May 22-23, 2026
Italian Cultural Centre, 132 Algoma St S, Thunder Bay, ON
Northwestern Ontario's Largest
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Events at a GlanceFRIDAY MAY 22
Mix 'n Mingle and Reading 7:00 pm - 9:00 Definitely Superior Art Gallery Open to the public. SATURDAY MAY 23 Literary Market/Book Fair 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Italian Cultural Centre Open to the public Workshop 1: OAC Grants 11:00 am Register: [email protected] Italian Cultural Centre Open to public: free Workshop 2: Waubgeshig Rice Topic: Adapting Oral Storytelling to Literature 1:00 pm Italian Cultural Centre Ticketed: Purchase Tickets Workshop 3: Nolan Schmerk Topic: Hip-Hop 101 2:30 pm Register: [email protected] Italian Cultural Centre Open to public: free NOWW LitFest Gala and Awards Party with keynote speaker Waugeshig Rice Italian Cultural Centre $65 per person Tickets available soon |
LITFEST 2026 - EVENT DETAILS
Friday May 22Reading, Mix and Mingle
On Friday evening at 7:00 pm, join us at Definitely Superior Art Gallery to hear our amazing guest speaker, Waubgeshig Rice, read from his latest work and take part in a Q&A with fabulous host Ryan Mackett, as well as mingle with other readers and writers. This event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration required. Vertical Divider
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Saturday May 23Workshops/Panels
Workshop 1: OAC Grants with Alana Forslund 11:00 am, Italian Cultural Centre Workshop 2: Waubgeshig Rice Topic: Adapting Oral Storytelling to Literature 1:00 pm, Italian Cultural Centre Workshop 3: Nolan Schmerk Topic: Hip-Hop 101 2:30 pm, Italian Cultural Centre BOOK FAIR AND LITERARY MARKET A celebration of local artists and authors, over 20 vendors will have wares on offer for the literary lover in all of us! The market will take place on Saturday May 23 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Italian Cultural Centre. Free and open to the public. Details coming soon. LITFEST GALA AND LITERARY AWARDS PARTY Join the 28th annual celebration of the writers and writing of Northwestern Ontario for a gala evening at the Italian Cultural Centre. The keynote address will be given by our special guest speaker, Waubgeshig Rice. The evening will include the announcement of the NOWW 2026 Writing Contest winning entries. Tickets are $65 per person can be purchased now. |
Workshop/Panel Presenters for LitFest 2026
Workshop 2: Waubgeshig Rice (Topic: Adapting Oral Storytelling to Literature)
As an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, Rice has written four books, most notably the bestselling novel Moon of the Crusted Snow, published in 2018, and its sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, published in 2023. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in multimedia interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences. He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more. He will join NOWW on Friday May 22 for a public reading, will run a literary workshop on Saturday, May 23, and be the keynote speaker for the 2026 LitFest Awards Party and Gala Dinner that night.
As an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, Rice has written four books, most notably the bestselling novel Moon of the Crusted Snow, published in 2018, and its sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, published in 2023. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002 and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in multimedia interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences. He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more. He will join NOWW on Friday May 22 for a public reading, will run a literary workshop on Saturday, May 23, and be the keynote speaker for the 2026 LitFest Awards Party and Gala Dinner that night.
Workshop 1: OAC Grants with Alana Forslund
Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Literature programs encourage the development, publication and presentation of new works of literary significance in the province. Literature programs fund writers, storytellers and spoken-word artists in all forms. Join Northern Ontario Arts rep, Alana Forslund, as she helps us navigate the rewarding but sometimes confusing world of grants and applications for writers in remote communities such as ours. |
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Workshop 3: Nolan Schmerk Topic TBA
Nolan Schmerk is a storyteller of mixed heritage and proudly hails from the Place of Many Berries. He began scribbling rudimentary prose in 2022, when he was runner up in the CBC/Radio Canada-Superior Morning flash fiction writing competition; the following year he claimed first prize. In 2024, he was accepted into the Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle mentorship program and received tutelage from accomplished First Nations authors. In 2026, he launched Microphone Melody, his first-ever children’s storybook. Nolan Schmerk is also an educator, entertainer, filmmaker, deejay, poet, and songwriter—and has independently released four musical projects. In his spare time, he enjoys reading books, writing rhymes, and riding his skateboard.
Brought to you by the Thunder Bay Public Library
MANY THANKS TO OUR GREAT SPONSORS and PARTNERS!
