Join House of Anansi co-founder Dennis Lee and four of Anansi’s authors as they celebrate the Golden Anniversary of this iconic — and still independent — Canadian publishing house. With readings, reminiscences, and of course, cake! #Anansi50. This event is hosted by Wordfest's CEO & Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut.

Nick Craine

Nick Craine is a painter, animation artist, illustrator and musician. His illustrations have appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and the Washington Post. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Cary Fagan

Cary Fagan has written several critically acclaimed books, including My Life Among the Apes, longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and the children’s book Oy, Feh, So?, nominated for the Governor General’s Award. He lives in Toronto.

Steven Heighton

Steven Heighton is the author of numerous books, including Afterlands, which garnered numerous accolades and is currently in pre-production for film. Heighton’s most recent book of poetry, The Waking Comes Late, won the 2016 Governor General’s Award for Poetry.

Dennis Lee

Dennis Lee is the author of more than 30 books of poetry and prose, an Officer of the Order of Canada and a winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. Lee was named Toronto’s first poet laureate and in 1967 he co-founded House of Anansi Press with Dave Godfrey, serving as its editorial director until 1972.

Nick Mount

Nick Mount is a professor of English literature at the University of Toronto, award-winning critic, and former Fiction Editor at The Walrus. He regularly gives public talks on the arts in Canada, and has appeared on TVO’s Big Ideas and CBC Radio’s Sunday Edition. He lives in Toronto.