Volunteer Reader Program Kicks Off for 2013 Season

Listeners of CBC’s The Eyeopener on February 13 may have heard about the launch of the 2013 Volunteer Reader Program. Becoming a Volunteer Reader for WordFest is a great way to get involved with the Festival early in the season. New to the program this year is the inclusion of children’s books and a fun, accessible feedback form for younger reviewers. As a volunteer reviewer, you will be helping the Festival to assess the dozens of books that publishers send to WordFest for consideration every year. Volunteers may have the opportunity to see their review posted on the WordFest Blog.

To begin, simply drop by the WordFest office between Monday and Friday, 9am to 5pm, to pick out a book. Volunteer Readers have two weeks to read the book, and then submit a short review that could factor into decisions on who to bring to the Festival. Full details are on wordfest.com

UPCOMING WORDFEST EVENTS

Celebrate Freedom to Read Week with Cory Mack

Tuesday, February 26
7pm, Barley Mill Pub, 201 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary
Join WordFest and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta to celebrate Freedom to Read Week with a special appearance from comedian Cory Mack. This annual event is FREE and very popular. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.

WordFest presents the ECO TOUR with David Suzuki and Jeff Rubin

Wednesday, February 27
7pm, John Dutton Theatre, Calgary Public Library
Canadian icon David Suzuki and bestselling author and economist Jeff Rubin discuss how to find a path to a sustainable future through ecology and economics. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be ordered through the EPCOR Centre Box Office at 403.294.9494 or purchase online at wordfest.com.

NEWS

Social Media Contest

The Festival is always curious to know what people are reading. Win a Suzuki-Rubin Book Prize by recommending a recent non-fiction book. Simply tweet your response to @wordfesttweets, or leave a comment on WordFest's Facebook Page. Contest closes on Tuesday, February 19.

Update on WordFest 2013

To accommodate new programming, WordFest has added an extra day to the Festival this year, which runs October 14-20. For details on the submission process, please visit wordfest.com.

Martin Amis at The Banff Centre; cr. Monique de St. Croix

WordFest Blog Recap

Over on the WordFest Blog, Programming Manager Anne Logan recounts the approximately 80 books she has read in 2012, while Arts Administrator Everett Wilson talks about the novel ways sculptors are using books. Everett also shares some funny, extreme tips on saving the planet in preparation for the ECO TOUR, while Anne tells volunteers why “it’s that time of year again!," with an important announcement.

NEW MAILING ADDRESS

There has been an important change to WordFest’s mailing address. Effective immediately, please direct all letter mail to the following address.

WordFest Eau Claire Market
117-200 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary, AB, T2P 4R5