I took the one hour trek to Kitchener today to present at Word on the Street. The nice thing about Kitchener is that it isn’t Toronto. It was ever so easy to park because I had a parking pass with a giant R on it, so even though it was pouring rain, I got to my own tent in record time. I haven’t been to WOTS in Toronto lately (dare I admit that I avoid it?) because the last time I went, I had to park so far away that it was a real hike to get to the tents. Not fun.
Even though it was pouring rain, there was a good turnout. I did a presentation of Aram’s Choice. Because of the venue (open tent, lots of noise) I didn’t do a reading, but instead talked about the story behind the story of Aram’s Choice. The organizers had put together a craft table for the kids to participate in once my presentation was finished. I was pleased to see that the kids were given materials to make their own individual carrying boxes. I explained during the presentation the significance of boxes in Aram’s Choice: each child, upon leaving their temporary refuge in Corfu to begin their journey to Canada was given a wooden box. In that wooden box they placed all of their worldly belongings. Also, the children were not known by their names, but by the number on their boxes. After I did my own presentation and signed some books, I trekked over to a panel discussion on blogging featuring James Bow, Derek Weiler of Q&Q, Aimee Morrison, and Alex Good. During the discussion, Aimee mentioned that most livejournal users were 13 year old girls writing about angst. I think she’s wrong about that. What do you think?
AACK! That’s *exactly* what happened to me, Marsha! I got to Toronto around noon and it took me an hour and a half to get from Eglinton to Bloor. And then it took me another half hour to find a parking spot, which ended up being a 15 minute walk from WOTS. Anyway, it didn’t rain and there was a great crowd, so it wasn’t all bad. Glad Kitchener’s WOTS was such a success! 😀
Hi Maggie,
Very aggravating! And I find that I generally lug around props — preliminary sketches for various books, old drafts of novels, a copy of each of my 8 books — it gets heavy to be carrying this stuff, looking for the presenters’ tent. Thank goodness it didn’t rain for you!
Toronto Advice
I lived in Toronto, and for most of the first 19 years of my life I was within five blocks of the current WotS site, and I can offer you some advice on driving to Toronto: don’t. I never had to. I didn’t learn how to drive until a couple of years after I moved to Kitchener. I simply didn’t see the need to, since public transit was so good.
On the weekends, there is plenty of space in the parking lots at Kipling station. They’re free, and the subway is just steps away. From there, you can get from Kipling to the WotS site in under a half hour. It’s the best way to go when you go to Toronto.
During the week, the parking lots around the subway stations fill up rapidly, and most cost money, but, there is a free parking lot near Old Mill Station that has always had space from me when I head into Toronto during the morning rush hour. I could tell you more about how to get there if you’re interested. The only drawback is that it’s at the bottom of the Humber valley, and you have to climb sixty-four steps (I counted) in order to get up to Bloor Street.
Re: Toronto Advice
Hi James,
This is really good advice. Unfortunately, many times when I’m in Toronto, I’m lugging books and props. The only time I can take public transit is when I’m doing a signing. If I’m doing a reading, forget about it. For school readings, I time them to begin after 10am. That way I can leave my house at 8am, miss the traffic, and get there around 9:45. There is no way I can get to downtown Toronto for earlier than that with props/books. I did take the subway from Kipling Station when I was signing at the Bloor West Ukrainian Festival. Fortunately, I didn’t have to bring books or props to that.
I’m thrilled to bits to have discovered your blog! I will have to pick up “Aram’s Choice” as it covers a subject I definitely want my kids to know more about. Speaking of “Word On the Street”, my daughter and I went to Toronto and man, was it crowded. The highlight of the festival (for me) was being able to observe the first Trans-Atlantic book signing with Margaret Atwood’s “Long Pen”. Fascinating!
Lotus (lotusreads@blogspot.com)
Hi Lotus,
I’m glad you found me too!! I just looked at your blog and it’s very nice. The story of the Armenian orphans who came to Canada in 1923 isn’t one that many people seem to know about.
That’s great that you had a good time at Toronto Word on the Street and that’s neat that you witnessed the Long Pen making trans-atlantic history. Kewl.
Despite the rain, there was a good crowd at the Kitchener WOTS, and everyone would run into the reading tents during the downpours.