our Work
BlackLit Canada Initiatives
BlackLit Canada grew out of literary programming in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Through the Canadian Black Literature Institute, we're building on that foundation to develop programs, resources and partnerships with a national reach.
Our work currently centres on four initiatives: two established programs and two projects in development. As our partnerships and capacity grow, we intend to expand our work in research, publishing, and professional development.
PRograms under Development
Canadian Black Writers Directory
The Canadian Black Writers Directory is being developed as a searchable national resource dedicated to contemporary Black Canadian writers and their work. Its growing database already includes more than 400 living writers, from emerging voices to established figures in fiction, poetry, theatre, nonfiction, children's literature and spoken word.
By making this information easier to find, the Directory will help readers discover authors, support educators and researchers in their work, and give publishers and arts presenters a resource for identifying writers. It will also offer a fuller picture of the people shaping Black Canadian literature today.
Black Book Project
The Black Book Project will bring Black community members of different generations together to read, discuss and write in response to works by Black Canadian authors. Developed with local partners in participating municipalities, the sessions will combine book club discussions, guided writing activities, and opportunities to learn more about the writers and histories behind the books.
Participants will be invited to create original work informed by what they've read and shared with one another. The project will work toward a manuscript of participant writing that reflects the different experiences, perspectives and forms of expression found within Black communities.
Current PRograms
Canadian Black LIterary Festival
The Canadian Black Literary Festival (CBLF) is an annual celebration dedicated to Black Canadian literature in its many forms. Launched in Ajax, Ontario, in August 2026, the Festival brings Black Canadian writers and literary artists together with community members for readings, performances, workshops, conversations and a book fair. It provides a dedicated setting for Black Canadian writing and those who create, share and enjoy it.
Held during Emancipation Month, in the days leading up to the UN's International Day for People of African Descent on August 31, CBLF is expanding into a multi-day event with a national outlook. It welcomes established and emerging voices while creating opportunities for literary discovery, professional connection and public engagement.
BlackLIt Durham
BlackLit Durham is a literary showcase series held every other month in Ajax's historic Pickering Village. Founded in 2022 and now in its fifth season, the program brings Black Canadian writers to the stage to share their work and meet readers in an intimate setting. Featured artists represent a variety of genres and literary practices, reflecting the range of Black Canadian literary expression.
Presented in partnership with Ajax Public Library, What's Your Story Author Services and the Ajax Centre for the Arts, the series has become a regular gathering place for writers and audiences in Durham Region and beyond. Its success also laid the groundwork for the creation of the Canadian Black Literary Festival.