Bywords: Poetry and Ottawa Literary Events

Calendar compliments of www.bywords.ca.

February 25, 2026

Black History Month
Web: blackhistoryottawa.org/black-history-month-2026/
a celebration of the histories, achievements, and lasting contributions of people of African descent.

Freedom to Read Week 2026
Web: www.freedomtoread.ca/
an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom
February 24 - Sébastien Pierroz, Analyser ensemble : l’importance du dialogue civil à l’ère des fractures la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa- Cumberland, 1599, Tenth Line , 19h https://tinyurl.com/SebastienPierroz

Readings at Library and Archives Canada
Time and Place: Library and Archives of Canada,395 Wellington Street.
Web: www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/services/public/events/events.html
registration recommended
February 25 - Randy Boyagoda Thinking Out Loud Together: Why Civil Discourse Matters More Than Ever 7pm
April 22 - From Ragged Ass Road to Rideau Hall with Whit Fraser. 7pm

Literary News
Time and Place: Every Wednesday at 9:30 am. CKCU FM 93.1
Web: cod.ckcufm.com/programs/414/info.html
Reports, features and interviews in English, French and German. Hosted by: Hans G. Ruprecht and Helmut Zobl Airs: Every Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM

Asian Sounds
Time and Place: Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm. CKCU FM 93.1
Web: cod.ckcufm.com/programs/91/info.html
music from the Indian sub-continent and showcases events taking place in Ottawa. The show hosts conduct a number of interviews with local artists, musicians, and writers.

Night Oat Open Stage
Time and Place: 7:00 pm. 750 Gladstone
music, poetry, spoken word. sign up 6:30pm

Ottawa Scrabble Club
Time and Place: Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Calvin Christian Reformed Church, 1475 Merivale
Web: www.ottawascrabbleclub.com/
Players of all skill are welcome

Silent Book Club - East End
Time and Place: 7:00 pm. Dominion City Brew Co, 5510 Canotek Rd Unit 15
Web: www.ticketleap.events/tickets/silent-book-club-ottawa/silent-book-club-ottawa-chapter-gloucester-east-meetup

	February 2026 Events
Submit upcoming events to events@bywords.ca

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
Black History Month Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings Selina Liang 11am to 1pm Perfect Books Readings and Signings Book Signing with Julian McKenzie 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM An Indian Morning 10:00am Culture géniale 1:00pm Ottawa Silent Book Club, Downtown 1:30pm	Black History Month Namaashoum 7:00pm	Black History Month Perfect Books Readings and Signings Book Launch for Lives Altered by War by Nataliia Stepaniuk, PhD 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Words and Culture 10:00am The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 12:30pm The Greenhouse 6:30pm Silent Book Club Ottawa - Kanata 7:00pm Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm	Black History Month Perfect Books Readings and Signings Ottawology Book Launch with Tonya K. Davidson 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Literary News 9:30am Asian Sounds 6:00pm Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm Ottawa Storytellers Open Mic In Person 7:00pm Riverbed Reading Series Season 6 7:30pm Riverbed x flo. literary magazine with musical performances by Domina Eliahou and seven readers from flo.’s seven issue run: Jillian Clasky, Lana Crossman, Susanne Fletcher, Vera Hadzic, Kees Kapteyn, Amber Rawson and Mekyle Ali Qadir www.riverbedreads.ca/s6.html	Black History Month Salon du livre de l’Outaouais 2026 Silent Book Club - Hintonburg 2:00pm Third World Players Present 6:00pm Sad Girl Cafe 7:00pm Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm	Black History Month Salon du livre de l’Outaouais 2026 Friday Special Blend 7:00am Living Words of the Fallen 1:00pm The Dusty Owl Reading Series Book Launch + Open Mic 7:00pm	Black History Month Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings Oliver Dyment 1 to 3pm James Joyce Association of Ottawa Live reading of "A Mother" plus music 2-4pm Perfect Books Readings and Signings Book Signing with Theresa Redmond 1-3pm Salon du livre de l’Outaouais 2026 SIP & READ (+Book Swap) - Ottawa/Gatineau 2:00pm
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Salon du livre de l’Outaouais 2026 An Indian Morning 10:00am Culture géniale 1:00pm Ottawa StoryTellers Signature Series 2025/26 2:00pm Recovering Romantic Artist: Briane Nasimok (un)told 2025 - Ottawa StoryTellers 7:00pm	Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Namaashoum 7:00pm	Black History Month Club de lecture francophone de BD Mois de l’histoire des Noirs (séance en présentiel) 15h à 16h30 www.uottawa.ca/bibliotheque/tous-evenements/club-lecture-francophone-bande-dessinee-mois-lhistoire-noirs-seance-presentiel Freedom to Read Week 2026 Sébastien Pierroz, Analyser ensemble : l’importance du dialogue civil à l’ère des fractures la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa- Cumberland, 1599, Tenth Line , 19h https://tinyurl.com/SebastienPierroz The Spaniel's Tale Readings and Signings Book launch - Eleanor and the South Beach Murders, by Ellen Yardley 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Words and Culture 10:00am The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 12:30pm Books on Beechwood Book Club 1:30pm The Greenhouse 6:30pm Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm	Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Readings at Library and Archives Canada Randy Boyagoda Thinking Out Loud Together: Why Civil Discourse Matters More Than Ever 7pm Literary News 9:30am Asian Sounds 6:00pm Night Oat Open Stage 7:00pm Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm Silent Book Club - East End 7:00pm	Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Third World Players Present 6:00pm Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm	Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Friday Special Blend 7:00am	Black History Month Freedom to Read Week 2026 Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings LeAnne O'Brien 1 to 3pm Silent Book Club Stittsville 12:00pm