Summer 2023 Book Fair

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Summer 2023 Book Fair! Registration is now open at the link below.

Registration

Exhibitors can register at this link. Attendees can register at this link. When registering, please indicate which meals you anticipate attending. A link to a survey for dietary restrictions is included in the confirmation email after registration and can be found here.

If you would like to register as an exhibitor, please email natassja@anansi.ca and you will be added to the exhibitor mailing list.

Dates

Book Fair Dates: Monday, June 12, to Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Location

The Parkside Hotel and Spa
810 Humboldt St.
Victoria, BC V8V 5B1
Phone: 1-855-616-3557 or 1-250-940-1200

We have a block of “Deluxe One Bedroom Suites” reserved for $249.00 a night (June 11 to 14). You must book by April 27 to receive this pricing.

Please call the Parkside directly at 250.940.1200 or 1.855.616.3557 to reserve and say you’re with the WBRA Book Fair. The Parkside will allow free cancellation or modification of your reservation up to 24 hours before arrival, so there’s no downside to reserving your spot early!

The parking rate is $12 per day for event attendees, and overnight parking is $17 per night.

Schedule of Events

Monday, June 12

10:00 am to 11:00 am Set-up for reps – Urban Ballroom
11:00 am to 12:00 am Sales Rep Meeting – Urban Ballroom
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Book Fair Exhibit Hours – Urban Ballroom
5:00 pm to 6:000 pm Author Speed Dating (bar opens at 4:30 pm) – City Club Lounge
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Cocktail Reception – City Club Lounge

Tuesday, June 13

8:30 am to 9:00 am Continental Breakfast – West Lobby
8:45 am to 5:30 pm Group Buying Sessions – James Bay Room
9:00 am to 12:00 pm Book Fair Exhibit Hours – Urban Ballroom
12:00 pm to 12:45 pm Catered lunch in the City Club Lounge
12:45 pm to 5:00 pm Book Fair Exhibit Hours – Urban Ballroom

Wednesday, June 14

Covid Restrictions

Masking is encouraged but not required.

Cocktail Party and Lunches

Meals will be hosted in the City Club Lounge at the Parkside, catered by Truffles. It is important to select the number of meals you will be attending on the registration page so we can ensure there is enough food for all attendees. Author speed-dating will be happening during the cocktail party.

Group Buying Schedule

Monday, June 12

1:00 – 2:25 Jennifer Fyffe — Penguin Random House
2:30 – 3:00 Jennifer Cameron — Orca Book Publishers

3:00 – 3:15 Coffee break

3:15 – 4:45 Sandy Cooper — HarperCollins Canada

Tuesday, June 13

9:00 – 10:15 Ali Hewitt — Ampersand

10:15 – 10:25 coffee break

10:25 – 11:25 Susan Travis — Scholastic Canada
11:30 – 12:00 Megan Ferguson — Harbour Publishing / D&M

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 Heather Read — Read + Co Books
2:05 – 2:35 Darryl Scott — Firefly Distributed Books
2:40 – 3:10 Natassja Barry — House of Anansi & Groundwood Books

3:10 – 3:20 Coffee break

3:20 – 4:45 Joedi Dunn — Simon and Schuster

Wednesday, June 14

8:45 – 10:15 Hala Kamaliddin — Penguin Random House Canada

10:15 – 10:30 Coffee break

10:30 – 11:10 Iolanda Millar — Canadian Manda Group – Adult Hachette Titles
11:10 – 12:00 Paulina Dabrowski — Canadian Manda Group – Children’s Hachette Titles

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 Louis Anctil — Midtown Press, Pajama Press, Inhabit Education etc.
1:35 – 3:00 Hamish Clark — Penguin Random House
3:05 – 3:50 John Walls & Megan Radford — Heritage & Greystone