Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 5d

This year’s Vancouver Writers Fest features an electrifying slate of 130 authors from Canada and around the world, including bestselling novelists, poets, memoirists and thought leaders. #TyeePresents #Sponsored

thetyee.ca/Presents/202...

CONTEST: Win Tickets to the Vancouver Writers Fest | The Tyee

Three lucky Tyee readers will get to enjoy a can’t-miss literary event of their choosing.

thetyee.ca

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 12h

We’re thrilled to share that Festival friend and author Elamin Abdelmahmoud is the winner of this year’s Max Wyman Award in Critical Writing, which will be presented to him on October 24 at #VWF2025 event 51. Elbows Up.

writersfest.bc.ca/festival-eve...

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 7d

VIFF @viffest.bsky.social begins tomorrow!

Spanning 172 features • 97 shorts • 128+ premieres (26 world) #VIFF2025 connects audiences with bold stories and visionary
creators from around the world, Oct 2–12.

Learn more and explore the full lineup: viff.org/festival
#VIFF2025

VIFF 2025 | Vancouver International Film Festival

VIFF 2025 runs Oct 2-12, showcasing the best cinema from around the globe, talks, conferences, live performances and other unique events that celebrate film and film culture.

viff.org

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 9d

On Oct 23, The Poetry Bash is an iconic event for poetry connoisseurs and newcomers to the genre alike. Presented in partnership with Vancouver Poetry House and hosted by VPH Artistic Director Johnny Trinh.

writersfest.bc.ca/festival-eve...

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 22d

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW for all events at the 2025 Vancouver Writers Fest! 🎟️
writersfest.bc.ca/2025-festiva...

#VWF2025 takes place from October 20–26, featuring over 130 authors in 87 events to spark empathy, action, and transformation. Join us on Granville Island and beyond.

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Pancouver @pancouver.bsky.social · 21d

One of the world's bravest writers, Arundhati Roy, is in town to speak with Naomi Klein tonight at the Vancouver Playhouse. It's a @writersfest.bc.ca event. Learn more about her and her new memoir in this @pancouver.bsky.social article: pancouver.ca/arundhati-ro...

Arundhati Roy will join Naomi Klein in conversation at Vancouver Playhouse - Pancouver

In India, Roy constantly endures criticism for challenging the national orthodoxy about Kashmir and for condemning Hindutva extremism.

pancouver.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · 22d

Reminded today of a little game I’d play with my (single) mom as a child. She’d leave a grocery list on the counter that we’d contribute to over the week. I’d always add “Robert Redford” for her, and “golden retriever” for me. She never did come home with Robert but one day I came home to a doggo ❤️

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 22d

Tickets are on sale now for #VWF2025, which kicks off with the Alma Lee Opening Night event on Oct 20, presented with @createastir.ca. Notable Canadian authors illuminate who we are—and who we could be, if we commit to protecting this country and making it better.
writersfest.bc.ca/festival-eve...

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · 23d

Tickets for our flagship Festival go on sale tomorrow at 10am! 📣

Thousands of tickets have already been snapped up during the Member pre-sale. We recommend exploring the program and building your schedule now, to avoid missing out on your top pick events!
writersfest.bc.ca/2025-festiva...

2025 Festival Events | Vancouver Writers Fest

Welcome to the 2025 Vancouver Writers Fest! This page lists all our events from October 20–26, along with a few fall/winter Special Events taking place outside of Festival Week. Click on the title o...

writersfest.bc.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · 25d

Get thee to Vancouver

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Sep 9

🔥 HOT TICKET ALERT🔥
Vancouver @writersfest.bc.ca tickets go on Member-sale tomorrow, including tickets to hear this remarkable icon of Canadian letters, @margaretatwood.bsky.social on December 9, in conversation with @caroloff.bsky.social
📕”Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts” #McClelland&Stewart

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Sep 8

Our amazing volunteers have been dropping off #VWF2025 Program Guides at friendly stores and venues all across Metro Vancouver. Here’s where you can find one!

Don’t forget, our website has the latest event updates: writersfest.bc.ca/2025-festiva...

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Sep 6

Looking for an antidote to the piling-on of dreadful news?
Join us for a festival of insightful dialogue with a world of exceptional writers.

It’s a balm and a blast. 🩷📚💥

Tickets on sale next week!

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Sep 3

The #VWF2025 Festival Program Guide is here! 📖✨
writersfest.bc.ca/2025-festival

Our 38th annual Festival takes place from October 20–26 on Granville Island (and beyond), featuring 130+ local and international authors in 87 events.

🎟️ Tickets go on sale September 16! 🎟️

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Aug 18

Before I began working at the Festival, I volunteered—Hands down my favourite week of the year!
Join us! 😀💫📚

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Aug 18

Volunteer applications are OPEN for #VWF2025! Join us during Festival Week on Granville Island from October 20–26, or help out pre-Festival with program guide distribution and more!

Volunteer Information | Vancouver Writers Fest

Volunteering with the Fest Fill out an Application to Volunteer! The Vancouver Writers Fest is a charitable cultural organization that relies heavily on volunteers as part of our operations.…

writersfest.bc.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Aug 3

Mel died 9 years ago today.
He’d be apoplectic with frustration if he were here to witness the unraveling of…everything.

His books are more relevant today than ever. ❤️🇨🇦

thetyee.ca/Books/2008/0...

Mel Hurtig, Tough Love Patriot | The Tyee

thetyee.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 14

I’m giddy with anticipation for our 38th annual October Festival!
Just look at these authors and books! 🤩📚
Full program announced at the end of August and tickets on sale in September!

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Jun 30

The 2025 Vancouver Writers Fest Reading List is here! Browse 120+ books that will be featured at #VWF2025.

We can’t wait to hear from all these authors. From October 20–26, Granville Island transforms into Vancouver’s biggest book club. Start building your TBR pile:
writersfest.bc.ca/2025-books

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Jul 13

Watch this to the end.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Jul 13

Actor Mandy Patinkin’s plea for Jews to consider how what Netanyahu’s Israeli government is doing to Gaza is not just harming Palestinians and killing kids — but also endangering Jews across the globe.

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · Jul 10

Naomi Klein, Madeleine Thien, Deborah Cowen and Kyo Maclear call out the Canadian government's "special" program to help evacuate Palestinians in Gaza as a "cruel taunt."

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 12

It’s a good time to remind @mark-carney.bsky.social & @stevenguilbeault.bsky.social about the importance of investing in arts & culture which accounts for 3.2% of all jobs in 🇨🇦, and 63.2B in GDP. Moreover, if ever there was time to protect the arts in Canada, it’s now.

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Carney's plan to cut tens of billions in spending is tough but doable, experts say | CBC News

The federal government has started its comprehensive review of government spending, but what will it mean for Canada's public service, what balance will it have to strike and can the Liberals really c...

www.cbc.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 11

Hey Alberta! We need to encourage our children to read a multitude of books that are relevant to them, and the complex issues they encounter as they grow- Bcs most of the $hit they get online is a hell of a lot more damaging than books your local librarian is curating!

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Alberta bans school library books it deems sexually explicit | CBC News

Alberta's education minister says sexually explicit content must be gone from school library shelves as of Oct. 1, but says the announcement is not about book banning.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Leslie Hurtig

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Jul 9

“Arundhati Roy is one of the most confident and original thinkers of our time,” proclaims Naomi Klein. Hear both of these revolutionary authors and activists in a rare conversation on Sept 17, presented with @ccj-ubc.bsky.social and Indian Summer Festival.

Get your tickets:

Arundhati Roy in Conversation with Naomi Klein | Vancouver Writers Fest

Presented in partnership with UBC Centre for Climate Justice and Indian Summer Festival. Arundhati Roy’s first novel, The God of Small Things, won the Booker Prize and made her an international…

writersfest.bc.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 6

“we are ignoring the collapse of the international system that has defined our lives for generations at our own collective peril.” ‼️

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

The destruction of Palestine is breaking the world | Moustafa Bayoumi

The rules of the institutions that define our lives bend like reeds when it comes to Israel – so much that the whole global order is on the verge of collapse

www.theguardian.com

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 5

More of this!

Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · Jul 4

Now this is good to see!

Patriotic Millionaires Canada, a new organization that brings together wealthy Canadians concerned about economic inequality & advocate for policies to effectively tax the ultra-rich, has released a report calling for wealth taxes:
patrioticmillionaires.ca/media/report...

Report: Minimum Wealth Tax on Centi-Millionaires Could Raise $18 billion USD annually in Canada — Patriotic Millionaires CA

For Immediate Release June 16th, 2025 Contact: Dylan Dusseault, Executive Director [email protected] Report: Minimum Wealth Tax on Centi-Millionaires Could Raise $18 billion U...

patrioticmillionaires.ca

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jul 1

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Canadian Encyclopedia 🇨🇦
www.thestar.com/opinion/elam...

Elamin Abdelmahmoud: This man was afraid Canada knew too much about the U.S. and not enough about ourselves. A giant gift sought to change that

We asked six of our compatriots to pick a story from our country’s past that captures something essential about this country.

www.thestar.com

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Leslie Hurtig @lesliehurtig.bsky.social · Jun 30

We’re excited to share this list of exceptional books and authors (with more still to come) and to announce our 2025 Guest Curator, Canisia Lubrin! 📚
Join us this fall for Special Events and our flagship Festival, October 20-26.

Vancouver Writers Fest @writersfest.bc.ca · Jun 30

The 2025 Vancouver Writers Fest Reading List is here! Browse 120+ books that will be featured at #VWF2025.

We can’t wait to hear from all these authors. From October 20–26, Granville Island transforms into Vancouver’s biggest book club. Start building your TBR pile:
writersfest.bc.ca/2025-books

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