PEN Canada

08/20/2026

This fall, be part of a lively gathering of journalists, authors, and artists. Bid on works of art and unique literary experiences through our our online auction (launching in September).

Together, we will celebrate the life of beloved CBC reporter and humanitarian Joan Leishman while building a vital legacy of support for writers in exile living in Canada.

🗓️ Thursday October 1, 6 - 9 p.m.
📍 CBC Glenn Gould Lobby, Toronto

Get your tickets here:

Join us for an unforgettable evening of community and purpose. Together, we will celebrate the life of beloved CBC reporter and humanitarian Joan Leishman…

08/18/2026

For Afghanistan's writers, poets, journalists, publishers, artists, and academics, the Taliban's return has meant the systematic destruction of the country's cultural and intellectual life.

Independent media has been decimated, publishing houses have closed, books have been destroyed, and countless writers have been forced into hiding, exile, or silence.

Those who continue to write do so under threat of arbitrary detention and persecution; many have been driven into self-censorship out of fear for their lives.

Five years after the Taliban's return, the international community must not abandon Afghanistan's writers

More from PEN International:

‍ ‍ ‘Five years after the Taliban seized Kabul, Afghanistan's writers continue to pay an extraordinary price for their words, while women and girls remain trapped under an all-encompassing system of gender-based oppression. As some governments move to normalise relations with the Taliban, the ...

08/12/2026

In July, Hong Kong police reportedly arrested five people during raids on independent bookstores.

According to authorities, the individuals are under investigation on suspicion of displaying and selling ‘seditious’ publications, which could result in 7 years’ imprisonment.

More from PEN International:

‘Booksellers are indispensable to a free and open society. They ensure that ideas and information remain accessible, even when those ideas are uncomfortable to those in power. The repeated targeting of independent bookstores in Hong Kong has a chilling effect that reaches writers, publishers, and ...

08/11/2026

PEN is seeking nominations for the 2026 Ken Filkow Prize.

The prize recognizes an individual or institution in Canada who has advanced freedom of expression in Canada, and shown courage in freeing information and ideas from restraint or interference.

Previous winners include journalists, documentarians, newspaper publishers, academics, and more.

To make a nomination, fill out the form with as much detail before the deadline on Wednesday August 19:

https://pencanada.ca/defend-expression/ken-filkow-prize/

08/06/2026

We're looking for an organised and technically capable volunteer to support the planning and online delivery of PEN International's 92nd Annual Congress!

If you have experience supporting virtual meetings on Zoom, strong communication skills, and an interest in human rights and literature, we would love for you to join our team.

🔴 Role: Event Assistant – Volunteer (Remote)
🔴Dates: August to 30 September 2026
🔴Commitment: 10 hours/week during prep, with full-day availability required on meeting/congress dates (Sept 15–17, 22–23, and 29–30).

Find out more: https://www.pen-international.org/join-our-team

08/05/2026

Three weeks left to make a nomination for our two PEN prizes ⏰

We want you to tell us who is making a difference in Canada. The Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize recognizes those who help imperilled writers around the world, and the Ken Filkow Prize is awarded to those who advance free expression in Canada.

The prizes have previously gone to:

• journalists arrested by the RCMP in the pursuit of their reporting
• an immigration paralegal who helped a persecuted writer find refuge in Canada
• a newspaper publisher with a track record of investigating government corruption
• a women's rights activist who facilitated the safe passage of Afghans fleeing the Taliban
• and many more...

Learn about previous winners and make your own nomination through the forms:

Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize, for assisting an imperilled writer: https://pencanada.ca/nominations-open-for-2026-marie-ange-garrigue-prize/

Ken Filkow Prize, for advancing free expression in Canada: https://pencanada.ca/nominations-open-for-2026-ken-filkow-prize/

08/04/2026

The Graeme Gibson Talk returns this October!

Occurring at the Toronto International Festival of Authors (running October 27-November 1, 2026), this annual event features writers with expert knowledge on an emergent issue — climate change, world issues, politics, and threats to democracy.

Last year's conversation featured Rachel Maddow and Rebecca Solnit.

Who will be on this year's line up? 👀

07/29/2026

Tickets are now on sale for The Power of Words 🥂

This October, be part of a lively gathering of journalists, authors, and artists. Bid on works of art and unique literary experiences through our our online auction (launching in September). Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and freedom of expression are on the menu.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, which provides urgent assistance and critical support directly to exiled writers living in Canada.

🗓️ Thursday October 1, 6 - 9 p.m.
📍 CBC Glenn Gould Lobby, Toronto

Help us spread the word, and get your tickets here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/the-power-of-words-writers-in-exile-a-pen-benefit-for-the-joan-leishman-memorial-fund-2

07/29/2026

We're thrilled to announce Elamin Abdelmahmoud as the host of the October PEN Benefit.

Elamin is the host of Commotion on CBC, a daily arts, pop culture and entertainment show, and a former writer for BuzzFeed News. His work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Rolling Stone and others. Elamin is the author of Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces, a number one national bestseller, a Globe 100 book, and a New York Times notable book.

On Thursday October 1, be part of a lively gathering of journalists, authors, and artists. Bid on works of art and unique literary experiences through our our online auction (launching in September). Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and freedom of expression are on the menu.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, which provides urgent assistance and critical support directly to exiled writers living in Canada.

🗓️ Thursday October 1, 6 - 9 p.m.
📍 CBC Glenn Gould Lobby, Toronto
🎟️ Tickets on sale now.

Get your tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/the-power-of-words-writers-in-exile-a-pen-benefit-for-the-joan-leishman-memorial-fund-2