Calendar compliments of www.bywords.ca.

March 26, 2026
VERSeFest 2026
Time and Place: in person and live-streamed
Web: https://www.verseottawa.ca/
tickets, passes and full program on site
March 27 - The Happy Goat, 35 Laurel. 7pm: Sneha Subramanian Kanta, Vera Hadzic, Jennifer Bake. 8:30pm: Paul Vermeersch, Jérôme Melançon, Hajer Mirwali
March 28 - Paul Vermeersch, WORKSHOP: The Poet as "Small Language Model" in the Age of LLMs. 10:30AM. OPL-Elmdale. Pre-registration required, spaces limited to fifteen participants. Contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com if you need a low-income ticket for this workshop. 1:30pm Workshop with Sheri-D Wilson OPL, Main Branch $20. Poetry Without Borders Pre-registration required, spaces limited to fifteen participants. Contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com if you need a low-income ticket for this workshop. www.verseottawa.ca/en/event/sheridworkshop Plan 99, The Manx Pub, 370 Elgin. 5-6pm, Stephanie Bolster, Declan Ryan,
March 29 - Arts Court Black Box Studio Kado. 1:30 PM: Sébastien Rock & readings by Kado members. 3pm: The Factor Reading Series Lecture Series with Lydia Unsworth and Nada Gordon. 4:30pm Hall of Honour presentations and readings by Monty Reid and Susan McMaster. 7pm: Jumoke Verissimo, Lydia Unsworth, Nada Gordon. 8:30pm: Karen Solie, Alexandre Yergeau, Kacper Bartczak
March 30 - VERSeFest extra 02:30 PM Carleton University, Dunton Tower 2017 • 1125 Colonel By Drive Free A reading and Q and A with Karen Solie Presented in partnership with Carleton University's Department of English
Third World Players Present
Time and Place: Every Thursday at 6:00 pm.
Web: cod.ckcufm.com/programs/108/info.html
Increasing awareness of the rich cultural heritage of Canadians with origins in the Third World. Hosted by: Lloyd Stanford Airs: Every Thursday from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Smutty Storytelling
Time and Place: March 26 at 6:30 pm. the Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray
Web: therainbow.ca/event/6456214/753083924/tickets-for-smutty-burlesque-combo-deal
Behind the Happily Ever Afters
Time and Place: March 26 at 7:00 pm. Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station
Web: collections.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/blogs/behind-happily-ever-afters
K.A. Tucker, Roselle Lim, Ruby Barrett, and Jennifer Whiteford
Book Launch | Taslim: We Are the Prophets by Dr. Carolyn Ramzy
Time and Place: March 26 at 7:00 pm. Bread By Us, 128 Smirle Ave
Web: octopusbooks.ca/events/4872620260326
7:00–7:30 PM: Doors open and socializing 7:30–8:30 PM: Roundtable discussion with the author 8:30–9:00 PM: Socializing and book signing Roundtable Dr. Carolyn Ramzy, Associate Professor at Carleton University Dr. Fady Shanouda, Assistant Professor at Carleton University Dr. Manjeet Birk, Associate Professor at Carleton University
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic
Time and Place: Every Thursday at 8:00 pm. 601 Cumberland
Web: shorturl.at/8wYzo
every week on Thursdays for music, poetry etc. sign up at 8pm
  March 2026 Events
Submit upcoming events to events@bywords.ca
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings
Sharon Teklu 1 to 3pm
Perfect Books Readings and Signings
Book Signing with Glenn McInnes 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
An Indian Morning 10:00am
Eid Storytime and Craft 11:00am
Stages and Pages 12:30pm
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin presented by Lisa MacDonald
Amanda Bernardo, The Road to You 1:00pm
Culture géniale 1:00pm
Ottawa StoryTellers Signature Series 2025/26 2:00pm
Grimm | Dark Paths and Wild Wonder OST Annual Long Show
(un)told 2025 - Ottawa StoryTellers 7:00pm		 Art House Cafe Open Mic 7:00pm
Namaashoum 7:00pm		 Words and Culture 10:00am
Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm		 Perfect Books Readings and Signings
Zena Sharman launches Staying Power 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
The Lit Room with Susan Johnston 9:30am
Asian Sounds 6:00pm
Night Oat Open Stage 7:00pm
Ottawa Scrabble Club 7:00pm
Silent Book Club - East End 7:00pm
David Suzuki and Tara Cullis – What You Won't Do for Love 8:00pm		 VERSeFest 2026
Club Saw, ULPCxVERSeFest Invitational Slam 7pm. Join Urban Legends Poetry Collective for the return of the VERSeFest Invitational Poetry Slam (the first since 2021!) with a feature performance from Sheri-D Wilson. Apply to compete for the $300 grand prize here: forms.gle/xFkWCu4jgweRHNRV8 Applications are due February 28th at 12PM. 8:30pm: Misha Solomon, Emma McKenna, Open set: u’ART presents quick cruising: poetry spots offered for 3 local poets, who will each read works for up to 3 minutes Interested Ottawa-based 2SLGBTQIA+ writers can apply for consideration by sending a sample of their work and a bio before March 1st to queerart2019@gmail.com . Priority will be given to BIPOC writers and to those new to VERSeFest Poets selected will be contacted and announced by March 16th
Third World Players Present 6:00pm
Smutty Storytelling 6:30pm
Behind the Happily Ever Afters 7:00pm
Book Launch | Taslim: We Are the Prophets by Dr. Carolyn Ramzy 7:00pm
Nostalgica Pub Open Mic 8:00pm		 VERSeFest 2026
The Happy Goat, 35 Laurel. 7pm: Sneha Subramanian Kanta, Vera Hadzic, Jennifer Bake. 8:30pm: Paul Vermeersch, Jérôme Melançon, Hajer Mirwali
Friday Special Blend 7:00am		 Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings
Angela Cuirleo 1 to 3pm
VERSeFest 2026
Paul Vermeersch, WORKSHOP: The Poet as "Small Language Model" in the Age of LLMs. 10:30AM. OPL-Elmdale. Pre-registration required, spaces limited to fifteen participants. Contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com if you need a low-income ticket for this workshop. 1:30pm Workshop with Sheri-D Wilson OPL, Main Branch $20. Poetry Without Borders Pre-registration required, spaces limited to fifteen participants. Contact rob at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com if you need a low-income ticket for this workshop. www.verseottawa.ca/en/event/sheridworkshop Plan 99, The Manx Pub, 370 Elgin. 5-6pm, Stephanie Bolster, Declan Ryan,
Silent Book Club Stittsville 12:00pm
29 30 31        
Indigo Pinecrest Readings and Signings
Paula Quig 1 to 4pm
VERSeFest 2026
Arts Court Black Box Studio Kado. 1:30 PM: Sébastien Rock & readings by Kado members. 3pm: The Factor Reading Series Lecture Series with Lydia Unsworth and Nada Gordon. 4:30pm Hall of Honour presentations and readings by Monty Reid and Susan McMaster. 7pm: Jumoke Verissimo, Lydia Unsworth, Nada Gordon. 8:30pm: Karen Solie, Alexandre Yergeau, Kacper Bartczak
An Indian Morning 10:00am
Unbound Indie Lit Market 11:00am
Unbound Indie Lit Market 11:00am
Culture géniale 1:00pm
2nd Annual CKCU Host Talent Show Fundraiser 2:00pm
Anina's Book Swap 3:00pm
www.instagram.com/p/DVtk0RGDhWA/		 VERSeFest 2026
VERSeFest extra 02:30 PM Carleton University, Dunton Tower 2017 • 1125 Colonel By Drive Free A reading and Q and A with Karen Solie Presented in partnership with Carleton University's Department of English
Ottawa Urbanism Book Club 6:15pm
Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile by Sarah Good
Art House Cafe Open Mic 7:00pm
Namaashoum 7:00pm		 Words and Culture 10:00am
Live on Elgin Open Mic 8:00pm