Did you know that until August 31, 2026, donations directed to Wordfest Youth at the link above are matched up to 50% through Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink, a charitable giving program of the Calgary Shaw Charity Classic Foundation?

This is what fuelling teen literacy looks like at Wordfest:

✨ Students connecting with respected thought leaders
✨ Q&A format, led by teens asking about what matters to them
✨ Industry-leading contemporary books that enhance curriculum 
✨ Access for all: free programming + busing support

Over the past decade, Wordfest has inspired more than 20,000 Calgary teens by connecting them with leading authors, including Pulitzer Prize winner Tessa Hulls, Academy Award winner Sarah Polley, Governor General’s Literary Award winners Cherie Dimaline, Sarah Everett, and David A. Robertson, National Book Award winners Omar El Akkad and Ibram X. Kendi. Emmy Award winner Matty Matheson, nine-time Juno Award winner Max Kerman, Vogue Senior Fashion & Style writer Christian Allaire, Booker Prize winner Yann Martel, and RBC Taylor Prize winner Tanya Talaga. Hometown heroes Tegan & Tanya shared their best selves with our kids, sparking them to think and dream bigger.

An educator recently shared, “The students were engaged, they reflected on the insightful responses to their questions from Dr. Kendi, and we took so much away that we can apply to our class and Indigenous Studies. I love that they give out copies of the books as well because encouraging kids to read is so important and exposing them to diverse authors via this wonderful organization is my favourite part.”

Thanks to donors like you, we’ve given out more than 15,000 by contemporary, relevant, award-winning Canadian authors (often the first books teens are able to claim as their own). Our innovative outreach activities fuel teen literacy in Grades 5 to 12 to spark the next generation of engaged Calgarians and avid readers. Click here to learn more about Wordfest’s Youth Program.