most recent newsletter, we asked: "Where will you go first when you get to The Word On The Street's 20th festival this weekend?"

If you're looking for any suggestions, consider some of the responses we received...

"I am looking forward to the Cooks N’ Books stage...
(To see some of my favourite cook book authors in action!)"

"The first place I'll head for is the CBC Stage for Stuart McLean and his fabulous storytelling."

"After looking at the program and the exhibitor listing I decided to just go there and let the children's spirit fly to wherever/whatever draws their attention to. "

"#1 Festival To-Do Item: Tiptoe Through the Titles Quiz Show at the CBC Stage"

"I'm going to 2X4 To The Forehead to pick up next year's 365 Reasons Not To Be Bored calendar, because that's what this year's calendar told me to do on Sunday."

"My #1 Festival To-Do Item is heading over to renew or extend subscriptions to my favourite magazines because the deals are incredible."

"1. Network...
2. Enjoy and Experience LOTS of Exposure to the Literary works showcased at the Festival
3. Network some more."

It's Time to Party!

Here's a glimpse of our 20th Festival Kick-Off Party held earlier today. Only five days remain until The Word On The Street's 20th festival in Toronto hits Queen's Park.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate!

Porkbelly Futures opens the party with a few crowd favourites.

John Bemrose reads an excerpt from his latest novel, The Last Woman.

Festival posters from the past 20 years add a bit of flare and a colourful look at the history of The Word On The Street.

Zoe Whittall reads from her latest, Holding Still for as Long as Possible.

Kagan Mcleod paints a commemorative piece in honour of the 20th festival while overlooking the performances and readings below.

A little snacking and chatting in One King West's beautiful Austin Gallery.

~Aimee.

The Word On The Street is Going, Going, GREEN!

As one of Toronto's signature festivals, we've strived to be a leader in all things environmental, which is no easy task. Let's face it, the book industry produces millions upon millions of carbon emissions each year and for a festival all about books and magazines, the onus is great.

Good Morning America highlighted these concerns in a recent show. Follow the link below to learn more about the ways industry practices are changing in order to cut back on total carbon emissions.

Green Books: Read Books That Are Better for the Environment - ABC News

So what is The Word on The Street doing differently? This year, with the help of our sponsors, The Word On The Street will be 'closing the loop' in the paper production cycle. Both the Festival Program Guide and KidStreet Activity Guide are the most eco-friendly programs ever produced by The Word On The Street. Each publication is made of 100% post-consumer paper provided by Cascades Fine Papers, printed with vegetable-based inks by Webcom and collected onsite for recycling purposes by METRO Waste. All-in-all, valuable energy is saved and greenhouse gases are significantly reduced with each stage of development. So not only do the guides looks fantastic but they're environmentally responsible too!

Download our 2009 Festival Program and KidStreet Activity Guide

~ Aimee.

Sony Unveils the Future of Reading

Exciting news from Sony - yesterday morning the new Reader Touch Edition and Reader Pocket Edition were unveiled at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum with re-vamped features, styles and colours (navy blue and rose for the adventurous types, black and silver for those who prefer the classic look).

Apart from getting to test drive both models, I learned a few interesting items of note:

The Toronto Public Library lets e-reader owners with a library card borrow e-books for up to 21 days (the same length allotted for regular books). Check it out at http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ebk_index.jsp

Keep in mind that there are over 500,000 public domain titles available for download on Google. So, essentially, you buy an e- reader and get a library of half a million titles. I have a feeling my financial adviser would call that a healthy investment.

The Sony Reader Touch also comes with a built-in Oxford American Dictionary. Now when you come across 'fugacious' while reading on the streetcar, all you have to do is double click the word and the definition will appear at the bottom of the screen (adj. fleeting; transitory).

Scope it out and do some research of your own - or better yet, stop by the Sony Reader Lounge on Sunday, September 27 to find out exactly what they're like. You just might fall for the pink one, too.

~ Aimee

A walk down memory lane...or should we say Queen St.?

Rummaging through photo albums from past festivals is one of the best tasks required to prepare for The Word On The Street's 20th festival. Although it meant I had to enter the dreaded storage space with floor to ceiling boxes, signs and desk chairs, I finally got a chance to flip through the pages of our photo albums. Similar to finding old photos at home, I had to do a few double-takes when I noticed familiar faces. See who you can pick out from the crowd in a selection of my favourites included below...

No wonder the festival had to move to Queen's Park - Queen St. looks a bit crowded.

A new activity launched in 1993 had festival visitors Golfing "FORE!" Literacy.

Court jesters at the 1991 festival provide merriment and balloons.

David Suzuki at the 1991 festival.

Robert Munsch meeting a few of his biggest fans.

~ Aimee

Make Like Brangelina and Adopt....An Author That Is!

We are super thrilled to launch our annual Adopt an Author campaign! It's our 20th festival and we are hosting our most exciting line-up of some of the best authors in Canada to mark this milestone year.

You can be an important part of our vibrant one-day literary festival by participating in the Adopt an Author campaign. It's easy, inexpensive and makes a great gift! All you have to do is make a $100 contribution and “adopt” one of our featured authors for the day. You’ll be able to select from a comprehensive list or you can let us select an author for you.

With top authors like Bonnie Burnard, Kenneth Oppel, Nino Ricci, Jane Urquhart, Elizabeth May, Leon Rooke, John Bemrose, Emma Donoghue, Barbara Reid and Charles Pachter confirmed to grace our stages , the only difficult part is choosing how many to adopt!

In addition, the benefits are great. With your $100 contribution you will receive:

• A tax receipt for your charitable donation
• A copy of your author’s book
• Your name announced at your author’s reading
• A personalized adoption certificate
• Acknowledgment on The Word On The Street Toronto’s website
• A chance to be a part of Canada’s largest one-day literary festival!

Check out our website for more information or to "adopt" an author today www.thewordonthestreet.ca

Cheers,

Kristina

P.S. It's exactly 2 months until festival day!!!

Celebrating 20 festivals: setting a feast of Canada’s best fall titles in a time of (sponsorship) famine

Usually an anniversary of any kind is a time for celebration. But as the world settled into a recession, it became apparent here at The Word On The Street Toronto that we would have to be very creative this year to ensure that our 20^th festival celebration would proceed as planned. As a non-profit that, over the last twenty years, has enjoyed exponential growth in programming, exhibitors and attendance, we’ve learned to build successful and long-term alliances with government funders at all levels, programming partners, media partners and sponsors. We’ve learned to thrive and meet our needs by creating a patchwork of support, drawing on resources from the private and public sectors and the generous volunteer time of our boards over the years and the many volunteers who help out on the day of the festival and throughout the year.

We are proud of our sponsors who have been there from the very beginning: Citytv and the Toronto Star helped us build the face of The Word On The Street when we launched our first festival in 1990 on Queen Street West. Publishers like McClelland & Stewart, organizations like PEN Canada and magazines like THIS Magazine and Toronto Life have been on the street with us every year, meeting festival-goers and sharing our passion for books, writers and discussing provocative ideas. Well-known authors like Margaret Atwood, Paul Quarrington and Nino Ricci took part in the festival at least five times each over the last 20 years while our stages hosted such well-known personalities as The Barenaked Ladies, Knowlton Nash, Dennis Lee and Robert Munsch. We’ve celebrated the City of Toronto Book Awards for many years with our partner the City of Toronto. Award-winning authors have read from their works while newly published authors have found success after their debut at The Word On The Street.

So all of this is a round-about way of saying that thanks to 19 years of hard work and relationship building, The Word On The Street's 20th festival is promising to be bigger and better than before. Return often to this blog for future announcements about festival headliners, family fun and the exciting opportunities you’ll find on September 27 at Queen’s Park to meet the publishers, authors, illustrators and sponsoring companies who make this the biggest yearly celebration of the written word in Canada. And, as it has been for the last 19 years, ADMISSION IS FREE!

Best,

Cindy

The Word On The Street Canada to launch Margaret Atwood’s new novel!

We are excited to announce that this September, The Word On The Street Canada will launch Margaret Atwood’s highly anticipated new novel, The Year of the Flood!

This will be Canada’s first live coast to coast book launch using LongPen technology and we will broadcast Atwood in person from The Word On The Street Toronto on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at Queen's Park to The Word On The Street festivals in Vancouver and Halifax.

This interactive video broadcast will allow festival participants to engage in a Q&A session with Atwood who will also sign books for fans in Vancouver and Halifax using the LongPen. This amazing technology will allow Atwood to talk with each fan via private video chat and to transmit a genuine, personalized autograph instantly to the interior pages of their copy of the book.

We approached Atwood to participate in a national launch to connect The Word On The Street festivals in a milestone year. The Word On The Street Toronto is holding its 20th festival with Vancouver and Halifax each marking their 15th.

Atwood’s participation in The Word On The Street festivals will begin with a live reading in Kitchener on Saturday, September 26 at the Kitchener Public Library, prior to The Word On The Street festivals on September 27.

"Ever since the first festival in 1990, I look forward to being involved with The Word On The Street. This year, with the LongPen, I can attend festivals in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax ‐ all on the same day ‐ with my new novel, The Year of the Flood," said Margaret Atwood.

We are so looking forward to this and seeing you at The Word On The Street this September!

~Kristina

Despite illness, Quarrington steps up to the plate – you can too!

Sports references seem appropriate when talking about one of Canada’s best-loved writers, Paul Quarrington. His memorable, larger than life characters are bigger than the pages they inhabit and burst from the confines of the small or big screens. Just like their creator.

When The Word On The Street Toronto asked Paul earlier this year to become Honorary Chair of our 20th Festival Patrons’ Council, we couldn’t have predicted that he would also be facing the personal challenge of a devastating cancer diagnosis. But even in the face of illness, his dedication to the success of the festival brought Paul to our office to sign (and add personal notes to) a letter he authored urging donors to give generously to support this year’s 20th Word On The Street festival. As an artist who is inextricably bound to our festival, with at least six reading appearances not to mention his support of booths managed by organizations such as PEN and various writers’ organizations, Paul Quarrington believes in The Word On The Street’s mandate to bring authors and the public together as well as promote and develop literacy.

As Paul wrote in his letter: “The Word on the Street has meant a lot to me over the years: as a place to take the kids, a place to celebrate my friends and colleagues, a place to play and participate. I know The Word On The Street has meant a lot to you, too, which is why I'm writing. I'm asking people like you − who care about the written word, about literacy, and about Canadian writers − to make a special financial gift in support of this year’s 20th festival. Any and all gifts will be sincerely appreciated, but a gift of $1,000 or more will be earn the donor a position on the 20th Festival Patrons’ Council, a tax receipt, and a host of other benefits, including attendance at a wonderful, exclusive thank you party to be held in October at the Gladstone Hotel, an official sponsor of The Word On The Street.”

There are a lot of great benefits for those who join Paul in becoming a member of the 20th Festival Patrons’ Council. Not the least of which will be to celebrate another successful Word On The Street with him at a thank you party in October. Contact us at toronto@thewordonthestreet.ca for more information.

Take Part in Our 20th Festival!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 27th, 2009! The Word On The Street Book and Magazine festival will once again take over Queen's Park to welcome book and magazine publishers, authors, artists, songwriters and the citizens of Toronto and the GTA to our biggest festival yet. Since The Word On The Street is hosting its 20th festival this year, we want to share the celebration with the community that has helped us build the one day festival into the biggest book event in Canada.

Of course no anniversary is complete without a trip back through time to highlight memories of past festivals. The Word On The Street would like to invite past festival guests and visitors to play a key role in the celebration.

So here's the lowdown:

The Word On The Street Toronto is looking for sincere, short, unique messages that illuminate the varied experiences of festival attendees over the last 20 years. Submissions should be 200 words or less and the deadline for acceptance is Friday, May 29, 2009. If we use your submission we may require a head shot to accompany it. Please email your submission in a Word file or in the body of your email to toronto@thewordonthestreet.ca and include your contact information. Anonymous submissions will not be considered. We will contact those whose reminiscence is being used to confirm their participation. We thank everyone who sends us something, however it will be impossible to acknowledge every submission or use every submission.

Get Lit!

2009 is certainly a year of celebrations all around Toronto. This year The Word On The Street will be celebrating its 20th festival with exciting programming and new activities in the works. Not only is it a special year for our festival, but the city of Toronto is of course celebrating its 175th birthday and the Toronto Arts Council is honouring its 35th year of giving.

In celebration of the TAC's 35th anniversary, a new program has recently been launched as part of their Lit City- Toronto Stories, Toronto Settings initiative. Get Lit! is a unique inter-disciplinary opportunity for artists to explore the ways text and spoken word can be presented in various media and to discover the boundary-less forms of story-telling. All residents from across Toronto are invited to submit a creative work inspired by the city and its art-inspiring citizens.

For more information visit: http://www.torontoarts.org/GetLit.pdf.

The submissions will be accepted until May 4 and will be featured at a special exhibition from May 23 – 24 at the Toronto Arts Council Foundation (141 Bathurst St.). Be sure to check it out or better yet…tell a story!

Drum Roll Please...

And Webster's Word of the Year for 2008 is...

Bailout.

:).

Read the rest here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/25/national/main4632824.shtml

John

It's not quite the Nobel Prize, but John Updike has a new literary accolade: laureate of bad sex.

Updike, who has a long and graphic history of detailing coupling on the page, won a lifetime achievement award Tuesday from judges of Britain's Bad Sex in Fiction Prize, which celebrates crude, tasteless or ridiculous sexual passages in modern literature.

The judges, editors of Literary Review magazine, said Updike had been shortlisted for the prize four times in its 16-year history. "Good sex or bad sex, he has kept us entertained for many years," they said in a statement.

:)

J

JCVD

I saw JCVD today and it is a beautiful, beautiful piece of film-making, anchored by a powerful, and very moving performance by Jean Claude Van Damme.

See it. Right now.

:).

J

Turkey

This is just... how can this even be real?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kjM1asH-8

God bless her soul.

J

Challenge This!

A very cool interactive story courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio that lets you decide how to count contested ballots in the Norm Coleman / Al Franken senate race recount. Considering Franken trails by less than 200 votes, nit-picky stuff like this is ridiculously important... and sketch bomb at the same time.

Check it out! How many of these votes would you count?

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/

Legacy

From The New York Times Magazine:

"Bush, locked in his Oedipal struggles — father and son, World War II and Vietnam, a faded generation and a fading one — again and again mistook rigidity for fortitude and never really evolved in office, as all presidents must. He rose up, using his innate trust of emotion and impulse, to meet the first challenges of 9/11, but then froze solid. At a time when the nation’s challenges, so fresh, so fast-moving, so startling, demanded constant reappraisal and response, he — the child of a president — thought it was about him: his issues, his battles, his heart. It’s not, at least not now.

In a time of crisis, the American public took hold of its system of self-governance, broken, over many years, by compulsive divisiveness, and said, Let’s try something new — and reach for history’s arc.

That’s why they, the people, sent Barack Obama onto the stage. The Bush era ended, officially, the minute he passed that top step and turned his face into the roar of the future."

To see how far George W. Bush has fallen check out this video from CNN.

No one would even shake his hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Y_ncOVlDw

I feel sad for him.

J

Prop 8

An outstanding article from fivethirtyeight.com debunking the notion that increased African-American turn-out ensured the passing of Prop 8 in Califormia. Some telling passages:

"Certainly, the No on 8 folks might have done a better job of outreach to California's black and Latino communities. But the notion that Prop 8 passed because of the Obama turnout surge is silly. Exit polls suggest that first-time voters -- the vast majority of whom were driven to turn out by Obama (he won 83 percent [!] of their votes) -- voted against Prop 8 by a 62-38 margin. More experienced voters voted for the measure 56-44, however, providing for its passage.

...If California's electorate had been the same as it was in 2004, Prop 8 would have passed by a wider margin.

Furthermore, it would be premature to say that new Latino and black voters were responsible for Prop 8's passage. Latinos aged 18-29 (not strictly the same as 'new' voters, but the closest available proxy) voted against Prop 8 by a 59-41 margin. These figures are not available for young black voters, but it would surprise me if their votes weren't fairly close to the 50-50 mark.

At the end of the day, Prop 8's passage was more a generational matter than a racial one. If nobody over the age of 65 had voted, Prop 8 would have failed by a point or two."

Basically, Obama's new and diverse voters made sure Prop 8 passed by a small margin, as opposed to the large margin it would have passed by had they not come out.

Read the rest here:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/prop-8-myths.html

J

Future

One of the best things that can come out of an Obama Presidency (aside from America becoming made out of gold, and sharing this gold with everyone) is the complete, total and radical over-haul of the Republican Party.

Yes, there are traditionalists out there who will want to continue down the same path of Guns, God and Sarah Palin to the White House, but reformers within the party understand that America is changing: it's becoming more diverse, educated, urban, and if the Republican Party is to survive, it has to leave its Sarah Palin's behind and find a true leader with a powerful, unifying, national vision. Right now, the Republicans have no one like that in sight, and I know that they are going to use the next four years searching through its ranks for their own Obama (maybe it's Bobby Jindal).

Obama's election proved that conservatives have to appeal "more to Hispanics, blacks, independents and younger voters," and "they cannot continue to insult the sensibilities of the educated class and the entire East and West Coasts." The party understands that the south's political influence is waning and that the cultural battles they have used to drive wedges into the electorate don't matter as much now.

Want to contribute? Help them out? Then check out their new website: http://rebuildtheparty.com/

It's basically a list-generator for their database, but you get a chance to outline what you think the party has to do entering the 21st Century.

Here's what I wrote:

"Don't start building your party around a potential 2012 candidate (because none of them are encouraging right now). Build your party around the sentiment that prevailed last Tuesday: more hope, more love, more big ideas and vision... just become Democrats."

:)

J

Barack...

He won with one of the broadest coalitions in history, and when John McCain said that the American people have spoken, and "they have spoken clearly," it was an understatement. Obama received the most votes for a presidential candidate ever. He's brought people who have never been together, together, and he is now carrying the hopes of so many millions. Hope is a heavy thing, and as America moves forward to face its most difficult challenges in a century, it is their most valued weapon.

This election has re-shaped the American political landscape in remarkable ways. For one, Obama's election was a sound rejection of the anti-intellectual, culture war politics of fear that has come to define American politics under the Republicans: Nixon, Reagan and the Bush's. And it also marks the end of Sarah Palin's rise in politics. Make no mistake about it, American's have rejected the mean-spirited base she represents, and only one VP candidate on a losing ticket has ever gone on to lead a national ticket... and that candidate lost (Bob Dole). If anything, this startling repudiation of the Republican Party will hopefully lead to its re-invention, and yes, it is possible. There are powerful, multicultural voices in the party (like Bobby Jindal), and if the Republicans can find their true identity as the party of big-ideas, hope, and giant steps... the party it once was... then that will be an amazing thing for America.

Another encouraging element of Obama's win was his share of the youth vote. 66% of young people chose him as President. And these are the very young, first time voters, aged 18-29 that we keep hearing about in the news. Reagan solidified the Republican Majority for decades by sweeping young people, recruiting a future generation of Republicans to carry the torch and ideals forward. Obama has done the same thing, and if he holds true to his pledge to promote more national service and community involvement for Americans, then we will have an engaged group of young people, looking to change America from the bottom up... and that is a powerful and hopeful sentiment. The possibilities in this are endless, and I believe that America's young will do amazing things. They did amazing things for his campaign... who knows what they will do for America.

And then there is the African-American community, I'm sure many, waking up this morning and wondering if last night was a dream. To experience such a sweeping sense of change, despite the burden of American's troubled relationship with race must have been over-whelming. When the news networks cut away to Jesse Jackson during Obama's victory speech, his face wet with tears, it was a powerful and very moving moment. Obama was on stage thanks to "the work and sacrifices of Jackson and his generation of aging or long-departed activists, men and women who did not appear onstage with the president-elect, but who sat in and marched and protested so that Americans like Obama might be treated as Americans." So many before Obama had worked and given their lives to make his moment possible; they faced dogs, and hoses, and bullets. Obama's victory was a testament to their hard-work, to their courage and to the resolve of hope. As McCain whipped up the fringe of his party, promoting the kind of racial fear and hate that came to define the Civil Rights struggle, Obama offered the prospect of healing those divides: "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: We are not enemies but friends ... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

Finally, Obama made clear in his victory speech that he faces many challenges as president, and that to get there and meet these challenges will take more than a single term, and will take the help of the millions who voted for him. He is lowering expectations because he knows that running a campaign is far different than running a government. He did not have to make the kind of painful compromises that come to define so many other presidents of the past. Yes, he stepped back from promises during his campaign, like his vote on the FISA bill, as well as his pledge to accept public financing. And yes many were quick to anger and weariness (myself included) when it seemed like he was transforming from the revolutionary Obama in the primary, to the safe, centrist politician that won last night. But make no mistake: we will be disappointed during his tenure (at least at first), but the potential for true greatness is achievable, and something that all Americans will have to fight for.

Yes, Obama will bring inspiration back to the white house, and he will work hard to sell us on some of his future compromises, and yes some of them may hurt deeply. But we must not be weary too easily. We must never be quick to despair. I really, truly believe that "we will overcome," and to do so will take guts, and hope, and spine... and unity. Always be united. Because man... a united people can do anything.

I was proud to witness history last night, and to witness the election of a thoughtful, smart, and very articulate man to the presidency of the United States.

Like I wrote before, love and hope won last night. Love and hope will bring about the change we need.

Yes we did.

:)

J

Beautiful...

This goes beyond politics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW-6DpC-mj8

It was a nice video that captures an important theme of Barack Obama's campaign: that his coalition captures "young people who voted for the first time and the young at heart."

If you have friends and family in the United States gently remind them to vote tomorrow (or today if they can).

J

Thank You

Thanks for coming out to The Word On The Street. We hope you had an amazing time.

See you in 2009.

J

Tomorrow!

The Word On The Street Book and Magazine Festival hits Queen's Park tomorrow, from 11am to 6pm. Come on down to enjoy the very best Canadian Literature has to offer.

It's going to be an amazing time.

See you there!

J

4 Days Away!

Where did the time go?

The Word On The Street is only 4 days away, and we're gearing up for what we hope will be our best festival ever! Be sure to check out our special insert in EYE WEEKLY tomorrow, our Toronto Star insert on Saturday, and look out for our Festival Programs, available for pick-up throughout the TTC subway line right now!

For more information on this year's Exhibitor Marketplace and Festival Programming check out our website at www.thewordonthestreet.ca. And if you want to have access to some outstanding contests and festival promotions, then text BOOK to 2-4-6-8-0, regular rates apply.

Remember. This Sunday. Queen's Park. 11am-6pm. The Word On The Street Book and Magazine Festival.

Spread the word!

J

Call to Action!

The Word On The Street is Canada's largest book and magazine festival, annually attracts 200,000 visitors to Queen’s Park on the last Sunday of September. They come to browse our 250 book and magazine exhibits, opportunity to interact with more than 250 of Canada’s top authors, poets, storytellers and presenters and participate in almost 200 readings, performances, workshops and other events.

As a not-for-profit event, the festival relies on the commitment, time and energy of more than 200 volunteers to help bring the event to life. Volunteering is an opportunity to lend your experience, learn new skills, meet and work with new people, to share in the enjoyment of Canadian books and magazines and to give back to your community in an exceptionally positive way. The day is rewarding in so many ways: you'll get to meet fellow literature enthusiasts, authors and publishers as well as leave satisfied that you have supported a wonderfully vibrant community-based event.

---What roles do we need volunteers for?---

Here’s just a few of the areas for which we are looking to find volunteers:

Administration, Guest Services, Logistics, Programming, Exhibits

---What is expected of festival volunteers?---

Volunteers will typically be assigned a 4-6 hour shift based on their availability. All volunteers are expected to participate in orientation and training which will be held on-site on the day of the festival.

---The details!---

The 19th annual The Word On The Street will take place on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 from 11am to 6pm at Queen's Park, Toronto. Visit www.thewordonthestreet.ca or email volunteers@thewordonthestreet.ca to register for the Toronto event as a volunteer today.

We hope to see you at this year's festival!

Mobile

Grab your cell phones booklovers!

We are very excited to partner up with Open Book Toronto to launch our first ever Mobile Book Club! Text BOOK to 2-4-6-8-0 for the latest festival info, exclusive promotional offers, great book deals and more! Regular rates apply.

See you at The Word On The Street, Sunday September 28, at Queen’s Park from 11-6.

Spread the word!

J

Hotel

Coming to Toronto to check out Canada's largest book and magazine festival? Then book your hotel rooms today courtesy of our Official Hotel Sponsor The Suites at 1 King West. We have an outstanding rate package available ($149) to all exhibitors of the festival and we urge you to take full advantage of it.

Just cut and paste this link into your browser and follow the online instructions. It's as easy as that!

https://res.onekingwest.com/smsworld/wc.dll?smsWorld~AvailBox~&RGP=&RCR=WRDSTREET&RAD=07%2F29%2F08&RDD=12%2F31%2F08&RUN=1&RCA=&RCC=0&RT1=

See you at the festival.

J

4 Weeks Away!

Just wanted to remind everyone to spread the word: The Word On The Street is less than
4 weeks away!

For more information on this year's festival check out our website at www.thewordonthestreet.ca

Also: be sure to invite your friends to join our Facebook group for festival information,special contests, promotional offers and more!

Check back here as we lead up to the festival for all of The Word On The Street's breaking news!

J

Contest!

We want to give away copies of all the featured books by the authors appearing at the Great Books Marquee! Books by Adam Sol (Jeremiah, Ohio); Rachel Manley (Horses in Her Hair); and Daria Salamon (The Prairie Bridesmaid) just to name a few. All you have to do is check out our schedule at a glance at:

www.thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/whats_on_schedule.asp

to find out the name of the last author appearing at the Great Books Marquee, then send us an e-mail (mary@thewordonthestreet.ca) with your name, e-mail address, telephone number and answer. Entries will be accepted until August 21st.

Thanks,

K&M

Who's coming...

Want to know who's going to be at The Word On The Street this year?

Then visit our website at:

http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/whats_on_schedule.asp

To see our outstanding line-up of authors, musicians and performers.

See you at the festival!

J

It's Coming...

The Word On The Street 2008 is fast approaching!

For more information on this year's festival check out our website at www.thewordonthestreet.ca as well as on Facebook (search for The Word On The Street).

It's going to be an amazing festival, with a huge and diverse exhibitor marketplace, as well as programming from some of the most celebrated authors in Canada. The festival really has something for everyone!

So mark your calenders: Sunday, September 28th, from 11am to 6pm at Queen's Park.

The Word On The Street 2008. Be there or be square. Seriously :).

J