Our Students Contribute to Word On The Street

The English Departments BA and MA students took full advantage of Word on the Street, Toronto’s major annual literary event. Held at Harbourfront Centre on the shore of Lake Ontario, the event is Canada’s largest, free book and magazine festival. It brings in writers and presses from all over Ontario and beyond, giving attendees an opportunity for an intense experience of the rich and diverse writing scene for which Toronto is known. 

Our department was there again with a booth for the White Wall Review, Ryerson’s creative writing journal. Research assistants and student volunteers from the English Department chatted with visitors, sold copies of the latest issue, and basically immersed themselves in all things literary. They took in readings, spoken-word performances, discussion panels, and amazing discounts on books. A few of the authors who took part included Austin Clarke, Patrick DeWitt, Susan Glickman, Nino Ricci, and the English department’s own Sarah Henstra, who read from her latest novel Mad Miss Mimic. It Among the presses selling their wares were many who have given our students practica in the past, including Book Thug, Broken Pencil Magazine, PEN Canada, Penguin Random House, Tightrope Books, and The Walrus Magazine.