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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 07/07/2026

Join us to celebrate the launch of Interregnum: Inside the Gruelling and Glamorous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, by Ottawa's own Jordan Himelfarb. 🗓️ Sunday July 19th 🕒 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM 📍 Spark Beer, 702 Somerset St W. 🎟️ RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/interregnum @houseofanansi.bsky.social

A poster advertising the Ottawa launch of Interregnum by Jordan Himelfarb, with a photo of the author and the book cover. Information as per post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 09/04/2026

Join Cree kêhtê-aya (Elder) Louise Bernice Halfe – Sky Dancer to celebrate the launch of wîhtamawik / Tell Them, a new collection of memoirs, essays, & poems. In convo with Omeasoo Wahpasiw. 🗓️ Thr April 23 ⏰ 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm) 📍 GCTC, 1233 Wellington St. W 🎟️ RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/tellthem

Poster advertising a book launch of wîhtamawik / Tell Them by Louise Bernice Halfe - Sky Dancer. Details as per post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 09/04/2026

Meet @curtischin.bsky.social for a discussion of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, a memoir of his time growing up as a gay Chinese American kid in 80’s Detroit. In convo with @donkwanart.bsky.social Thr Apr 23, 6pm - Yet Keen Senior Center, 755 Somerset St W, Ottawa

Poster advertising an author talk with Curtis Chin in Ottawa, details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 09/04/2026

Join co-authors @lindamcquaig.bsky.social & Neil Brooks for a discussion of their new book, Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us: The Urgent Case for a Wealth Tax 🗓️ Wed April 22 ⏰ 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm) 📍 Abbotsford House, 950 Bank St, Ottawa RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/wealthtax

Poster advertising the Ottawa book launch of Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us. Details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 09/04/2026

Book Launch | The Long Sixties: Stories from the New Left, edited by Jim Harding. Octopus welcomes Joan Kuyek & Lib Spry for a conversation on how the lessons of the past can help inform our ongoing fight for a more just and equitable future. Tues Apr 21, 6:30pm - GCTC, 1233 Wellington St. W

Poster advertising a book launch for The Long Sixties with contributing authors Joan Kuyek and Lib Spry. Details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 09/04/2026

Join Ottawa educator & author Danny Neville to celebrate the launch of Little Bee, a bug-tastic & social justice–filled early chapter book! Featuring a short reading, Q&A with the author, & fun activities for kids. Sun Apr 12th, 10am - Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave.

A poster advertising the book launch for Little Bee by Danny Neville, info as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 11/12/2025

Tonight until 8pm - warm up with a toasty snack of roasted chestnuts at Octopus Books in the Glebe. Plus enjoy 10% off everything in store! #shoplocal #shopindependent #intheglebe #ottawa

A sign reading "Warm up; roast chestnuts - 10% everything in store" out side of Octopus Books at dusk on a snowy evening, December 11 2025

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 07/12/2025

Last week we hosted a talk with @alexhim.bsky.social, whose latest book Breaking Free of Neoliberalism points a way forward from the stale policies of austerity, deregulation, & corporate control which have gutted social supports & protections in Canada. Thanks to host @kevinskerrett.bsky.social!

Alex Himelfarb standing at a lectern speaking into a microphone.

View from the back of the audience at a discussion between Alex Himelfarb and Kevin Skerrett. Several rows of seated audience members are seen from behind, watching Kevin asking Alex a question.

Photo of the book Breaking Free of Neoliberalism by Alex Himelfarb.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 17/11/2025

Join socialist activist & scholar @redprof.bsky.social for the launch of Slavery and Capitalism: A New Marxist History, in conversation with @caradrianh.bsky.social. Sat Dec 6, 7pm-8pm. Doors open 6:30pm. Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St., Ottawa RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/mcnally

A poster advertising a book launch event for David McNally's Slavery and Capitalism: A New Marxist History, December 6 at 7pm at the Social Innovation Atelier, 95 Clegg St. Ottawa. Details as per post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 17/11/2025

Join us for a vital discussion with @alexhim.bsky.social about his book Breaking Free of Neoliberalism: Canada's Challenge, in conversation with @kevinskerrett.bsky.social. Tues Dec 2, 7pm - 8pm. Doors open 6:30pm. Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St., Ottawa RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/himelfarb

Poster promoting an event with Alex Himelfarb discussing his book, Breaking Free of Neoliberalism, at Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Ottawa on December 2nd at 7pm. Details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/10/2025

Meet the author & discover a new great read at one of our Fall 2025 book signings, outside our shop at 116 Third Ave! 🗓️ Sun Oct 26, 2pm-4pm: Amélie B., "the things we left unsaid" 🗓️ Sat Nov 1, 1pm-3pm: Maïlie Dumas, "Coincés À Newark" 🗓️ Sun Nov 2, 1pm-3pm: Sue Davidson, "Dread Comes at Daybreak"

A poster advertising Fall 2025 book signings at Octopus Books in Ottawa. Details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/10/2025

Join Carleton University’s Department of History for a talk by @milleridriss.bsky.social as she discusses her latest book Man Up: The New Misogyny & the Rise of Violent Extremism. Thrs Oct 30, 6PM at CDCC, 355 Copper St., Ottawa RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/man-up-the... @princetonupress.bsky.social

A poster advertising an author talk with Cynthia Miller-Idriss about her book Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism on October 30th, 6pm-8pm, at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St., Ottawa.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/10/2025

The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education welcomes @jonathan4212.bsky.social to Octopus Books for the launch of his new book, We’re Coming for You & Your Rotten System: How Socialists Beat Amazon & Upended Big-City Politics. Oct 27, 7pm. RSVP: www.tickettailor.com/events/panit...

Poster advertising the launch of We're Coming for You and Your Rotten System with author Jonathan Rosenblum at Octopus Books, 116 Third Ave, Ottawa, on October 27 at 7pm.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/10/2025

Book launch: Lordship & Liberation in Palestine-Israel: The Promise of Decolonial Sovereignties, a groundbreaking new book by Dr. Muhannad Ayyash. Fri Oct 24, 12pm at the University of Ottawa Free registration: www.eventbrite.ca/e/decolonial...

Poster advertising the book launch of Lordship and Liberation in Palestine-Israel by Muhannad Ayyash at the University of Ottawa on October 24 at 12pm.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/10/2025

Join us for the Ottawa launch of Lawless: Abortion under Complete Decriminalization, featuring author Martha Paynter in convo with Sabrina Lee, OBGYN, & frederique chabot of Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights. Fri Oct 24 @7pm RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/events/37463... @fernpub.bsky.social

Poster for the book launch of Lawless by Martha Paynter at Octopus Books in Ottawa on October 24, 2025.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 18/09/2025

Thanks to the ever-brilliant @sandela.bsky.social & @nolore.bsky.social for joining us last night to discuss the big ideas in their new books with a packed audience in Ottawa! An examination of the serious issues facing Canada presented with their trademark thoughtful insights and engaging wit.

Nora Loreto stands at a microphone reading from her book, Corporate Control, while Sandy Hudson looks on, smiling.

Nora Loreto engaged in conversation after speaking at an event inside Spark Beer in Ottawa.

Sandy Hudson, seated, signs a copy of her book Defund for a fan after speaking at an event inside Spark Beer in Ottawa.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 11/09/2025

Looking forward to it! octopusbooks.ca/events/36128...

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 10/06/2025

We Keep Each Other Safe. Power to the people of Los Angeles. And if you think Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is dangerous, learn about Carney’s Bill C-2. Check out migrantrights.ca for more information #statusforall

Picture of a hand holding a stack of books:
- Undoing Border Imperialism edited by Harsha Walia
- Freedom, A Mixtape edited by Marcel Stewart with Suitcase In Point
- The Great Leveler by Walter Scheidel
- Border Abolition Now by River, Campbell, Whitener, and Medien
- Abolitionist Intimacies: Queer And Trans Migrants Against The Deportation State edited by Luibheid
- Defund: Black Lives, Policing, And Safety by Sandy Hudson

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 27/05/2025

Join us to celebrate the launch of Beyond the Rink: Behind the Images of Residential School Hockey with two of the book's authors, Alexandra Giancarlo & Janice Forsyth. This Wednesday May 28, 7pm at Octopus Books! RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/events/28326... @umanitobapress.bsky.social

Poster: photos of the 1951 Pelican Lake Indian Residential School hockey team, the cover of Beyond the Rink, and headshots of authors Alexandra Giancarlo & Janice Forsyth. Text has event details as in post.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 04/05/2025

Speaking of voting... Who remembers this? Uncovered from the archives of the Octopus offices! #ottawaxpress #indiebookstore

Photo of a sign that reads "Octopus Books voted the best independent book store in Ottawa, 1996, by audited Ottawa X Press readers' survey."

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 03/05/2025

If you see this, post your getaway vehicle.

Photo of the Ottawa Public Library bookmobile bus

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 01/05/2025

For #MayDay 2025, Ottawa groups are organizing a month of activities to protest, build, learn, & celebrate as together we fight for a better future. Join us for a month of May Day! Visit maydayottawa.org for details. @rad-events-ottawa.bsky.social @theleveller.bsky.social @csottawa.bsky.social

Month of May Day poster, text as in post. A list of events follows, details of which can be found at maydayottawa.org.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 30/04/2025

The gathering will feature educational displays, art installations, & commemorative activities to foster healing & unity. We will be there with books by Indigenous authors, including REDress: Art, Action, and the Power of Presence by Jaime Black-Morsette, creator of the Red Dress Project.

Book cover of Redress: Art, Action, and the Power of Presence, edited by Jaime Black-Morsette, shows an Indigenous woman wearing a very large flowing red outfit dancing on snowy ground in a forest.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 30/04/2025

On #RedDressDay, the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition invites everyone to come together in honour of the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls #MMIWG. May 5, 10AM-3PM, Jean Pigott Place, Ottawa City Hall Program: www.ottawaaboriginalcoalition.ca/red-dress-da...

Event poster text: The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition invites all community members to recognize Red Dress Day with us. It is a day to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across Canada and learn about the continuing crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls through educational displays, art displays, commemorative and creative activities. Date: May 5, 2025. Time: 10am-3pm. Location: Jean Pigott Place, City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave West, Ottawa, ON. Octopus Books will be there with books by Indigenous authors, including REDress: Art, Action, and the Power of Presence by Jaime Black-Morsette, creator of the Red Dress Project.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 30/04/2025

Join @amnesty.ca for an online discussion with award-winning novelist & journalist Omar El Akkad, in conversation with host @pacinthe.bsky.social. Sunday, May 4, 7pm ET Register for the free Zoom presentation at octopusbooks.ca/amnesty

Event poster: a photo of author Omar El Akkad next to the cover of his book, "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This".

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 27/04/2025

Visit indiebookstores.ca to enter the draw for huge gift cards to your favourite indie bookstore! Every book you purchased from an indie shop on Indie Bookstore Day is worth 1 entry, & Canadian authors/illustrators are worth double. #shoplocal #indiebookstoreday #ibd2025

Graphic text: If you bought books from a Canadian indie on Indie Bookstore Day, make sure to enter this draw for up to $1000 gift card!
#CIBD2025 Contest for Book Lovers
Buy books on April 26 and you could win up to $1000 to spend at a CIBA member bookstore!

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 26/04/2025

We have winners!!!🏆🏆🏆 Congratulations to this clever duo for finding the @libro.fm Golden Ticket (in a copy of Driving Across Canada by Mark Richardson 🚗) They take home 12 free audiobooks & bragging rights! There's still lots to win today, so don't be shy & stop by! #CIBD2025 #indiebookstoreday

Photo of two young Black women holding up the Golden Ticket inside Octopus Books.

A photo of a display table in Octopus Books showing several stacks of books, including Drive Across Canada by Mark Richardson.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 26/04/2025

Reading itself can take many shapes. It can look like a book, or make sounds like an ape. We can read with our eyes, or our fingers or ears. When you are doing this, the safest way is clear.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 26/04/2025

The @libro.fm Golden Ticket is hiding somewhere in our store! Solve the Riddle Master Lisa's cryptic clue to find it and win yourself 12 free audiobooks: #ibd2025 #indiebookstoreday

A picture of The Golden Ticket at Octopus Books. Behind, shelves are labeled "Canada" and "The Natural World".

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 17/04/2025

Join us for the Ottawa launch of My Thievery of the People, a short-story collection by @haikuboxer.bsky.social, author of The Philistine! Tuesday, April 22 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Doors open at 6:30pm Octopus Books, 116 Third Ave. Details & RSVP: octopusbooks.ca/events/45681

A poster advertising the book launch for Our Thievery of the People by Leila Marshy on April 22 at Octopus Books.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 13/02/2025

RESCHEDULED: Due to weather conditions, the book talk event for Stitching Our Stories Together with Jeannine Carriere & Catherine Richardson will be postponed to Thurs March 6. Apologies for the inconvenience, we hope you can still join us in 3 weeks! RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/stitching-...

Image showing the cover of the book Stitching Our Stories Together: Journeys Into Indigenous Social Work. Text gives event details: Thursday March 6th at 7pm, Octopus Books, 116 Third Avenue in Ottawa, Ontario.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 11/02/2025

We are open today & ready to help you find the perfect book to nestle in with on a snowy winter's night! 🌨

A photo of a dog bounding joyously through the snow. Text reads: Stock up on books before the snow storm! Octopus Books is open 10am - 6pm.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 10/02/2025

Our store will be closed for the remainder of the day today as our scheduled staff are feeling unwell. Thanks for your understanding & apologies for the inconvenience!

Photo of a dog lying on its side in bed with its eyes closed.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 30/01/2025

Tonight! Join Carleton U's Faculty of Public & Global Affairs for a discussion of "Mother Trouble: Mediations of White Maternal Angst after Second Wave Feminism" with author Miranda Brady. Thrs, Jan 30th, 5:30pm - 7pm Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank St Free registration: octopusbooks.ca/mothertrouble

A poster advertising the event, featuring the cover of the book Mother Trouble and a photo of the author Miranda Brady.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 29/01/2025

"If I Must Die" by #RefaatAlareer is now available in store! This rich, elegiac compilation of work from the late Palestinian poet & professor brings together his marvelous poetry & deeply human writing about literature, teaching, politics, & family. 📘: octopusbooks.ca/item/c_Xdcfk...

Photo: Looking down into an open cardboard box filled with copies of Rafaat Alareer's book, If I Must Die

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 28/01/2025

Join us to celebrate the launch of @drdryden.bsky.social's book, Got Blood to Give: Anti-Black Homophobia in Blood Donation. Mon Feb 3, 2pm-4pm University of Ottawa, FSS building rm 4007 Presented by the Joint Chair in Women's Studies & the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health at Ottawa U

A poster advertising the event featuring the cover of the book Got Blood to Give and a photograph of the author, Dr. OmiSoore H. Dryden.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 23/01/2025

Thought-provoking seminar yesterday with Bryan Palmer, author of Colonialism and Capitalism, Canada’s Origins 1500–1890, hosted by the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University. #colonialism #capitalism #canadianhistory

Photograph of Bryan Palmer seated at a table signing a copy of his book, Colonialism and Capitalism, in a seminar room at Carleton University.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 22/01/2025

It's a full house at the launch of Reading the Room: Lessons on Pedagogy & Curriculum from the Gender & Sexuality Studies Classroom, with editor @nataliekt.bsky.social. Featuring Ottawa-based contributors to the book Gulzar R. Charania, Kelly Fritsch, Dan Irving, & Megan Rivers-Moore.

A photograph of the panel discussing the launch of Reading the Room in a classroom at Ottawa U. Pictured are Gulzar Charania, Kelly Fritsch, Dan Irving, Natalie Kouri-Towe, & Megan Rivers-Moore.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 21/01/2025

Join Carleton U's Institute of Political Economy to explore the contested history of Canada with Bryan Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Canadian Studies at Trent U. Wed, January 22, 1pm-3pm Carleton University, 1524 Dunton Tower & online via Zoom Free registration at octopusbooks.ca/bryanpalmer

A poster displaying the cover of Colonialism and Capitalism and a photo of author Prof. Bryan Palmer.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 17/01/2025

Join us for the launch of Burnt by Democracy, a powerful new book by Carleton U Sociology Prof Jacqueline Kennelly. Wed, January 22, 7:00–8:30pm Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street, Ottawa RSVP on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.ca/e/ottawa-lau...

Poster for the Burnt by Democracy Ottawa book launch, featuring the cover of the book and a photograph of author Jacqueline Kennelly.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 16/01/2025

Thank you to all who joined us last night to celebrate the Ottawa launch of Other Maps by Rebecca Morris! Thanks also to our wonderful host @julieslalonde.bsky.social, & to Rosalin from ORCC for being available to offer supports for people who have experienced sexual assault & gender based violence.

Rebecca Morris reads from her novel, Other Maps, to an audience inside Octopus Books. She is seated, and on her left sits Julie Lalonde.

Julie Lalonde and Rebecca Morris stand next to their books, Resilience is Futile and Other Maps, respectively, which are displayed on the counter at Octopus Books.

Rosalin, a support worker with the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, holds up one of the organization's information pamphlets inside of Octopus Books.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 12/12/2024

A coordinated campaign of disinformation & harassment is being levelled at Hassan Diab, demanding his termination from Carleton University. Send a message to university admin & the Board of Governors, urging them to protect Hassan! ➡️ justiceforhassandiab.org #justiceforhassandiab

A small group of students at Carleton University holding hand-made signs bearing slogans such as "Protect Hassan Diab" and "Trudeau, speak up for Hassan".

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 06/12/2024

We remember 🌹❤️ Geneviève Bergeron Hélène Colgan Nathalie Croteau Barbara Daigneault Anne-Marie Edward Maud Haviernick Maryse Laganière Maryse Leclair Anne-Marie Lemay Sonia Pelletier Michèle Richard Annie St-Arneault Annie Turcotte Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz #NationalDayOfRemembrance

A photo of a bouquet of red roses overlayed with the names of the 14 women murdered at École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 26/11/2024

Note that due to construction detours on Richmond Rd, GPS may give inaccurate directions to First Unitarian. No matter where you're coming from, the *only* access to 30 Cleary Ave is via the traffic lights at Byron & Redwood.

Google maps image showing the route to First Unitarian due to construction detours.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 22/11/2024

In stock at 🐙📚: Upon the Midnight Queer by local Ottawa author ‘Nathan Burgoine @nathanburgoine.bsky.social. A collection of holiday tales told queerly! #readlocal #queerlit

A photo of Upon the Midnight Queer by 'Nathan Burgoiune on display at Octopus Books.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 21/11/2024

Here's a list of the books that were discussed at our November meet up: octopusbooks.ca/lists/LVm4bk...

A screen capture of a list of books on octopusbooks.ca, including: Against the Loveless World, Parable of the Talents, Stories are Weapons, The Uses and Abuses of HIstory, On Zionist Literature, and None is Too Many.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 21/11/2024

Have you heard? Octopus Books has a Reading Club, where we gather in our store to discuss great books on themes such as social justice, environmentalism, political action, anti-oppression, and liberation movements. Join in at our next get-together, January 7th, 7-8:30pm octopusbooks.ca/events/42287

Poster for the Octopus Books Reading Club
Text reads: No assigned reading. Bring a book you want to share with others, or come sit in on the discussion. Tuesday January 7th, 7pm to 8:30pm. 116 Third Ave. in the Glebe. Hosted by Hadi, @liberationstudies on Instagram.

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Octopus Books @octopusbooks.ca · 19/11/2024

We met so many great writers and journalists at the Reimagining Political Journalism conference on the weekend, hosted by CarletonU School of Journalism. Here's @niigaanwewidam.bsky.social with his (award winning) collection of essays, Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre.

Niigaan Sinclair holding his book, Winipek, next to the Octopus Books book table.

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