Writers’ Festival Brings Big-City Literary Scene to Small-Town Ontario 

The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival contributes to literary culture in southern Ontario through an annual festival and off-season events that offer literary experiences usually only found in cities.

Deepening and broadening audience connections

The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival works year-round to bring literary events to audiences in Eden Mills, a town of just 350 near Guelph, Ontario. A revised approach for 2020 will enable the festival to deliver on its mission of encouraging community and connection in this challenging time by presenting great literary works that reflect the country’s diversity. It will continue to produce events that are inclusive of and welcoming to a wider community by ensuring programming includes diverse cultural, Indigenous, and LGBQT2S perspectives.

Off-season outreach

The organization keeps local residents engaged throughout the year through partnerships with the Guelph Black Heritage Society and the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading / Festival of Trees and by holding writing competitions and offering workshops to high school students. It also pursues opportunities to co-present with and cross-promote Guelph-based festivals and groups. To keep up with outreach in the off-season, it uses e-newsletters, social media, media releases, partnerships, ads, posters, direct mail and more.