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2025 11 21 CBC photo Joan Leishman

January 27, 2026

PEN launches Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, creating opportunity and support for writers in exile

Joan Leishman was a remarkable journalist, humanitarian, and cherished mentor to members of the PEN Canada Writers in Exile group. Created in her honour, the fund is the organization’s first fund dedicated to providing critical assistance and creating opportunities for writers living in exile in Canada.

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Legacy Event: the Graeme Gibson Talk

023 PEN Canada Graeme Gibson Talk 20230924 HC 735x400

An annual conversation between writers with expert knowledge of an urgent political, social, cultural or economic issue.

Previous speakers include John Vaillant (Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast), Catherine Abreu (global climate policy expert), Maria Ressa (Nobel laureate), Ron Deibert (Citizen Lab founder), Omar El Akkad (One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This) and Margaret Atwood.

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