Legacy: the Graeme Gibson Talk
Photo credit: Matt Hertendy, courtesy of the 2023 Toronto International Festival of Authors.
The Graeme Gibson Talk is an annual conversation between writers with expert knowledge of an urgent political, social, cultural or economic issue. The event was established in 2021 to honour the Canadian author and writers’ advocate, Graeme Gibson.
Graeme Gibson (1934–2019) was a devoted birder, environmentalist and human rights advocate who mentored a host of young writers and spent decades defending creative and political freedoms around the world. He co-founded PEN Canada and served as its president from 1987-1989. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Writers’ Union of Canada and the Writers’ Trust.
Gibson’s dedication to literature and the environment is evident in his later works, such as The Bedside Book of Birds (2005) and The Bedside Book of Beasts (2009), and in his longstanding support of organizations such as the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, which he co-founded with Margaret Atwood, and conservation groups such as the World Wildlife Fund Canada.
This year’s event
5th annual Graeme Gibson Talk
Stay tuned for details about this year’s event, including guests speakers, date and tickets to the event at the Toronto International Festival of Authors taking place October 29 – November 2, 2025.
This year’s festival has moved to a new, exciting and central location: Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
THE FESTIVAL
Bestselling non-fiction writer John Vaillant, author of the multi-award-winning Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast in conversation with Catherine Abreu, one of Canada’s most influential thinkers on global climate policy. They discussed the burning questions and challenges facing our fast-warming world. Their conversation was introduced by Margaret Atwood and moderated by Nahlah Ayed, the host of CBC IDEAS.
This event was produced in partnership with CBC IDEAS and the Toronto International Festival of Authors. Sponsored by Penguin Random House Canada.
Listen back on this conversation with CBC Ideas: podcast episode.
Highly-acclaimed writers, Andrey Kurkov (journalist, author; president, PEN Ukraine) and Masha Gessen (author) shared urgent knowledge of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the geopolitical forces at work, as well as the political figures behind those forces. Their conversation was introduced by Margaret Atwood and moderated by CBC’s Nahlah Ayed.
Listen back on this conversation with CBC Ideas: podcast episode.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and Citizen Lab founder Ron Deibert discussed the link between disinformation and the decay of our democracies. Margaret Atwood introduced the speakers, with Nahlah Ayed moderating the conversation.
Listen back on this conversation with CBC Ideas: podcast episode.
Award-winning authors Omar El Akkad and Margaret Atwood discussed the moral force of literature in a conversation moderated by CBC’s Nahlah Ayed. It was recorded for CBC IDEAS from the stage of the Toronto International Festival of Authors.
Revisit their conversation with CBC Ideas.