2019 RBC Taylor Prize finalists in conversation February 28 at TIFA

Media are invited to attend the 2019 RBC Taylor Prize Finalists in Conversation, celebrating the year's best achievements in literary non-fiction. This highly-anticipated event will take the form of a panel discussion followed by an audience Q&A. This event is presented by the Toronto International Festival of Authors, in partnership with the RBC Taylor Prize.

WHEN: Thursday, February 28, at 7:30pm (ET)
WHO: The 2019 RBC Taylor Prize finalists are:

• Bill Gaston (Just Let Me Look at You: On Fatherhood)
• Ian Hampton (Jan in 35 Pieces: A Memoir in Music)
• Kate Harris (Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Roads)
• Elizabeth Hay (All Things Consoled: A Daughter's Memoir), and
• Darrel McLeod (Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age).

Event moderator: Deborah Dundas (Books Editor, Toronto Star)

WHERE:Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON.
WHY:To commemorate the 2019 RBC Taylor Prize finalists—the year's five best Canadian books of literary non-fiction—in the lead up to the award winner announcement on March 4.

About the Toronto International Festival of Authors

The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) is Canada's oldest and largest festival of words and ideas. Since 1974, it has hosted over 9,000 authors from more than 100 countries, including 22 Nobel Laureates and countless other award winners. Mandated to cultivate and advance the art of literature, TIFA connects curious readers of every kind with leading authors and provides forums to showcase Canadian talent to the world. TIFA presents events and programmes all year round and will celebrate the 40^th edition of the Festival Oct.22 – Nov. 3, 2019. TIFA is based at Harbourfront Centre. FestivalofAuthors.ca | @festofauthors

About the RBC Taylor Prize

Established in 1998 by the trustees of the Charles Taylor Foundation and first awarded in 2000, 2019 marks the 18th awarding of the RBC Taylor Prize, which commemorates Charles Taylor's pursuit of excellence in the field of literary non-fiction. Awarded to the author whose book best combines a superb command of the English language, an elegance of style, and a subtlety of thought and perception, the Prize consists of $5,000 for each of the finalists, and a further $25,000 for the winner. The 18th annual RBC Taylor Prize will be awarded on Monday, March 4, 2019. RBCTaylorPrize.ca.
The presenting sponsor of the RBC Taylor Prize is RBC Wealth Management. The media sponsors are The Globe and Mail, Cision, Quill & Quire magazine; its in-kind sponsors are Ben McNally Books, Event Source, Toronto international Festival of Authors, and The Omni King Edward Hotel. The RBC Taylor Prize winner will be revealed at a gala luncheon on Monday March 4th, 2019 at the Omni King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto.

Media contact: Stephen Weir & Associates, Stephen Weir: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101 | stephen@stephenweir.com, @sweirsweir

North is Freedom - Pictures by Yuri Dojc - Black History Month in Brampton, Ontario

North is Freedom – Black History Month events in Brampton all month

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton and the Ontario Black History Society soft launches this weekend North is Freedom, an evocative new photo exhibition celebrating the descendants of former American slaves who fled to Canada in the years before the American Civil War.

In portraits of 24 descendants of freedom seekers– the great-great-grandchildren of once-enslaved African Americans – Toronto photographer Yuri Dojc explores Canada’s end of the “Underground Railroad,” a clandestine network of "conductors" and “stations” that helped some 30,000 men, women, and children follow the “North Star” to freedom.

The Black freedom seekers settled across Canada but most of them came to places in Ontario, such as Windsor, Chatham, Buxton, the Niagara Peninsula, Owen Sound, Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto.

Future generations remained and North is Freedom tells their stories.

The Heritage Singers, performer Liberty Silver, will be at the formal opening of the exhibition at the downtown Brampton Museum next Sunday February 24^th.. 

Running from 1.30 pm. to 4 pm., this Black History Month event is free to the public.

PAMA is presenting authors, storytellers and performers throughout the long weekend, including the Family Day Holiday on Monday February 15th.

Yuri Dojc

Running from 1.30 pm. to 4 pm., this Black History Month event is free to the public.PAMA is presenting authors, storytellers and performers throughout the long weekend, including the Family Day Holiday on Monday February 15th.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Coming Events

- Saturday, Feb 16 at 2 pm: join award-winning author Karolyn Smardz Frost on opening day for a talk and book signing. Including in the cost of PAMA admission. Registration is required at pama.peelregion.ca.

- Sunday, Feb 17: enjoy PAMA’s Family Sunday FUNday. Storytelling with Sandra Whiting at 1:30 pm and Family Art and Stories at 3:30 pm. Including in the cost of PAMA admission.

- Monday, Feb. 18 from 10 am - 4pm (free admission event): don’t miss PAMA’s annual Family Day event with lots of great create activities and family storytelling with Diana Brathwaite and Chris Whiteley: Sugar & Gold, Story of Underground Railroad in Canada. Performances at 10:30 a.m. and repeated at 2 pm. 

- Sunday, Feb. 24 from 1:30 - 4 pm (free admission to this event): Winter Exhibitions Reception with guest speakers, performance by the Heritage Singers Canada, Liberty Silver and light refreshments. 

North is Freedom is sponsored by the TD Group and runs until June 30.

North Is Freedom: Sherry and Pamela Houston