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.