PEN Canada

09/06/2026

In October 2021, a Texas State Representative initiated an inquiry that targeted Mike Curato’s graphic novel Flamer, alongside roughly 850 other books in school libraries. Although it was the first time Curato faced a book banning, it wouldn’t be the last. One year later, Flamer was one of the most banned books in America.

In this episode of The Banned Book Club, author Mike Curato pushes back on the banning of Flamer, his critically-acclaimed graphic novel.

Watch the full episode on Substack: https://pencanada.substack.com/p/mike-curato-on-flamer?r=8mmk2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

09/03/2026

Writers in Exile — next week is your monthly members meeting.

At the meeting you can get connected with others members, hear about upcoming PEN programming, and speak with program Chair, Lidiia Karpenko.

🗓️ Tuesday September 8
⏰ 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET
💻 Over Zoom (a link will be sent to all Writers in Exile members via email next week)

This recurring meeting takes place on the second Tuesday of every month. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday September 8
Tuesday October 13
Tuesday November 10

09/02/2026

4 weeks to go — tickets on sale now 🎟️

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 mid-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

08/31/2026

In October 2021, a Texas State Representative initiated an inquiry that targeted Mike Curato’s graphic novel Flamer, alongside roughly 850 other books in school libraries.

One year later, Flamer was one of the most banned books in America. This year, it was banned from school libraries in Alberta.

In this episode of the Banned Book Club, author Mike Curato discusses what widespread book banning across North America costs us, what we can do to fight against it, and the comfort and strength in finding community:

The Banned Book Club, Ep. 1: Mike Curato’s Flamer

08/28/2026

What's the cost when books are banned?

Since 2021, there have been over 22,000 instances of book banning in U.S. public schools. This problem has taken root in Canada as well, where earlier this year 68 titles were removed by Alberta's two largest school boards.

Our new conversation series, the Banned Book Club, confronts this headon by welcoming the authors whose books have been challenged, censored, or removed from shelves in Canada and the US. We discuss the contents of their books, the joys from their creation process, and their advice on facing down book bans in real time.

In this first episode, author Mike Curato discusses what widespread book banning costs us, how we can fight against it, and the solidarity he's found along the way.

Listen to the full episode on Substack: https://pencanada.substack.com/p/mike-curato-on-flamer?r=8mmk2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

08/28/2026

The last few years have witnessed an alarming resurgence of book banning.

In Alberta and elsewhere, partisan governments and special interest groups are granting themselves an extraordinary new power: the power to determine what our children can read.

So, we're launching a new conversation series, The Banned Book Club, which highlights authors whose books have been challenged, censored, or removed from shelves in Canada and the U.S.

This series brings you the stories behind the statistics, exploring the human cost of literary censorship.

Episodes will be released throughout September — watch the first episode out now on our Substack:

https://pencanada.substack.com/

08/25/2026

One hundred years. Hundreds of writers. Countless stories. More than a few raised eyebrows.

For a century, PEN Canada has championed the transformative power of words, and the courageous writers who dare to express them.

This November, come kick off the next century of PEN with an inspiring evening of acclaimed Canadian authors, PEN award recipients, powerful conversations, special tributes, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass.

Special guests to be announced.

🗓️ Wednesday November 25, 2026, 6 - 9 p.m.
📍 Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library
🎟️ Tickets on sale this fall.

Priority ticket access: To be the first to access tickets when they go on sale, join our priority ticket list. Email [email protected] with the subject line “PEN 100: Keep me Posted”.

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 ...