The Salon du Livre de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard Featured Some 30 Francophone Canadian writers

The francophone book fair, which was held in Charlottetown in 2019, is a significant event that provides access to French-language literature in a province without any French bookshops.

Rich and diverse programming

In addition to booths where numerous publishers presented their new releases, the Salon organized some 100 activities featuring more than 30 francophone Canadian authors. The programming included visits by authors in schools, writing workshops for children and adults, readings and interviews with authors, as well as literary seminars and talks. The fair’s participants included writers Naomi Fontaine, Carole Tremblay, and Louise Tremblay d’Essiambre, as well as storytellers Julie Pellissier-Lush and Marie-France Comeau.

The challenge of accessing French-language literature on Prince Edward Island

The Salon du livre’s mission is also to provide the francophone community with a golden opportunity to access a wide variety of literary works in French. Though more than 6,000 youth in PEI attend French-language or immersion schools, there are no French bookshops serving the Island’s 17,000 francophones and francophiles.