The Festival of Literary Diversity 2025
– Celebrating a Decade of Change –
Featuring David Chariandy, Kate Gies, Uzma Jalaluddin, R. F. Kuang,
David A. Robertson, Mattea Roach, Ozoz Sokoh, Tanya Talaga, katherena vermette and many more
BRAMPTON, ON | March 19, 2025 – Jael Richardson, founder and Executive Director of the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD), today announced the full 10th anniversary program, which runs April 27 to 30, virtually, and May 1 to 4 in person in Brampton, ON. Over 50 authors from Canada and around the world are scheduled for the unique mix of 40+ events that have made FOLD an industry game-changer.
A special FOLD preview event with award-winning author Ian Williams in conversation with Richardson was also announced today, taking place for free on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in partnership with the Brampton Public Library.
Tickets for all FOLD events are on sale now. Visit thefoldcanada.org for more information.
“The Festival of Literary Diversity was established to create a space for underrepresented Canadian authors and storytellers to talk about their craft and about the issues that matter to them most. It was also designed to be a place for readers of all ages to discover great books,” says Richardson. “This year’s theme, A Decade of Change, allows us to reflect on the evolution and impact of the festival. In addition to a lineup of phenomenal authors and amazing events, for the tenth anniversary, in particular, we’re thinking about ways to not only showcase great stories but to create moments of connection and creativity where readers and writers can talk, listen, and have fun as a community.”
There are nearly 30 virtual events and meetups scheduled this year, including:
A CANADA READS ALL-STARS panel on April 27 with Kamal Al-Solaylee, David Chariandy, and katherena vermette;
COMMUNITY THROUGH CONFLICT with Andrea Currie, Sheung-King and Kagiso Lesego Molope, moderated by Carrianne Leung (April 27);
SUCCESS IN SELF-PUBLISHING with Alicia Ellis, Katia Rose and Tao Wong moderated by Hudson Lin (April 28);
and MONSTERS IN MY MIND: A MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION on April 28 with David A. Robertson, K. J. Aiello and Samantha Jones, moderated by FOLD’s 2025 Writer-in-Residence, Kate Gies.
Fourteen in-person events include topical panel discussions, exclusive author meet and greets, and signature experiences that invite audience participation. Highlights include:
A special 10th Anniversary Edition of THE GREAT READCEPTION: A LITERARY CABARET on May 2, where readings are set to live music, featuring Amal Elsana Alh’jooj, Ruby Barrett, Morgan Campbell, R. F. Kuang, Amanda Leduc, and David A. Robertson;
CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS, on May 3, a panel discussion with Amal Elsana Alh’jooj, Morgan Campbell and Tanya Talaga, led by CBC Bookends host Mattea Roach, which will be recorded for future broadcast on CBC Bookends;
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT meet and greets on May 3 at The Rose with R. F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times author in her FOLD debut, and CBC Bookends host Mattea Roach;
EAT THE BOOKS WITH OZOZ SOKOH AND SHADE LAPITE, a new specialty event where Nigerian-Canadian chef and author Ozoz Sokoh curates a menu based on her new cookbook. YA fantasy author Shade Lapite joins her in conversation about exploring identity, culture, and history through food (May 3);
And for the Sunday Brunch crowd, FOLD’s ever-popular A LITERARY HIGH TEA AT THE ALDERLEA returns on May 4, featuring Uzma Jalaluddin, K. D. Richards, and Ruby Barrett in conversation with FOLD Board of Directors Lead Lavanya Narasimhan.
This year’s closing event on May 4 is a film screening of Brother, the film adaptation of the award-winning novel by David Chariandy, which explores the relationship of two brothers from Scarborough. Prior to the screening is a virtual talk back with the author. A film networking event will follow, presented in partnership with Brampton Arts Organization (BAO).
All in-person events will include book signings, with books sold on site by Another Story Bookshop. The full FOLD schedule is available online at thefoldcanada.org.
The FOLD’s Virtual Exhibitor Hall will once again feature nearly two dozen vendors from community and publishing-based organizations. Many will also host virtual roundtable meetups in the Writer’s Hub for aspiring authors to learn about writing and publishing opportunities, on Sunday, April 27 at 3:30 p.m.
In addition to hosting digital events and discussions within a state-of-the-art virtual space, the FOLD is the only Canadian literary festival accessible through a mobile app, allowing guests to participate in the festival anytime, anywhere.
The FOLD also runs virtual and in-person school group events including panel discussions and hands-on writing workshops. Educators can register for in-person school events by calling The Rose box office.
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Tickets and Passes are available at https://fold2025.vfairs.com/en/.
Virtual Pass: $30. Weekend at The Rose In-Person Pass: $65 (includes all events at the Rose Theatre and a virtual pass, excludes in-person specialty events). The Great Readception: $25; Paint and Poetry Night: $20; Eat the Books: $45; A Literary High Tea at Alderlea: $50; In-Person Panel Conversations: $15 each (includes post-panel meet & greets); In-Person Writing and Publishing Workshops: $15 each; Spoken Word Showcase: $15; Brother: Film Screening: $15.
The 10th anniversary Festival of Literary Diversity is generously supported by: the City of Brampton; Penguin Random House Canada; TD Bank; Simon & Schuster Canada;Harlequin; HarperCollins Canada; ECW Press; Sheridan College; Algoma University; The University of Guelph; The Literary Press Group; and The Richardson Group with additional support from the Government of Canada; Canada Council for the Arts; Ontario Creates; Ontario Arts Council; and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
About The FOLD Foundation
The FOLD Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that celebrates underrepresented and marginalised authors and storytellers from Canada and around the world through two annual festivals–the Festival of Literary Diversity each May, and the FOLD Kids Book Fest in November–as well as through a number of literary programming initiatives held throughout the year.
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For further media information, please contact:
Katie Saunoris | KSPR | katiesaunoris@gmail.com
The FOLD Admin