Belleville, ON, March 14, 2024 – For the first time, Loyalist College will bring its popular Speaker Series to the Northumberland region, hosting a special evening with literary giant Margaret Atwood, moderated by journalist Rachel Giese. Atwood, renowned author of bestselling novels including The Handmaid’s Tale and its record-breaking sequel, The Testaments, will discuss a wide range of issues relating to social activism, political engagement, literary inspirations, and her own accomplished body of work on stage at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on April 11.
“Loyalist College is deeply committed to enriching the communities we’re a part of,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “With the expansion of our presence into Port Hope, we’re excited to bring our Speaker Series to Northumberland’s residents, starting with a chance to hear from one of Canada’s leading literary figures, Margaret Atwood. Atwood is renowned for her honest and visionary insights, and her talk will undoubtedly offer deep reflections on our current era.”
Atwood’s vast body of work, which spans poetry, children’s literature, fiction, and non-fiction, has been published in more than 40 languages worldwide. Throughout her prolific career, she has been honoured with significant international awards, including two Booker Prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, two Governor General’s Awards, the PEN Pinter Prize, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her influence also extends to the screen, where her writing has inspired critically acclaimed television adaptations, including the Emmy Award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace.
Rachel Giese, an award-winning journalist and author known for her incisive analysis and compelling storytelling, will moderate the evening’s dialogue. Giese’s 2019 book Boys: What it Means to Become a Man won the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
Tickets are available for $10. Visit loyalistcollege.com/speakerseries to learn more. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Loyalist College Student Food Cupboard and used to support students facing food insecurity.
About Loyalist College
Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.
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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com