Director, Geoffrey E. Taylor Board of Directors: A. Charles Baillie, President Avie Bennett, President Emeritus Harriet Lewis, Vice President & Secretary Jeffrey Smyth, Treasurer William Boyle Rupert Duchesne Karin Eaton Beth Nowers
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), previously known as the International Festival of Authors (IFOA),[1] is an annual festival presented in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Since 1974, the mission of TIFA programming has been to promote interest and enthusiasm for writing and reading, both locally and internationally, to showcase the excellence and variety of Canadian literature, and to introduce young readers to the possibilities of reading and writing. TIFA provides Canadian and international authors with an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. In addition, the organization offers programs and events for communities to increase the awareness of all forms of literature.
TIFA programming runs throughout the year with several different categories of programming. Each TIFA event is digitally recorded with photo, video and audio. Beginning in 2006, these recordings are sent to the holdings of the Library and Archives Canada. This allows researchers and documentary makers extensive use of the archives, and acts as a permanent documentation of IFOA’s extensive programming.
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), one of the most celebrated literary festivals in the world,[2] was inaugurated in 1980 with a mandate to bring together the best writers of contemporary world literature. Like the weekly series, IFOA includes readings, interviews, round table discussions and talks, as well as public book signings and a festival bookstore. IFOA also continues to present readings by Scotiabank Giller Prize, Governor General’s Literary Award and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalists, the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fiction recipient, and the awarding of the $10,000 Harbourfront Festival Prize.
Beginning in 2007, TIFA sought to grow their audience base by introducing the IFOA’s touring program, IFOA Ontario. This touring program visits communities in numerous cities and towns across Ontario. In 2010 IFOA Ontario featured 16 events in 14 towns and cities, from WindsortoPicton and HamiltontoThunder Bay.[3]
An integral part of TIFA, Book Bash, previously known as Young IFOA,[4] was born as a way to include a younger generation of readers in a festival of international repute.
ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers was also introduced in 2005, featuring some of the world’s leading authors for young people. In 2010, ALOUD was incorporated as part of the Forest of Reading Festival of Trees.
In May 2007, TIFA hosted the first annual Forest of Reading Festival of Trees on the 10-acre Harbourfront Centre site. Now Canada’s largest children’s literary event, attracting 8,000 audience members annually, this action-packed festival celebrates the shared experience of reading through award ceremonies, workshops and activities. The Festival of Trees is presented with the Ontario Library Association.
Established in 1984, the Harbourfront Festival Prize ($10,000 CDN) was presented annually in recognition of an author's contribution to Canadian letters. It is based on the merits of their own published work and/or the time they have invested in nurturing the next generation of literary talent.
