The Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD), Canada’s first festival dedicated to diverse authors and storytellers, runs its ninth annual festival April 28 to May 5, 2024. This year’s festival offers book lovers and aspiring authors both virtual and in-person events, with over 35 authors from Canada and around the world taking part. There will be in-person appearances by Waubgeshig Rice, Louisa Onomé, Alicia Elliott, Balsam Karam, Leanne Toshiko Simpson, Jessica Johns, and more, and virtual appearances by Craig Shreve, Farzana Doctor, Téa Mutonji, and others. Online events include a Canada Reads panel, featuring the finalists from the CBC reality show in conversation with FOLD Executive Director and author Jael Richardson. In-person events include a panel with best-selling Indigenous authors Waubgeshig Rice, Alicia Elliott and Jessica Johns, and the return of The Great Readception: A Literary Cabaret. All in-person events at The Rose theatre (1 Theatre Ln., Brampton) will include book signings.