Canada Reads Meet Up

[❀ Susan]

A place to plan for a meet up for Canada Reads!

[Louise]

YES!!!

[Rainey]

So what are the dates and how do we get tickets. Looking to come to Toronto and need to book flights and hotel.

[✿✿✿May]

Yay, I'm IN!!

[Magdelanye]

Why should those east coasters have all the fun? It seems to me that there are enough of us living on the west coast that we could arrange for a meet up of our own, if anyone is interested. Petra I hope you would be up for it, and Storyheart lives in Vancouver.I think a few others too.
If not for Canada Reads than certainly for one of the writing festivals,theres a few authors I would love to see and hear, even more than the competition and spectacle pf CR. And I hear Lori Anderson is coming early spring!
I find I have a lot of leftover feelings regarding this years debacle.
I was sad to discover it's more about the personality of the defenders than the merit of the novels. And I'm still wondering what was that about all those references to Margaret Atwood's empty table. Did she boycott the event?
I hope that this delay is because they are cleaning up their act after the sloppy and disappointing fracas of the most recent

[Alan]

I used to love Canada Reads and I still follow the book selection,but I find the arguing very unpleasant as is the rudeness of some of the participants on the panel. I know this is what draws in the audience like reality tv,but it’s too aggressive. Still I will be game to meet if we can arrange something.

[Shannon]

Maybe those near the GTA could get a table at next year`s Read for the Cure event

[Allison]

I agree with @Alan -- I too get uncomfortable with some of the aggressiveness of Canada Reads. However, in general I absolutely love it, and will definitely be joining in Toronto again this year. We went to the closing day that year, and it was a ton of fun.

You can sign up for tickets online at some point -- maybe when the shortlist is announced? I got two last year; I don't know what the max is. If we knew how many people were going to go, a few of us who can get online right when it opens could grab enough tickets, hopefully.

@Shannon, what's Read for the Cure??

[Shannon]

Read for the Cure is an author night event...not sure if it has to do with only one publishing house or many.... it is 3 authors, some snacks, and 3 books to take home. I believe tickets are around $100 and proceeds go to Cancer research. There were 2 events in Toronto last year, both `downtown`` as far as us suburban people go....

Last year`s line up - http://www.readforthecure.ca/toronto-...

[Shannon]

P.S. THere is one in Vancouver for you west coast folks. :)

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

Well if we're doing regional meet-ups, don't forget us here in the "far east!" There are a few of us here in the Atlantic provinces.

[Louise]

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "Well if we're doing regional meet-ups, don't forget us here in the "far east!" There are a few of us here in the Atlantic provinces."

The Woody Point Festival would be a great meet up place!!

[Tara]

Allison wrote: "I agree with @Alan -- I too get uncomfortable with some of the aggressiveness of Canada Reads. However, in general I absolutely love it, and will definitely be joining in Toronto again this year. W..."

Hi Allison, I'm Tara from CBC Books. Tickets will be available on January 30th, when we announce the final five books.

[✿✿✿May]

Tara wrote: "Allison wrote: "I agree with @Alan -- I too get uncomfortable with some of the aggressiveness of Canada Reads. However, in general I absolutely love it, and will definitely be joining in Toronto ag..."

@Tara, that's great you are on this group! We will likely have 6-8 people attending this year's event, so a little "advance notification" will be amazing!

[Emmkay]

Should be fun - hope to make it!

[Heather(Gibby)]

I was kind of hoping with the delay in announcing the long list, the actual event would be later than usual so I could attend, but as I am just getting home form Australia on March 22, I don't think I will be able to join you. 2019 for sure though!

[✿✿✿May]

Heather(Gibby) wrote: "I was kind of hoping with the delay in announcing the long list, the actual event would be later than usual so I could attend, but as I am just getting home form Australia on March 22, I don't thin..."

@Heather, that would be really amazing for you to join us in 2019! But come on, I'd rather be in Australia :)

[❀ Susan]

so excited about the meet up - thanks Tara for that information! Canada Reads is definately a book highlight of the year!!

[Louise]

I'm planning a business trip to Mississauga at the end of March (hehehe), and figured I could take in a Canada Reads show. So have we picked a day for our group? I would like to go to the finale on Thursday.

[Allison]

I vote final day.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I am so jealous of you all!

[CynthiaA]

Hi everyone, if timing allows, I would love to join in on the CBC Canada Reads event meet up. Sounds like fun!

[❀ Susan]

My vote is for the final day also!

[Rainey]

❀ Susan wrote: "My vote is for the final day also!"

I would love to go to any day i can get tickets too. Multiple days works. Lol

[Louise]

Is it very difficult to get tickets? I'm booking my dogs at the sitters and planning a business trip so I can be in Toronto on the 29th but I want to be sure to be able to get 2 tickets.

[Allison]

I got tickets online as soon as they were announced last year. I got two, and at the same time I think Susan got two. It didn't seem to be a mad rush, but I would recommend trying right away, as soon as it's announced. It is not assigned seating, so you're just going for numbers.

Maybe we can do a count near the end of the month, and then people with access can go online asap to get them for the whole group. (I'm not sure if I can or not!)

[Allison]

By the way, I just spoke to Sarah, and she's going to come too!

[✿✿✿May]

@Allison, we have @Tara in our group. Hopefully she'll give us heads up :)

We have @Susan, @Allison, @rRainey, @Louise, @Kim, @Cynthia, @Sarah, myself. Anyone else? @Emmkay? @Alan?

[❀ Susan]

So exciting!!! Last year@May was able to get tickets for @Kim and I so you must be able to get more than 2.

[Allison]

My other sister Kristin may come again this year. She joined us last year. I’ll ask her.

[✿✿✿May]

The more, the merrier!!

[Emmkay]

Awesome! It is possible I'll be tied up with work on the 29th but hopefully I will now before the end of the month.

[✿✿✿May]

May wrote: "@Allison, we have @Tara in our group. Hopefully she'll give us heads up :)

We have @Susan, @Allison, @rRainey, @Louise, @Kim, @Cynthia, @Sarah, myself. Anyone else? @Emmkay? @Alan?"

So we are adding Kristin, Louise, Maia, that 11 for the finale as of today :)

[Rainey]

May wrote: "May wrote: "@Allison, we have @Tara in our group. Hopefully she'll give us heads up :)

We have @Susan, @Allison, @rRainey, @Louise, @Kim, @Cynthia, @Sarah, myself. Anyone else? @Emmkay? @Alan?"

S..."

Cool. If the numbers change let me know. I will look to be bringing my famous canada reads mugs.

[Louise]

I think you’re counting me twice?

[✿✿✿May]

Oops!! Yes, so 10 at this point?

[Emmkay]

Add me in for now - I should know for sure by the end of the month!

[Louise]

We need to get “Canadian Content” tshirts made! We might get on TV lol.

[❀ Susan]

Lol - @Louise - I was thinking about that too

[Wanda]

I wish I could join you all!! Such fun!

[❀ Susan]

We wish that you could too but at least you can watch for us on tv!

[Rainey]

T shirts sound like a great idea.

V neck please.

[Mj]

May wrote: "Oops!! Yes, so 10 at this point?"

May, I think you were correct at 11 -

2nd line @Susan, @Allison, @rRainey, @Louise, @Kim, @Cynthia, @Sarah, myself = 8 excluding ?'s

1st line Tara (excluding Allison a duplicate) = 1

3rd line Kristin & Maia (excluding Louise duplicate) = 2

8+1+2 = 11

You may be 12 now with Emmkay's count me in comment.

What's the cut-off date to let you know? After January 30th - say Feb 15th so Rainey can get the mugs made? Is there a get together planned the night before? A simple meet somewhere?

Bet you'll all be on tv or in a photo if everyone's carrying one of Rainey's famous mugs!! :-) Sounds like a fun outing. Very tempting to drive in!!

[Allison]

To add to this list of people coming -- my sister Kristin. She came with me, Susan and May last year. Please count her in as well.

[✿✿✿May]

Allison wrote: "To add to this list of people coming -- my sister Kristin. She came with me, Susan and May last year. Please count her in as well."

@Allison, I included Sarah & Kristin :)
@Mj, Tara is not included. She works for CBC books and reached out to us about tickets inquiry.
So with Maia and Emmkay joining, we now should have 11 of us :)

[Allison]

Eleven!?! That is SO FUN!

[Mj]

May wrote: "Allison wrote: "To add to this list of people coming -- my sister Kristin. She came with me, Susan and May last year. Please count her in as well."

@Allison, I included Sarah & Kristin :)
@Mj, Tar..."

I knew Tara worked for the CBC. I thought she was getting the tickets for you and sitting with the group......just didn't want anyone expecting a ticket to miss out.

Cut-off date??? Night before get-together???

[Rainey]

Cool. Well let me know about Tara.

As soon as the short list comes out i will work on the mugs.

I am so so excited.

[❀ Susan]

@Rainey - It is so great that you can coordinate your visit to Toronto and I will cherish a mug! I am so excited that both you and @Louise will travel from a distance. It should be such a fun day and we will have to sort out some lunch plans for after the event. If anyone knows a place with a private room or a quiet spot that we can all meet, please make suggestions!

[Mj]

If I'm able to come (fingers crossed and particularly hoping for a get together the night before or the night of the last day). For sure I will pay for my mug. You have been very generous with your Secret Santa gifts and surprise gifts. Have always been impressed with what a great job you do of the mugs and wouldn't want to take advantage of your generous nature. Hoping it's a fabulous trip for you, although with some sad and reflective moments I suspect.