PEN Canada elects new president, Ira Wells
TORONTO – PEN Canada is pleased to announce Ira Wells as the new president of PEN Canada. He was elected on Thursday, June 12, 2025 during the PEN Canada Annual …
Author: PEN-Canada
Joint letter to Keir Starmer on anniversary of Apple Daily closure
Jimmy Lai is a pro-democracy campaigner, writer, and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper. He has been imprisoned in solitary confinement since December 2020 and now faces prosecution under …
Joint Call for the Withdrawal of Bill C-2
PEN Canada joins 39 organizations and 132 individuals in a joint letter demanding a complete withdrawal of Bill C-2. The following letter was sent this week to Canadian authorities, including …
PEN Canada publishes Annual Report 2024/2025
The 2024/2025 annual report, I Hope This Letter Finds You Well, explores the power of letter writing as a tool of connection and advocacy. Edited by poet and writer Eli …
Meet the jury for the 2025 Ken Filkow and Marie-Ange Garrigue prizes
PEN Canada is seeking nominations from peers and civil society partners for two annual awards: the Ken Filkow Prize, for advancing freedom of expression in Canada, and the Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize, …
A conversation with Robina Aryubwal, recent Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize winner
Photo: women enjoy a field trip that Robina coordinated. “Your experiences are your strength. You don’t need to have everything figured out—just begin.” This is the advice Robina Aryubwal would …
Open letter calling for the Government of Venezuela to immediately release human rights defender Eduardo Torres
June 9, 2025 Nicolás Maduro Moros Presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Jorge Rodríguez Gómez Presidency of the National Assembly of Venezuela. We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are …
PEN Canada condemns Alberta’s book banning initiative
PEN Canada unequivocally condemns the Alberta government’s decision to pursue policies that are likely to lead to widespread book bans in the province’s schools. In May, the government announced plans …
Voices of Freedom reading series: June edition
Step into an afternoon of inspiration and storytelling as we present Voices of Freedom at Hirut Jazz Cafe in Toronto’s east end. This reading series, hosted by the Writers in …
Annual General Meeting 2025
PEN Canada’s Annual General Meeting will take place online on Thursday, June 12 at 5:30 pm EDT, on Zoom. All PEN Canada members are encouraged to attend, and RSVP is required. A …