Toronto, Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the literary elite converge on the Scotiabank Giller Prize Gala tonight, over 1,700 Canadian book lovers will gather at Giller Light Bash events across the country to watch who will win the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize.
From what began as a small Giller Prize viewing party in 2002, the Giller Light Bash has grown into a popular arts event featuring authors, publishers, and past Scotiabank Giller Prize jurors and winners. All proceeds from the events support Frontier College, Canada’s original literacy organization, who provides essential literacy programs for children, youth, and adults in over 150 communities coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Hosted in seven major cities—Halifax, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, and new this year, Victoria—the Bash combines a taste of the Scotiabank Giller Prize Gala formalities with a casual party environment for fans of Canadian literature.
Now in its 17th year, the fundraiser continues to raise awareness for literacy through an entertaining evening featuring a live broadcast of the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Guests await the announcement of the literary award by enjoying Guess the Giller—fun speculation on which book will take home the coveted prize—and hearing local luminaries advocate for their chosen nominated book.
“We are expecting our largest turnout to date, with a new event in Victoria,” says Stephen Faul, President, Frontier College. “The Giller Light Bash is a wonderful way to celebrate our Canadian authors, while addressing the issue of literacy in Canada. While many take for granted the pleasure of reading a book, there are millions of Canadians who are struggling with everyday tasks such as taking prescriptions, completing a job application, or helping their children with their homework. Frontier College is working to help open up opportunities through literacy.”
Giller Light Bash locations:
· Halifax – Atlantica Hotel, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
· Toronto – Toronto Reference Library, 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
· Thunder Bay – Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
· Winnipeg – McNally Robinson Booksellers, Prairie Ink Restaurant, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
· Calgary – Wurst, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
· Vancouver – CBC Studio 700, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
· Victoria – Fairmont Empress, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
For tickets and information visit gillerlightbash.ca or follow @gillerlight on twitter.
About Frontier College
Frontier College is a national charitable literacy organization, established in 1899 on the belief that literacy is a right. We work collaboratively with community-based agencies across Canada to provide targeted, innovative literacy and numeracy support for the most vulnerable Canadians. In 2017, 32,000 children, youth, and adults participated in our free programs in more than 150 communities throughout the country. For more information about Frontier College visit www.frontiercollege.ca and follow Frontier College on twitter: @frontiercollege
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