LitFest: Canada's Original Nonfiction Festival

06/19/2026

LitFest Casino Fundraiser - Call for Volunteers!

June 26-27, 2026
Grand Villa Casino
10204 104 Ave. NW

LitFest’s casino fundraiser will be at the Grand Villa Casino (10204 104 Avenue NW) June 26 – 27, 2026. Our casinos bring in approximately $80,000 in funding over two years, which goes a long way in allowing LitFest to bring our festival to an Edmonton audience.

Volunteers in key positions (General Manager, Banker, Cashier, and Countroom Supervisor) must fill out a Casino Volunteer Worker Form (to be provided) and return it to Ellen Kartz at [email protected]. Volunteers may only work one position, but must take the same position over both days, eg. you may work as GM over both days, but not GM one day and banker the next.

Volunteers will receive snacks, a free meal during their shift and festival pass to this year’s festival (attendance to all main stage events, excluding workshops and the Sunday brunch).

Sign up at: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/102681720078/true #/invitation

06/18/2026

2026 is a big year for LitFest. It is our 20th anniversary festival and you are invited to celebrate with us! Make sure you save the dates: October 14 - 18, 2026.

More info coming soon to: https://litfestalberta.org/

Sign-up for our e-newsletter when you visit our website. That way you won't miss any exciting news.

06/17/2026

📣 We need your help! LitFest Casino Fundraiser - Call for Volunteers! 📣

WHEN: June 26-27, 2026
WHERE: Grand Villa Casino, 10204 104 Ave. NW

LitFest’s casino fundraiser will be at the Grand Villa Casino (10204 104 Avenue NW) June 26 – 27, 2026. Our casinos bring in approximately $80,000 in funding over two years, which goes a long way in allowing LitFest to bring our festival to an Edmonton audience.

Volunteers in key positions (General Manager, Banker, Cashier, and Countroom Supervisor) must fill out a Casino Volunteer Worker Form (to be provided) and return it to Ellen Kartz at [email protected]. Volunteers may only work one position, but must take the same position over both days, eg. you may work as GM over both days, but not GM one day and banker the next.

Volunteers will receive snacks, a free meal during their shift and festival pass to this year’s festival (attendance to all main stage events, excluding workshops and the Sunday brunch).

Sign-up link: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/102681720078/true #/invitation

06/16/2026

Remember LitFest 2025? These photos are from the kick-off events and were they ever excellent! We can remember back while getting excited for what's to come.

Did you hear that the LitFest 2026 dates have been announced? Coming back to you this autumn, save the dates: October 14 - 18, 2026!

More info coming soon to: https://litfestalberta.org/

Sign-up for our e-newsletter when you visit our website. That way you won't miss any exciting news.

06/14/2026

Open your planners. Ready your online calendars. It is time to SAVE THE DATE for LitFest 2026! We are so excited to announce our 2026 festival dates! Please add to your calendar of choice: October 14 - 18, 2026, and plan to be there! LitFest 2026 is going to be epic! If you are a lover of literature, especially true stories, LitFest: Canada's Original Nonfiction Festival is for you!

More info coming soon to: https://litfestalberta.org/

05/05/2026

Congratulations to this year's winners of the Edmonton Arts Prizes!

05/01/2026

Join us next Tuesday and we present Kim Echlin, internationally bestselling author of The Disappeared, in conversation with Rayanne Haines.

From the internationally bestselling author of The Disappeared comes a profound meditation on the cultural impact of storytelling and testimony in five intimate and illuminating essays.

In this moving collection, critically acclaimed novelist Kim Echlin examines how we turn to literature to measure our lives against the darknesses of our time. Tell Others explores how literature resists silencing and repression with truth and imagination.

Details at:

Catch Kim Echlin, internationally bestselling author of The Disappeared, in conversation with Rayanne Haines.

04/16/2026

LitFest is proud to be a sponsor for Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees on April 25 at City Hall!

This free event features a screening of Passage to Freedom, and the Edmonton launch of Hearts of Freedom with a panel discussion including:

- Mike Molloy, Author
- Stephanie Stobbes, Author of Hearts of Freedom
- Dr. Nhung-Tran Davies, Author Yvonne Ho, Owner Banh Mi Diddy

RSVP your FREE tickets to: Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees, a free film screening, book launch & signing, and panel discussion on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Edmonton City Hall.

This event is co-presented by the Edmonton Viets Association, Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau and Children of Vietnam Benevolent Foundation - CVBF, with support from FascinAsian Film Festival - Edmonton, LitFest: Canada's Original Nonfiction Festival, Hearts of freedom, and Banh Mi Diddy.

Learn more and RSVP for FREE ➡️ https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/saturday-april-25-stories-of-southeast-asian-refugees-free-film-screening-book-launch-and-panel

Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees

Location: 📍 Edmonton City Hall
Main Atrium and Heritage Room
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square

Full Event Program:
1-1:30 p.m.
Doors open. Exhibition. Book Sale.
(Main Atrium)

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Free Film screening of “Passage to Freedom.”
(Heritage Room)

2:30-3 p.m.
Refreshments. Exhibition. Book Sale.
(Main Atrium)

3-4:30 p.m.
Free "Hearts of Freedom" Book Launch and Panel.
(Main Atrium)

Panelists:
Mike Molloy, Author
Stephanie Stobbes, Author of Hearts of Freedom
Dr. Nhung-Tran Davies, Author
Yvonne Ho, Owner Banh Mi Diddy

4:30-5 p.m.
Refreshments. Networking. Book Signing.
(Main Atrium)

04/16/2026

Kick your inner critic to the curb and get your creative flow back with this fun, no-pressure writing workshop.

Brought to you in partnership with Parkland Poets. Through guided prompts, discussion, and generative exercises, participants will explore practical ways to quiet the inner critic and generate new work. The session focuses on shifting perspective, loosening habitual thinking, and discovering unexpected paths into language. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome. (No critics will be harmed).

Facilitators: Ellen Kartz and Lisa Mulrooney
Date/Time: Sunday, April 26th, 10:30am-12:30pm
Location: Jasper Place Library, 9010 - 156 Street, Edmonton
Cost: FREE, but please pre-register

Donations will be accepted for Parkland Poets Society & Stroll of Poets Society

Kick your inner critic to the curb and get your creative flow back with this fun, no-pressure writing workshop.