Presenters

Aimee Reid is an author with a background in education and editing. She taught high school English, Music, and Special […]

AK is a Nigerian born poet/rapper living in Vaughan, Ontario. When he isn’t studying Economics at McMaster University, he’s dedicating his […]

Alisa Siegel makes radio documentaries for the CBC, for which she has won many international awards. Her docs have covered […]

Andrea Curtis is the award-winning author of A Forest in the City, a nonfiction picture book about how trees make […]

Andrew Larsen is a father, homemaker and award-winning author. Andrew loves stories. He is a good friend of Telling Tales. […]

Angela Misri is an award-winning Toronto journalist and author who writes detective fiction inspired by her birth country, Great Britain. […]

Annie Webber is an animator and educator living and working in Hamilton, Ontario. Her works come from environments created and […]

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator and character designer for animation, based in Texas. She graduated with a BFA in […]

Charlene Chua started work in 1998 as a web designer, and went on to become a full-time, award-winning illustrator. Originally […]

Ladybird Fancypants isn’t your average drag queen. She wears pants and (gasp!) flats and she’s also mastered the art of […]

Deborah Kerbel is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of several books for young people of all ages. Deborah was born […]

Elizabeth MacLeod is the author of many Canadian nonfiction titles including the Canada Close Up series titles Canadian Government, Canada’s […]

Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty is a member of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory in the province of Alberta. […]

Meet “Iron Gabe” Crimeli. After a 3 and a half year fight #irongabe can finally say he completed his 3.5 […]

Jason Hachey, aka Hachey the MouthPEACE, is a Beatboxer from Hamilton, Ontario. Every sound in his music comes from one […]

Hamilton Children’s Choir makes a difference in the lives of children and youth within the greater Hamilton community by providing […]

Hamilton Youth Poets (HYP) was created in 2012 to give our community’s youth the opportunity to develop their creative skills […]

Ishta Mercurio is an author and actor. Originally from Cincinnati, Ishta now lives in Brampton, Ontario, where she films and […]

Jennifer Maruno is a long-time educator and author. Her debut novel, When the Cherry Blossoms Fell, was shortlisted for the […]

As a zoologist, author, and illustrator, Jess Keating has been sprayed by skunks, bitten by crocodiles, and victim to the […]

Joanne Robertson is AnishinaabeKwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She received her Fine Arts degree from Algoma University and […]

Joel A. Sutherland is the Silver Birch and Hackmatack Award-winning author of numerous Haunted Canada books and the Red Maple […]

Jonathan Auxier is a NYT Bestselling author of strange stories for strange children. His first novel, Peter Nimble and his […]

Hamilton born and raised, Josh Taylor is an award winning Hip-Hop and Street Dance rooted dancer, choreographer and storyteller. He […]

Kate Moss Gamblin’s Canadian identity springs from our delightful Earth – from toes in the waters of Muskoka to facing […]

Kathy Kacer is the award-winning author of over twenty books about the Holocaust, including The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser and […]

Kenneth Oppel’s books include the Silverwing series, which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide; Airborn, winner of a Governor […]

Kevin Sylvester is an award-winning writer, illustrator, reporter, radio sports host, producer and documentary maker.

Krista McNaughton is an actor, stand-up comedian, and writer from Hamilton. She is a graduate of the Theatre Arts Performance […]

“I am from St. Stephen, New Brunswick and grew up thinking I’d be a movie star. I fell in love […]

GirlCanCreate is Lisa Pijuan-Nomura. A multidisciplinary artist and creativity coach, Lisa has been interested in spreading the good word of […]

Maika Harper is a Canadian actress, model, and author born and raised in the Arctic. She starred in APTN’s hit […]

Monique Gray Smith is an international speaker and award-winning author. She wrote When We Are Kind to prompt a dialogue […]

With his guitar in hand and a childlike enthusiasm & energy, Mr. Ben’s signature blend of folk & pop grabs […]

My Friend Christopher is a performer on a mission to bring vintage music styles to new audiences. His debut album, […]

Naseem Hrab is a writer and storyteller. She is the author of Ira Crumb Makes a Pretty Good Friend and […]

Patricia Storms is a writer and illustrator with over twenty years’ experience. Her work has been featured in Chirp and […]

Paul Covello is an illustrator and art director, and the nationally bestselling creator of Canada ABC, Canada 123 and Everyday […]

Ruth Ohi has illustrated more than fifty children’s books — several of which she has also written, including Fox and […]

Sarabeth Holden lives in Toronto. Sarabeth grew up between Nova Scotia, Nunavut, New Brunswick, and Ontario. She is now the […]

Sharon Jennings has written over seventy books for young people – picture books, chapter books, novels for reluctant readers, mid-grade […]

Sherry J. Lee has worked in the book industry for many years, first as a bookseller and then in publishing. […]

Simon Frank is a Hamilton-based artist who utilizes the natural environment as the source of both raw materials and inspiration […]

Suzanne Del Rizzo has always loved getting her hands messy. She traded her job in scientific research for a career […]

Sylv Chiang is a middle grade teacher by day and a writer of middle grade fiction by night. She wrote […]

Ever since she was in grade four, Sylvia McNicoll has been writing stories. Now she has over 35 books published […]

Tanaz Bhathena is the author of The Beauty of the Moment, as well as the critically acclaimed A Girl Like […]

Tanya “Tee” Pineda is an emerging Spoken Word poet from Hamilton, Ontario who has just begun her studies in Creative Writing at the […]

Ted Staunton is the award-winning author of over forty books for young people, including Bounced and What Blows Up in […]

Tory Woollcott is a cartoonist, writer, literacy educator and advocate who lives in Toronto. Her first graphic novel, Mirror Mind, was […]

Vikki VanSickle is the author of a number of acclaimed novels for children including The Winnowing, If I Had a […]

Join MEMBERS OF THE WHITE PINE DANCERS, Dan Secord, of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation  AND OJIBWAY STORYTELLER AARON BELL, for a […]