Founded in 1989, the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival is a nationally acclaimed literary event, treasured by book lovers and authors, and widely respected by Canada’s literary community. Our mandate is to inspire, enlighten and enchant by presenting a literary festival that provides stimulating, thought-provoking and entertaining programming for all ages. We do so by presenting works of literary merit in a variety of genres in accessible and friendly environments. Pre-pandemic, the three-day festival was held in the idyllic village of Eden Mills, Wellington County, Ontario. In 2020, we re-imagined the festival as an online series of 21 events (15 events for adults and six for children and teens) running from May to October. In keeping with our commitment to accessibility, all events were offered free of charge and included either closed captioning or ASL interpretation.

At 4,163 views, audience engagement surpassed our expectations and generated unexpected results. Feedback from our 2020 online programming provides solid evidence that by bringing participants together virtually to discuss books and explore ideas, we create community and connection in these challenging and isolating times, providing an antidote to feelings of anxiety and disconnection that often come with physical distancing.