START YOUR DAY WITH A RANDOM ACT OF READING 15 OCT 9:30AM

                For immediate release

 IFOA LETS ONTARIO IN ON THE ACT WITH RANDOM ACTS OF READING: OCT.15

Impromptu performances in Barrie, Midland & Parry Sound bring a slice of North America’s biggest book festival from the stage to the street

 TORONTO, October 14, 2009 ---- On October 15, the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) takes to the streets of Barrie, Midland and Parry Sound to present RANDOM ACTS OF READING: literary happenings designed to bring a slice of the festival experience from the stage to the street. The campaign kicks off at Toronto’s Union Station at 6:45am and continues beyond the GTA in promotion of IFOA Ontario, the touring programme which now brings North America’s largest literary festival to seven locations outside Toronto.

 Random Acts of Reading are impromptu street performances – providing those who have never been to a book festival with a taster of what they can expect to find at one – followed by a giveaway of books by authors from the IFOA Ontario programme.

 Random Acts of Reading take place Thursday, October 15 in the following locations:

BARRIE: Outside the Gryphon Theatre (1 Georgian Drive) at the Georgian College at 12:15pm.  Also, at the Barrie Public Library (60 Worsley Street) at 2:00pm.

MIDLAND: Midland Public Library (320 King Street) 2:30pm with one or two surprise “Acts” throughout town.

PARRY SOUND: At Parry Sound Books (26 James Street), beginning at 9:30 AM

 The International Festival of Authors (IFOA) takes place October 21–31 at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and includes more than 170 participants in over 70 events. Tickets are $15/$12 members/Free students (certain exceptions apply) and are available from Harbourfront Centre Box Office (416-973-4000) or online at www.readings.org.

 IFOA Ontario (October 24 – November 3) includes events in Barrie, Burlington, Don Mills, Midland, Orillia, Parry Sound and Uxbridge, and extends the run of the International Festival of Authors from 11 days to two weeks. Tickets to IFOA Ontario are $10 (with the exception of IFOA Uxbridge: $20). Complete schedule and individual box office information is available at www.readings.org. 

Thanks to Metrolinx/GO Transit for their cooperation with the Random Acts of Reading at Union Station, and to the publishers who graciously donated books.

 The annual International Festival of Authors (IFOA) (October 21–31, 2009) – including YoungIFOA (October 27, 29 & 30, 2009) and IFOA Ontario (October 24 – November 3, 2009) – is part of the annual season programmed by Authors at Harbourfront Centre (AUTHORS). Since its inception in 1974, AUTHORS has hosted over 5,000 authors from more than 100 countries, including 17 Nobel Laureates. Its season runs from September to June and, in addition to a weekly reading series, includes the annual ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers with Forest of Reading® Festival of Trees™ (May 2010).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Katie Callaghan: kcallaghan@harbourfrontcentre.com, 416-973-5836

General:            IFOAMedia@harbourfrontcentre.com