PEN Canada envisions a world where
writers are free to write,
readers are free to read,
and freedom of expression prevails
On March 20, 2006, PEN and a coalition of organizations appealed the Toronto District School Board’s restriction of Three Wishes. Lawrence Hill offers one parent’s view and Evie Freedman provides a young reader’s view.
In 2000, Evan Solomon wrote on “The Power of the Internet” – and while that phrase may seem dated, the ideas and concerns he presented are just as relevant today.
In this letter from 2000, Bapsi Sidhwa speaks with Deepa Mehta during the height of protests to the filming of Water in India.
In this piece, which originally appeared in the Summer 1996 newsletter, Karen Connelly visited Aung San Suu Kyi at her home to discuss the wellbeing of two Burmese writers.
On Oct. 20, 2010, Rohinton Mistry wrote a letter condemning the burning and removal of his novel from the course syllabus at the University of Mumbai.
Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered on Oct. 7 2006. Alan Cumyn reflects on her role in Russia and her enduring voice in the world.
In late 2011, ten years after the arrest of PEN Canada Honorary Member Dawit Isaac, five writers read letters to imprisoned Eritrean journalists. Camilla Gibb read her letter to Dawit Isaac on stage at Ryerson University. She will present a documentary on March 3, 2014, as part of our PEN Picks series in partnership with Hot Docs.
On October 21, 2009, Alice Munro and Diana Athill joined Bill Richardson on stage for PEN Canada’s annual benefit at the 30th IFOA.
In this video, former PEN Canada president Charles Foran presents the award to Liu Xiaobo. We had hoped to get his reaction but we were unable to make contact with him in prison. Activist and former national president of the Chinese Canadian National Council Gloria Fung accepted the award on his behalf and gave this speech: […]
Author Sheila Heti reads her letter to an imprisoned Eritrean journalist on the tenth anniversary of his imprisonment.
Finding the Words: Writers on Inspiration, Desire, War, Celebrity, Exile, and Breaking the Rules