Friday, May 29

Community Hall

12pm • Speakeasy at the Community Gathering, FREE

Local author Leslie McBain has curated a special edition of Pender’s Speakeasy, bringing together eight talented writers for an afternoon of storytelling and shared creativity.

The Community Gathering takes place every Friday from 12–1pm, offering a warm and welcoming space with live music, homemade soup, and good company. Coffee and tea are available by donation through the community café.

This weekly gathering is made possible through a partnership between Ptarmigan Arts, SGI Neighbourhood House, and the Pender Island Community Hall.

Saturday, May 30

Community Hall

DayTIME EVENTS, FREE

10am • Verse & Vision Exhibit
Downstairs

Local writers and visual artists have come together in collaboration for Tapestry’s Verse & Vision project, pairing the written word with original 2D and 3D artworks.

Join us at Tapestry this Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the results of this creative partnership, with a selection of participating teams sharing readings at Sunday’s Artist & Author Reading.

10am-1pm • Of Words & Wonder
Outside at the Market

Nia creates intuitive poems that capture a memory, a feeling, or an experience…something that can be carried long after the encounter. They are little love letters. This practice is as much about listening as it is about writing…a pause, a noticing, an opening to what stirs beneath the surface. Each poem is typed with care, a simple thread that touches something true, real, and unforgettable.

12pm • Speakeasy at the Market
Outside at the Market

After a wonderful first showcase at Friday’s Community Gathering, Leslie’s group of eight talented writers returns on Saturday at the market for another round of stories, offering a second chance to listen in or experience something new.

EVENING EVENT, TICKETED

6:30pm • Susin Nielsen • Feature Author

We’ll open the evening with a special presentation from Susin Nielsen, who will share insights from her writing journey across both books and film. Her talk will be followed by a reading from her debut novel, Snap, along with a Q&A hosted by our wonderful emcee, Chris Wakuluk.

7:50pm • Pender Reads

Five books, five champions, one winner: Pender Islands’ Battle of the Books

You’ve likely heard of Canada Reads, CBC’s annual “Battle of the Books.” For the first time ever, we’re thrilled to bring that same spirited format to Pender with our very own Pender Reads.

Our dynamic panel, Susin Nielsen, Joy Thierry Llewellyn, Becky Johnson, Matt Adolf, and Bryce Woollcombe, will each champion a book they believe every Pender Islander should read, making their case in a lively, head-to-head debate.

After each round, the audience decides which title moves forward, until one standout book is crowned the winner.

Sunday, May 31

Community Hall

10am • Verse & Vision Exhibit, FREE
Downstairs

Local writers and visual artists have come together in collaboration for Tapestry’s Verse & Vision project, pairing the written word with original 2D and 3D artworks.

Join us at Tapestry this Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the results of this creative partnership, with a selection of participating teams sharing readings at Sunday’s Artist & Author Reading.

10:30am • Verse & Vision Showcase • Artist & Author Reading, FREE
Downstairs

Some of our artist & author pairs from Verse & Vision have chosen to share their work in this special reading. Join us in celebrating their creative collaborations and experiencing these pieces brought to life through live readings.

10am - 12pm • Coffee Meet & Greet with Local Authors, FREE

10am - 12:30pm • Talisman Book Sale

Talisman Books will be set up downstairs at the Hall with a curated selection of Pender Reads titles, Snap by Susin Nielsen and many other great reads. Stop by to browse, discover something new, and take home your next favourite book.

12:30pm • Flash Fiction Workshop, TICKETED

A piece of Flash fiction is a complete short story told in under 1,500 words. Typically, one might run anywhere from 750 to 1,000 words but in this two-hour long workshop, nobody’s counting. The idea is just to get writing, learn more about crafting a good story, and have fun in an encouraging environment.

Facilitated by Barbara Stowe, this workshop will offer more ways in to crafting (very) short stories, including fun exercises to prime the pump. Participants will pen several short stories and at the end, those who wish to share a piece they’ve just written may read aloud to the group. This is a safe space to come with pen and paper or laptop and enjoy learning more about the craft of creative writing in a structured, supportive environment.

Beginners and experienced writers welcome! Register in advance, HERE.

Monday, June 1

Pender Elementary School

11:55 - 12:45pm • Susin Nielson YA Reading
Pender Elementary Book Club

Susin Nielson will be reading an excerpt from her debut novel, Snap! This event is for students at the Pender Elementary Book Club and is not open to the public.

Workshop & Event Tickets

Saturday Night Feature Presentation
$25 Advance Price
$30 at the door
$10 for youth ages 12-18
Under 12 FREE

Sunday Flash Fiction Workshop
$20 Advance Price
$10 for youth ages 12-18
Under 12 FREE
Register HERE

Susin Nielsen is a multiple award-winning novelist and screenwriter who recently wrapped the fourth season of her critically acclaimed hour-long comedy-drama series, Family Law. She’s written over a hundred hours of television and is also the author of seven best-selling young adult novels. Her books have won the Governor General’s Literary Award, the UKLA award and over a dozen young readers’ choice awards. In 2019, she was awarded the Writers’ Trust Vicki Metcalf Award for a body of work. Her books have been translated around the world.

SNAP is Nielsen’s debut adult novel.

Please visit Susin’s website to learn more about her work and process.

Chris Wakaluk • Emcee

Chris loves of a good contemporary fiction novel or biography, and enjoys folding the corners of the pages... he believes the books love it too.

You can find his work interviewing many of the wonderful people from Pender on YouTube: @thestoriesthatbroughtyouhere