News

Submit to the FOLD Kids Program. Deadline June 30. It features an image of a pencil that have things exploding out of it like a castle, a turtle, rocketship etc

Submit to the 2025 FOLD Kids Book Fest Program!

Apr 21, 2025

The 2025 FOLD Kids Book Fest program is now open for submissions! Every year, FOLD Kids Book Fest publishes a unique festival program which includes the festival schedule and writing from young authors ages 6 – 14 across Canada. In 2025, we are pleased to accept submissions of poetry (any length) and short stories (up to 500 words) to...

A graphic with "The Festival of Literary Diversity" logo on top of a newspaper photo.

FOLD in the News: April 2025

Apr 11, 2025

Welcome to FOLD in the News! This is the monthly round up of the Festival of Literary Diversity’s media coverage. Literary festival celebrates ‘Decade of Change’ after 10 years in Brampton (inBrampton) April 3, 2025 The highly-anticipated FOLD festival is gearing up for its 10th anniversary and a new chapter with over 50 authors and...

April FOLD 2025 Challenge: Poetry by a South Asian Canadian Author

Apr 1, 2025

By Monica Nathan 10 years ago, Rupi Kaur’s milk and honey exploded onto the literary scene, inspiring a new generation of poetry lovers and revitalizing the genre in ways this country hadn’t seen in decades. milk and honey became a cultural phenomenon, translated into over 40 languages and selling more than 11 million copies worldwide,...

Rectangular graphic with green border showcasing the book covers for the titles chosen for the April FOLD Kids Challenge. The titles are: How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith Jr.; Wings to Soar by Tina Athaide; and Black Boy, Black Boy by Angela Bowden and Ibeabuchi Ananaba. Below the text is the website: thefoldcanada.org/kidschallenge25.

April FOLD Kids 2025 Challenge: A book in verse by an author from a marginalized community

Apr 1, 2025

By Ardo Omer This month, we’re reading books written in verse by an author from a marginalized community. A book in verse is when a story uses poetry instead of traditional prose. The books we’ve chosen to recommend for this month use poetry to share powerful feelings and messages. In his YA memoir, How the...

A graphic with "The Festival of Literary Diversity" logo on top of a newspaper photo.

FOLD in the News: March 2025

Mar 31, 2025

Welcome to FOLD in the News! This is the monthly round up of the Festival of Literary Diversity’s media coverage. ‘Dedicated to supporting emerging writers’: Kevin heronJones named Brampton’s first writer in residence (Brampton Guardian) March 18, 2025 Author and poet Kevin heronJones, who has published three novels and three books of poetry, has been...

FOLD 2025 Registration Now Open

Mar 19, 2025

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...

Rectangular graphic with green border showcasing the book covers for the titles chosen for the March FOLD Kids Challenge. The titles are: Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! by Joy Ellison and illustrated by Teshika Silver; Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words edited by Dr. Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry; and Identity: A Story of Transitioning by Corey Maison and illustrated by Ahmara Smith with Zuiker Anthony. Below the text is the website: thefoldcanada.org/kidschallenge25.

March FOLD Kids 2025 Challenge: A book inspired by a true story by a transgender author

Mar 1, 2025

By Toni Duval This month, we’re reading books that were inspired by true stories by transgendered authors. The true story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, two transgender women of colour who helped to kickstart the Stonewall Riots, is captured in the engaging picture book “Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!” by Joy Ellison...

March FOLD 2025 Challenge: Memoir by a Transgender Author

Mar 1, 2025

By Hudson Lin & Ardo Omer In the last decade, we’ve seen an increase of trans authors sharing their stories and taking control of their narratives both in fiction and non-fiction. While fiction has the power to transport a reader, let’s not underestimate the visceral truth of non-fiction especially memoir. Memoir reveals to us the...

A graphic with "The Festival of Literary Diversity" logo on top of a newspaper photo.

FOLD in the News: February 2025

Feb 28, 2025

Welcome to FOLD in the News! This is the monthly round up of the Festival of Literary Diversity’s media coverage. Meet Brampton’s first-ever writer in residence, Kevin heronJones. (CBC This is Toronto) February 24, 2025 Brampton’s writer-in-residence Keven heronJones talks about the city’s influence on his writing and performs his poem, Black Like Me. LISTEN...

Stay connected

Stay Informed