iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paintings, prints and carvings — these are some of the original artworks you can bid on at our auction. All proceeds will go to the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, a new PEN fund which at a future date will provide urgent assistance directly to exiled writers living in Canada. buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 22h

A literary treasure in our auction: one of just 300 signed limited editions of Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments, from the author’s private collection. Complete with artifacts and Aunt Lydia’s wax seal. This item is open for bids from now until Thursday October 1: buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is a free public event, held as part of the 92nd annual PEN International Congress. Join Samira Mohyeddin (journalist), Ross Holder (PEN International), Basma Mostafa (Egyptian journalist ), and Doan Bao Chau (Vietnamese journalist) for a public panel discussion on transnational repression.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today is the first day of Congress 🌍 and this year, we're online! Since 1923, the PEN International Congress is hosted each year by a different PEN Centre around the world. It's been held in Canada twice — first in 1989 and then again in 2015.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

From three nights in Tuscany, to a dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or a Toronto birding walk and a session with a music producer — these unique experiences are all in our Power of Words auction. Bidding is open now, and will close at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday October 1: buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Our auction is live, and 15 Canadian authors are in on it. All proceeds from this auction will go to the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, a new PEN fund which at a future date will provide urgent assistance directly to exiled writers living in Canada. Place your bids here: buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Our auction is live, and it includes 10 original works of art. From paintings to wood carvings, photography prints and even a miniature, the auction is open for bids from now until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday October 1. Get your event tickets, and place your online auction bids, here: buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

One week until our big event — an event and online auction to raise money for a new PEN initiative to support writers living in exile:

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Speaking in Bologna about imprisoned Eritrean journalists, Gianluca Costantini reflects on portraits he created with PEN International in 2019, their return to public attention seven years later, and the role of drawing in keeping names, faces and stories alive: www.channeldraw.org/2026/09/20/e...

channeldraw.org

Eritrea: Twenty-Five Years of Silence, and the Responsibility of Remembering - ChannelDraw

Speaking in Bologna about the imprisoned Eritrean journalists, Gianluca Costantini reflects on the portraits he created with PEN International in 2019, their return to public attention seven years lat...

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Reposted by PEN Canada

VassB @vassb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I had fun writing for the @pencanada.bsky.social Substack, "A Good Think," about technology and writing today. Do YOU have a routine when you write, or programs that you find to be helpful? I'm a sucker for a new notebook, that's for sure. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

A future for writing

“Writing is thinking, and thinking is the ultimate solitary act. No matter the tech, at some point, you’re still just solo with a page trying to fill it.”

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Something very special for your next book club or private gathering 📚 👀 Our Power of Words auction is live with conversations, gatherings, and dinners with authors like Gill Deacon, Kim Echlin, Mellissa Fung, Don Gillmor, Marsha Lederman, Louise Penny, Lisa Rochon, Elizabeth Renzetti, and more.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Canadian writer and novelist Eugene Benson passed away in July, and will be remembered for his enormous contribution the founding of PEN Canada. On our Substack, John Ralston Saul pays tribute Benson and reflects on the epic 1989 PEN International Congress in Toronto and Montreal: buff.ly/eR3V7T0

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

9 days until our fundraiser to help writers living in exile in Canada. Hosted by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and featuring a literary auction, we are expecting over 150 people in attendance. 🗓️ Thurs Oct 1 📍 Toronto Tickets are $115, and qualify for an $80 charitable tax receipt: buff.ly/125Cn6n

pencanada.ca

The Power of Words: Writers in Exile - PEN Canada

A PEN Benefit for the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, in support of writers living in exile in Canada. Ticket required.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It’s an uncertain time for libraries across #Alberta with the soon-to-be implemented Bill 28. The bill includes amendments to the Libraries Act, restricting access to certain materials for youth and appointing provincial inspectors to oversee library collections and operations: buff.ly/4CAWmNj

townandcountrytoday.com

Bill 28 implementation looms, concerns of library control overreach remains

The Barrhead Public Library is looking to solidify itself as a pillar of the community with various services, programs, and events it provides throughout the year.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

25 years of silence and impunity: PEN demands Proof of Life of Eritrean writers detained since 2001. Today, 118 acclaimed writers from around the world have signed an open letter to President Isaias Afwerki, in support of PEN International's global Proof of Life campaign and petition:

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Today, 118 acclaimed writers from around the world have signed a letter to President Isaias Afwerki, in support of the @peninternational.bsky.social Proof of Life petition. Among them are 13 Canadians, like John Ralston Saul, Madeleine Thien, Rohinton Mistry, and Yann Martel: buff.ly/MD91tAZ

pencanada.ca

Eritrea: An Open Letter to President Isaias Afwerki - PEN Canada

Acclaimed writers from around the world have signed an open letter to President Isaias Afwerki, in support of PEN’s global Proof of Life campaign.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Our online auction is now live ✨ From dinners and book clubs with your favourite authors, to original artwork and collector's items, and a 3-night stay in Tuscany, there are more than 25 items to discover. Bidding starts today: can.givergy.com/power-of-wor...

can.givergy.com

Power of Words: PEN Benefit for the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund | Powered by Givergy

Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with PEN Canada. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy exclusive items now.

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Reposted by PEN Canada

John Ralston Saul @johnralstonsaul.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A few days ago I wrote a tribute to Eugene Benson, a wonderful playwright and one of the founders of the Canadian centre of PEN International (@pencanada.bsky.social). He made so many important contributions to freedom of expression. I hope you enjoy this tribute.

pencanada.substack.com

“Hundreds of writers from all over the world who agree about very little except freedom of expression.”

John Ralston Saul pays tribute to PEN Canada co-founder Eugene Benson and the epic 1989 PEN International Congress hosted in Toronto and Montreal.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

In response to Bill 28, the Library Association of Alberta has called on all libraries in the province to close Oct. 1 in protest of new regulations passed by the provincial government. Learn more about their protest: buff.ly/YP3zubb

thealbertan.com

Olds library board to decide on involvement in Bill 28 protest

The Library Association of Alberta has called on all libraries in the province to close Oct. 1 to protest new library regulations passed by the provincial government

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Yesterday at the UN Human Rights Council, a member of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team delivered a statement on behalf of PEN International calling for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release and for the repeal of Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law: www.pen-international.org/news/china-h...

pen-international.org

China - Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai’s arbitrary detention raised at United Nations — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide

16 September 2026: Yesterday at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Tatyana Eatwell, a member of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team, delivered a statement on behalf of PEN International calling...

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Lotfullah Najafizada will be the inaugural PEN Exiled Writer-in-Residence at Victoria University and the Jackman Humanities Institute. Najafizada is an Afghan journalist and the founder and CEO of Amu TV, an independent satellite news channel serving audiences in Afghanistan and the diaspora.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

TIFA presents the 2026 Graeme Gibson Talk: Notes on the New Global Order Evan Gershkovich, Carol Off and Philippe Sands on the challenges confronting writers and reporters in our world’s fast-changing geopolitical landscape, with a focus on freedom of expression. buff.ly/gDQxx5s

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Our online auction launches this Thursday! You can bid on more than 25 auction items, including 10 pieces of art and 14 authors, three nights in Tuscany at a writer's second home, a limited edition of Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, and more. Learn more: buff.ly/qoOFhud

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Maltese authorities must hold to account those responsible for the killing of renowned investigative journalist and anti-corruption campaigner Daphne Caruana Galizia. The acquittal of Yorgen Fenech, charged with masterminding her killing, is a blow to her family’s quest for justice: buff.ly/qQlgWbk

pen-international.org

Malta: No justice for the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia following shock acquittal — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide

‘ The PEN Community expresses full solidarity with Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family in their never-ending fight for justice. Those who killed Daphne sought to silence her, yet her powerful legacy lives...

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The countdown is on — join us October 1 at the Power of Words, a PEN benefit and auction in support of the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund. Celebrate the life of the beloved CBC reporter and humanitarian, while building a vital legacy of support for writers in exile living in Canada: buff.ly/ekVrGoY

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

4 weeks to go — tickets on sale now 🎟️ This October, be part of a lively gathering of journalists, authors, and artists. Bid on works of art and unique literary experiences through our our online auction (launching mid-September). Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and freedom of expression are on the menu.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

In October 2021, a Texas State Representative initiated an inquiry that targeted Mike Curato’s graphic novel Flamer, alongside roughly 850 other books. One year later, Flamer was one of the most banned books in America. This year it was banned from school libraries in Alberta: buff.ly/CsU6W5e

pencanada.substack.com

Mike Curato on creating one of the most banned books of our time

The Banned Book Club, Ep. 1: Mike Curato’s Flamer

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

There is an alarming resurgence of book banning. In Alberta and elsewhere, governments are granting themselves extraordinary new powers to determine what children can read. So we've launched a series, The Banned Book Club, with authors who've been challenged, censored or removed from shelves.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

For 100 years, PEN Canada has championed the transformative power of words, and the courageous writers who dare to express them. On November 25, come kick off the next century of PEN with an inspiring evening of acclaimed Canadian authors, special tributes, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A St. Albert resident amassed more than 350 2SLGBTQI+ children’s picture books — now an international archive believed to be the largest collection of its kind. The archive emerges in a time when access to books has become a political fight in Alberta: www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/a...

stalbertgazette.com

Alberta senator unveils 'archive of hope' 2SLGBTQI+ book collection

Read the full story and comment on stalbertgazette.com

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Who is on the front lines of free expression? Two days left to make a nomination: pencanada.ca/nominations-...

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Libraries in #Alberta are struggling to understand the scope of incoming provincial restrictions aimed at protecting kids from sexually explicit material, fearing the effects on already strained budgets. More from Bill Kaufmann: calgaryherald.com/news/alberta...

calgaryherald.com

'Overwhelmed': Alberta book restrictions, related costs leave libraries in dark, advocate says

Libraries highly critical of the province's restrictions on certain books say they're still in the dark about how rules will affect them.

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Reposted by PEN Canada

PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

PEN is seeking nominations for its 2026 Ken Filkow Prize. The prize recognizes an individual or institution who has advanced free expression in Canada, and shown courage in freeing information from restraint or interference. Past winners were journalists, publishers and academics: buff.ly/bsHqNfm

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The St. Albert Public Library board has estimated it will cost about $100,000 next year to comply with the United Conservative Party government’s unprecedented library censorship scheme, which is now the law of the land: thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

thetyee.ca

The High Cost of Danielle Smith’s Book Ban | The Tyee

One library faces a $100,000 bill. Is there a way to fight back?

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Six years in solitary confinement. In letters from his cell, newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai writes of faith, endurance, and a body that is failing him. He is 78. His family says the 20-year sentence amounts to a death sentence. Read here: bit.ly/3SpkCpG

bit.ly

After six years in solitary, Jimmy Lai’s prison letters f...

The 78-year-old British citizen has served six years of a 20-year sentence in solitary confinement. Letters and drawings from his cell offer a glimpse of the brutal conditions imposed by China

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The Graeme Gibson Talk returns this October! Occurring at the Toronto International Festival of Authors (Oct 27-Nov 1, 2026), this annual event features writers with expert knowledge on an emergent issue. Last year featured Rachel Maddow and Rebecca Solnit. Who will be on this year's line up? 👀

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We're thrilled to announce Elamin Abdelmahmoud as the host of the October PEN Benefit. Elamin is the host of Commotion on CBC, a daily arts, pop culture and entertainment show. He is the author of Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces, a number one national bestseller.

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Canadians have less time and attention for books. With the advent of smartphones, social media, and AI, attention spans are shrinking, as is our ability to grapple with complex text. PEN spoke with CBC on why Canadians are reading less and how this impacts the world: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

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PEN Canada @pencanada.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The book bans continue in Alberta — the province updated its Libraries Act earlier this month and set a January 1 deadline for libraries to comply. The new restriction applies to books, periodicals, comics and graphic novels, films, TV programs and video games: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

cbc.ca

Alberta government gives public libraries Jan. 1 deadline to comply with new restrictions | CBC News

The province informed public libraries this month that they have until the start of the new year to establish new practices restricting access to library materials containing sexually explicit images ...

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