Lethbridge Library’s Word On The Street festival goes virtual this year

“We have authors and artists from across Canada who will come and speak about their books and talk about what’s going on.”

Those looking to attend any of the events this week can register through the Lethbridge Public Library’s website here. Saturday’s in-person event does not require pre-registration, but there will be limited capacity inside of the library.

Online ordering of books will be available through the festival bookseller, the University of Lethbridge Bookstore. The Bookstore will be on-site with a limited selection of items on Saturday, September 18.

Hegerat commented that, “we are one of four Word On The Street sites across Canada and I know that this year doesn’t look like it usually does, but we’re really happy to be able to still be running and [hope] that people will come out and join, either online or in-person.”

The other locations for the Word On The Street festivals are Toronto, Saskatoon and Halifax, although Halifax’s event will not be taking place this year.

Additionally, the library will host festival events well into September with the Indigenous Oral Tradition and Knowledge Series, as well as into the fall with the Fall Reading Series from October to December. That will feature a variety of online events.

Sign language interpretation will be offered for events on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18.

Festival activities include:

September 14 at 7 p.m. – Comics for the Young at Heart: Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens with J. Torres, David A. Robertson, and Gillian Goerz. The talk will be moderated by Eric Dyck.

September 16 at 7 p.m. – Cyclopedia Exotica with Aminder Dhaliwal, moderated by Eric Dyck. This event will be presented in partnership with the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge.

September 17 (morning) – CVS Midwest Tapes Kid’s Program featuring Jill Heinerth, Kathy Stinson, Eric and Terry Fan, Kevin and Basil Sylvester, Michael Hutchinson, Marty Chan, and Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane.

September 17 (afternoon) – Lethbridge Herald Teen Program featuring Ben Philippe, Heather Smith, Sabina Khan, Louisa Onomé, Tanaz Bhathena, Adan Jerreat-Poole, June Hur, and Tash McAdam.

September 18 – Canadian Heritage Adult Program featuring Guy Delisle, Trevor Lui, Mary Lawson, Bertrand Bickersteth, Dallas Hunt, Nishal Patel, David A. Robertson, Candas Jane Dorsey, Robyn Harding, and Anna Marie Sewell. Attendees can join hosts at the library’s Main Branch in downtown Lethbridge to watch their talks live, enjoy music, food trucks and children’s story-time and outdoor play activities.

September 20-25 – Indigenous Oral Tradition and Knowledge Series featuring Sheldon First Rider, Mary Ellen Little Mustache, Bryan Smith, Emily Fox, and Charlene and Wilson Bearhead. These events will be presented in partnership with Reconciliation Lethbridge.

Hegerat said the goal of the festival is “to celebrate literacy and Canadian books and arts” as well as to celebrate writers and artists in Canada, “the great talent we have in this country and introduce people to a favourite author or discover somebody new and to celebrate our literary scene in Canada.”

More details on The Word On The Street are available here.

by Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Library’s Word On The Street festival goes virtual this year

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