A Glimpse into the Vancouver Writers Fest’s Stunning Lineup

The 2024 Vancouver Writers Fest returns to Granville Island from Oct. 21 to 27 with an impressive lineup of authors, poets, thought leaders and artists.

Kim Thúy, the bestselling Vietnamese-Canadian author of Vi and Ru, joins the festival this year as guest curator, bringing six intriguing and uplifting events that will explore threads of identity, belonging, migration, hardship, hope — and simply brilliant writing that acknowledges and celebrates life in all its wonder.

Some of this year’s guests include Jane Urquhart, Ann Cleeves, Tanya Talaga, Nita Prose, Gabor Maté, Dionne Brand, Elizabeth Renzetti, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Thuận, Ian Williams, Malcolm Gladwell, Louise Erdrich, Rachel Kushner, Beverley McLachlin, Roddy Doyle, Richard Powers, Drew Hayden-Taylor, Daniel Levitin and many more. All told, the festival will feature over 120 authors across 85 events, spanning fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir and youth literature.

Looking for some event recommendations? We have eight exceptional selectons to get Tyee readers started.

Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation with Ian Hanomansing
Oct. 14 at the Orpheum Theatre

Malcolm Gladwell, the internationally bestselling author behind The Tipping Point, discusses his latest book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, where he explores the darker side of social epidemics and contagious phenomena. He will share his insights in conversation with Ian Hanomansing, host of CBC’s The National.

A Grand Opening: Finding Joy Amid Turmoil
Oct. 21 at the Playhouse Theatre

Finding joy in times of crisis and world disorder is not only a balm; it’s a necessity. In sequential addresses, some of the world’s biggest literary names will share what joy means to them in challenging times. Whether pertaining to the current horrors of global politics and climate crisis, or more personal inner turmoil, finding joy helps us to connect with others, illuminates a path forward, and offers the strength for us to imagine a different future. Featuring Andrey Kurkov, Heather O’Neill, Kim Thúy, Tanya Talaga, Bill Richardson, John Vaillant, Sadiya Ansari and Roddy Doyle, with host Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

Ecosystems for Change: Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Jennifer Grenz
Oct. 23 at Performance Works

These two scientists, authors and visionaries have dedicated their lives to connecting humans to the ecosystems we inhabit and the crucial knowledge we can gain from better respecting them.

As a world-recognized biochemist and botanist, Diana Beresford-Kroeger — the Jane Goodall of plants — urges us to dig deeper into the science of forests and the ways they will save us from climate breakdown in Our Green Heart. Jennifer Grenz, a professor in forest resources management, builds on sacred stories and field observations to share how applying new-old worldviews can save our land — and ourselves — in Medicine Wheel for the Planet. Don’t miss a remarkable event probing how we use scientific lessons from both Indigenous and western thought. Moderated by Sarah Cox.

Listening in the Age of Rage: Ian Williams and Carol Off
Oct. 25 at the Granville Island Stage

A cruel irony of our age is the increasing prevalence of communication, and with it, an almost inverse ability to listen or connect across political and social divides. As Giller Prize-winning author and 2024 Massey lecturer Ian Williams explains, “We’re living at a point now where we can barely talk to each other, right?” The part of the conversation we often forget, he explains, is listening.

This may help to answer former CBC As It Happens host Carol Off’s query about the reason behind the mutating meaning of six words: freedom, democracy, truth, woke, choice and taxes. How can we rebuild our shared vocabulary? Moderated by Kathryn Gretsinger.

The Knowing with Tanya Talaga
October 25 at the Granville Island Stage

Tanya Talaga has transformed Canadians’ understanding of the systemic injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples across the country, and offered deeply important, actionable recommendations for how to meet and overcome such wrongs.

The Knowing is another essential read: the unfolding of Canadian history unlike anything we have read before. She will speak to this deeply personal, seminal work that continues to unravel centuries-long oppression. Moderated by Candis Callison.

Rebuilding Pillars of Society: Gregor Craigie and Jane Philpott
Oct. 26 at the Granville Island Stage

The issues of health care and housing are always top of mind for Canadians, and key issues in this year’s provincial election. In conversation with the Globe and Mail’s health reporter, André Picard, two authors offer practical and politically savvy solutions to ensure these basic human rights are available to all.

CBC host and author Gregor Craigie speaks to how we can restore social housing and affordable homes in Our Crumbling Foundation, and medical expert and former minister of health Jane Philpott discusses the change we need to preserve our health-care system in Health for All. Leave informed… and resolute.

On Grief and Trauma: Personal and Global with Gabor Maté and Raja G. Khouri
Oct. 26 at the Granville Island Stage

After the horrors of the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel and the ongoing atrocities perpetrated in Israel’s war in Gaza, billions of us are trying to process the brutality of these acts, seeing so much trauma, and what it means to seek justice on an international stage.

But what does that processing entail? And how do we begin such processing in both private and community spheres? Together in conversation with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Dr. Gabor Maté, a retired physician, holocaust survivor and world-renowned trauma expert and Raja G. Khouri, a community organizer, human rights advocate, and co-author of The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know about Each Other, discuss the need for a new public language to talk about the profound grief of the last 12 months.

On Matriarchs: Sadiya Ansari, Tessa Hulls and Minelle Mahtani
Oct. 27 at the Waterfront Theatre

Women are the foundation of our lives, our families, our society. Yet the role of matriarchs — our mothers, aunts and grandmothers — is often sorely under-celebrated in western culture. How can we honour the experiences of women who have gone before us, and reckon with the tapestry of love, grief, forgiveness and hope which pierce all their lives?

Together in conversation, Sadiya Ansari (In Exile), Tessa Hulls (Feeding Ghosts) and Minelle Mahtani (May It Have a Happy Ending) will share the stories of generations of women before them; the complexity of identity in motherhood; and what these tales uncover about race, identity and power today. Moderated by Anna Ling Kaye.

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Tickets for the Vancouver Writers Fest are on sale now. A simple text version of the guide along with further accessibility information can be found on the Vancouver Writers Fest website.