Despite its recent closure, Kingston WritersFest (KWF) may soon find its sequel.
Kingston WritersFest closed its doors on Jan. 2 after 16 years of operation, with its former Board of Directors attributing the closure to ongoing financial challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Writers and readers throughout Kingston and across the country mourned its loss, with authors like Marianne K. Miller, JD ’80, and journalist Carol Off reflecting on its legacy and the impact of its absence on Canada’s literary community.
READ MORE: WritersFest closes after 16 years
Yet, the grief surrounding WritersFest’s closure may be fueling efforts to bring it back.
An update to the festival’s website on Feb. 4 acknowledged the outpouring of from book lovers and literary figures across the country.
“This is not the festival’s first reincarnation,” the website said, recounting how WritersFest was first launched in 2006 by dedicated volunteers under the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Kingston Literacy, and Indigo Books.
After the initial organizers stepped down in 2009, the festival found new leadership under author Merilyn Simonds and publisher Jan Walter. With an opening event by Margaret Atwood, WritersFest quickly established itself as a premier literary event, drawing an audience of 3,000 in its first year.
However, in late 2024, the festival faced a significant financial shortfall, ultimately leading to its suspension. To preserve its reputation and lay the groundwork for renewal, the WritersFest team has launched a fundraising campaign through Canada Helps. Several individuals, known as Kingston WritersFest “Angels,” have already donated $5,000 each to the cause.
Even so, additional funding is needed to cover outstanding financial obligations and secure the festival’s future.
In an email sent to patrons on Feb. 7, Chair of the WritersFest Board of Directors Julie Leclerc outlined the formation of a team comprising current and former board , as well as patrons, to address the festival’s “outstanding obligations” to writers, staff, and suppliers. Their goal, she explained, is to “establish a base from which KWF may be rejuvenated.”
“We have received generous expressions of gratitude and from local book lovers and from the wider writing and publishing community in Canada and abroad,” the email read. “All have cited the importance of KWF to the literary culture and economy of Kingston, our region, Ontario and Canada. This importance has only been heightened in the current circumstances our country faces.”
Leclerc expressed gratitude for the ongoing of the festival.
“We are grateful to those who have donated and are counting to donate as we work our way through this financial crisis. We are also grateful to the writers, staff, and suppliers who have been generous in their patience with our situation. Once the slate is clean, we will turn our minds to what might possibly lie ahead,” Leclerc said in a statement to The Journal.
Among those actively working toward a potential revival is Carol Off, an author featured in the 2024 festival and a long time for its “Big Idea” discussions.
Simonds ed Off during efforts to revive the festival, prompting Off to the cause through outreach and advocacy.
“I learned she [Simonds] was one of the ‘Angels’ who were trying to raise money, first of all, to pay the debts of the festival and then, hopefully, revive it. So I have been making calls and writing emails to help out,” Off said in a statement to The Journal.
Despite hopes for revival, Off highlighted her concerns for the Canadian cultural landscape amidst financial and political uncertainty.
“Canada faces multiple crises right now. We are rightfully worried about the economy of course but we should also be very concerned about our culture and identity,” Off said.
Off went on to explain how current efforts to shrink the media landscape—most notably, Pierre Poilievre’s commitment to defund the CBC if elected as Prime Minister—will go on to create irreparable cultural loss.
“I hope the people of Kingston realize what they stand to lose if the KWF can’t be revived. Not just the people of Kingston but all of us who celebrate books should reach out to help,” Off expressed.
Queen’s Law alumna and author Marianne K. Miller emphasized the importance of cultural vitality through the festival.
“As the letter [from the KWF Board] states, this is a crucial time for Canada. And I agree. Certainly a time to fight for a long standing and important cultural institution,” Miller said in a statement to The Journal.
Although no absolute steps towards revival have been made as of yet, the hope surrounding the festival marks a step in the right direction for Canada’s literary community. Leclerc encourages those who wish to WritersFest to donate to its ongoing efforts.
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