After Canada Reads

In this virtual panel discussion, Executive Director and Canada Reads superfan Jael Richardson returns to moderate our annual Canada Reads conversation with 2026 finalists. Join us for a lively, thoughtful discussion about craft, competition, and the stories that captured the nation’s attention on this year’s Canada Reads.

Watch on YouTube Live or join us in the virtual platform where passholders can join an intimate virtual meet-and-greet and connect directly with the authors immediately following the discussion.

Sponsored by Penguin Random House Canada.

Session Speakers

Billy-Ray Belcourt (he/him) is the author of six books. He is from the Driftpile Cree Nation in northwest Alberta and lives in Vancouver.

Books:

A Minor Chorus

Tyler Hellard (he/him) lives in Calgary with his wife and kids. “Searching For Terry Punchout” was shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award, Kobo Emerging Writers’ Prize and Canada Reads.

Books:

Searching for Terry Punchout

Joss Richard (she/her) is the international bestselling romance author of It’s Different This Time. She has been formally recognized with a Daytime Emmy Award and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Books:

It’s Different This Time

Loghan Paylor (they/them) is a queer, trans writer, teacher and business owner. Their debut novel, The Cure for Drowning, was shortlisted for Canada Reads 2026 and longlisted for the Giller Prize.

Books:

The Cure for Drowning

Moderator

Jael Richardson

Jael Richardson is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, a memoir based on her relationship with her father, CFL quarterback Chuck Ealey. The Stone Thrower was adapted into a children’s book in 2016 and was shortlisted for a Canadian picture book award.

Richardson holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph and lives in Brampton, Ontario, where she founded and serves as the Executive Director for the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD). Her debut novel, Gutter Child, was published in January 2021 by HarperCollins Canada.

After Canada Reads