Kingston WritersFest Kickoff with Margaret Atwood

Prepare for an unforgettable afternoon of bold ideas and literary brilliance as Margaret Atwood, Canada’s most celebrated writer, returns to the Kingston stage for a captivating conversation with Ian Williams, award-winning author and 2024 Massey Lecturer. This special event kicks off the 17th edition of Kingston WritersFest and marks a thrilling return to the festival’s roots.

📅 Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025🕑 Time: 2:00 PM📍 Location: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, ON

Margaret Atwood, author of over 50 books—including The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, and Oryx and Crake—has long been a literary force and cultural touchstone. Her sharp, often acerbic wit, coupled with her prescient insights into gender, politics, climate change, and freedom of expression, make her one of the most vital voices of our time. Now, she joins Kingston WritersFest to reflect on the written word as a tool for change, resistance, and connection.

Joining Atwood is Ian Williams, whose critically acclaimed What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in our Time examines how we speak, listen, and connect in a fractured world. Williams brings poetic precision and intellectual depth to the stage, ensuring a dialogue that is both thought-provoking and resonant.

This literary conversation will delve into what forged Atwood’s voice, her uncanny ability to forecast the future, and what the power of language means in today’s world. Together, these two powerful thinkers will illuminate the theme of Kingston WritersFest 2025: “A Word After a Word After a Word is Power.”

🎟️ Tickets: This event is a fundraiser for Kingston WritersFest. Your ticket purchase supports the ongoing mission to foster a vibrant literary community in Kingston.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness two literary giants on stage in a conversation that will challenge, inspire, and stay with you long after the final word.