Canada's Largest Literary Festival and Community Media Company Announce Joint Initiative IFOA Ontario and Metroland Team Up Across Ontario

TORONTO, CANADA, October 24, 2010 (Press-News.org) The 31st annual International Festival of Authors' (IFOA) touring programme has joined forces with Metroland Media Group Ltd. to promote this year's series of IFOA Ontario literary events.

Between Oct. 21 and Nov. 5, IFOA Ontario events take place in Barrie, Burlington, Hamilton, Midland, Milton, Orillia, Parry Sound, Port Hope and Uxbridge, in addition to London, Owen Sound, Picton, Sudbury, and Windsor - for a total of 14 cities.

"Between our long-standing community newspapers in many towns holding the IFOA Ontario events, and community websites promoting local things to do, it was a natural evolution to work together with IFOA to help extend their existing success," said John Futhey, Metroland's managing director of community websites. "Helping communities connect with important Canadian literary voices is extremely important."

"We are delighted to work with Metroland. This is only the beginning of what will be an on-going relationship with Ontario's largest community newspaper publisher as we continue to expand our IFOA Ontario programming across the province," said Geoffrey E. Taylor, Director of the IFOA.

Now in its fourth year, IFOA Ontario partners with libraries, bookstores and communities across Ontario to provide areas throughout the province with access to IFOA's world-renowned events and the Festival's roster of the best contemporary writers from around the globe.

Participating authors include: Trillium Book Award-winner Camilla Gibb, Man Booker Prize-winner Yann Martel and acclaimed author of the Inspector Banks novels, Peter Robinson. Also, to coincide with the festival's IFOA Noir programming focus, mystery and crime authors Giles Blunt, Michael Koryta, Emily St. John Mandel, Michael Robotham, Robert Rotenberg, Chevy Stevens, Louise Welsh, and Eric Wright take part.

A schedule of events and bios of all participants are available at readings.org under "IFOA." IFOA Ontario event listings are also available at community websites http://www.simcoe.com, http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca and http://www.insidehalton.com .

Tickets to most IFOA Ontario events are $10, with the exception of IFOA Picton, which is $15, IFOA Uxbridge, which is $20, and events that take place at Indigo are FREE. Tickets can be purchased through the box offices listed in the schedule of events below, online at readings.org or through the Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416-973-4000.

ABOUT IFOA
For 11 days each October, the IFOA presents a wide range of readings, round table discussions, onstage interviews, book signings and a number of special events featuring the most exciting authors in contemporary literature. Administered by Authors at Harbourfront Centre, this year's 31st annual IFOA takes place from October 20 to 30, 2010. IFOA also includes IFOA Ontario, a touring programme that now stops in 14 locations throughout Ontario.

ABOUT METROLAND MEDIA
With more than 100 trusted community and daily newspapers, as well as innovative websites including wheels.ca, gottarent.com, lifenews.ca and flyerland.ca; Metroland Media is dedicated to delivering relevant and quality communication vehicles that reflect the local voice and connect its readers to their community.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jennifer Asselin: jasselin@harbourfrontcentre.com; 416-973-5836
John Futhey: jfuthey@metroland.com; 905-265-4491 http://www.metroland.com