The F. G. Bressani Awards foster Italian Canadian literature

Once again, literature with an Italian focus will be recognized at the 15th F. G. Bressani Awards ceremony. In the spirit of literary expression, the biennial literary prize was established to recognize Italian Canadian writers and other authors who have taken an interest in Italian culture. Anna Ciampolini Foschi helped establish the prize in 1986…

Makosso, the storytelling chameleon

From Oct. 21–26, Vancouver welcomes the Writers Fest, an event that brings people of all backgrounds together to share stories, cultures and languages. One such storyteller is Congo-born, Gibsons-based writer and poet Jean-Pierre Makosso, who readily switches from one language to another as “the griot of human culture.” The Source : How were you introduced…

Pacific Rim Asian writers gather for a second year

It’s the second year for LiterASIAN: A Festival of Pacific Rim Asian Canadian Writing. The organizers of the Vancouver Asian Writers’ Workshop will host the event from Oct. 9 to 12. Although there are mainstream literary festivals that recognize diversity and inclusiveness, says Jim Wong-Chu, LiterASIAN organizer, he feels there is a need to feature…

Borrowing books and taking out diversity: VPL showcases local voices

Those of us who frequent libraries know what books offer: a new perspective, or a pleasurable escape to an alternate reality. But the Vancouver Public Library provides something more: a look into our own community. With the upcoming event Diverse Voices in Canadian Literature, VPL will showcase dynamic voices of Canadian authors and their importance…

Artist fuses Ukrainian soul food with stories of survival

When searching for a cookbook, one does not usually find an accompaniment of survival stories along with the recipes. Raisa Stone, author of Baba’s Kitchen: Ukrainian Soul Food, offers just that. With humour and anecdotes laced throughout the recipes, Stone sheds light on survivors of the Nazi and Soviet regimes. As a child growing up…

Ultimate Spiderman

Alternate world of comics reveals diverse faces

The internet and many mainstream media outlets were abuzz with the news that Peter Parker (the secret identity of Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man since 1962) would soon be killed, and would be replaced by a half African-American, half Latino teenager named Miles Morales. [Read more]