The White Pine Award at the Forest of Reading Festival is held every year in Ontario, Canada, to celebrate Canadian authors. It is a time where thousands of students read, vote and celebrate books written by Canadian authors. Then, the conclusion is a celebratory book festival called The Festival of Trees.
White Pine Award
There are many wonderful books for students to enjoy. The Ontario Library Association chooses books from a selection of Canadian literature for students to enjoy. More about this selection process and the different categories can be found at The Forest of Reading website.
Forest of Reading Festival
The most exciting aspect of the entire program is the Forest of Reading Festival. This event has grown to include multiple events in multiple cities across Ontario. This year, I was fortunate enough to attend the White Pine Award, Forest of Reading Ceremony in Toronto on May 17, 2016. The event, in particular, is so fantastic because of the amazing energy and excitement that is felt during the ceremony. Literally, every single participant is a part of the event in some way. It is truly an unforgettable experience to witness so many kids and adults alike enthusiastically celebrating reading!
White Pine Award Nominees- 2016
- All The Rage by Courtney Summers
- The Art of Getting Stared At by Laura Langston
- The Bodies We Wear by Jeyn Roberts
- Delusion Road by Don Aker
- The Outside Circle by Patti LaBoucane-Benson
- Rabbit Ears by Maggie De Vries
- A Sense of The Infinite by Hilary T. Smith
- Soldier Doll by Jennifer Gold
- The Story of Owen by E.K. Johnston
- The Troop by Nick Cutter
White Pine Award, Forest of Reading Ceremony
The ceremony kicks off with some hip hop dancing lead by an enthusiastic team of women. Let me tell you, it was so invigorating and really makes the audience feel connected to what is happening on stage.
White Pine Award Presenters
Next, the student presenters, sign carriers and authors arrive on stage. Before the discussion of books, authors and winners takes place however, the guest speaker and MC kicks things off. This year, a very inspirational and motivating woman named Talli Osborne was the MC and she spoke about her life growing up and her experiences as a young reader.
After that, students presented each nominated author and really got the crowd pumped for the reveal of the winner. The authors in attendance also gave a short speech before the winner was revealed.
White Pine Award Winner 2016
Jeyn Roberts won this year’s White Pine Award for her dystopian novel, The Bodies We Wear, and she gave quite an emotional acceptance speech. It is always so wonderful to see the reactions of the winners and the supportive nature of all the authors in attendance.
Forest of Reading Festival
Some of the other fun and interactive activities at the Forest of Reading Festival include author signings, games, workshops, crafts and much more! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet E.K. Johnston and have my autograph pamphlet signed.
White Pine Award Ceremonies at the Forest of Reading Festival is an event that I highly recommend it! It is one of the most uplifting and all round bookishly fun event of the year.
Have you ever attend a book festival before?
I love Jeyn Roberts!!! When I was in grade 12, her book, Dark Inside, was one of the White Pine books, and I think she won that year too! I definitely need to try and read some White Pine books next year, and maybe go to the Festival of Trees!
I hope that you get the chance to go. I have always really enjoyed this event. It is also so wonderful to meet local talent. <3
This looks so amazing! I would love to go! Unfortunately I have never gone to a book festival, but I would love too!
I hope that you do get an opportunity to experience the fun someday! <3
Me too!
WHY do I have to live so stinking far from Every. Single. Awesome event? Why?
Haha! This is me on a regular basis. I guess that I shouldn’t complain so much! 🙂
This festival sounds fantastic! I love the name and how involved everyone is! I so wish I could go!
This is truly unique. I have never heard of a festival like this. I have been talking about visiting Toronto again. Is the festival held in Toronto every year? Thanks for the lovely post about it. 🙂
The festival is held every year and actually has grown to 3 days. Toronto is such a fun place to visit. I hope that you get the chance to return. 🙂
I went twice when I was in middle school way back when (2008 and 2009 I think). Just for Red Maple and White Pine though mind you. I had no idea what was going on, I didn’t really understand the bookish community at the time. I remember the first year I went John Wilson made a joke about tripping Eric Walters on his way up because he always said everything John Wilson wanted to say. Reading those books when our school library got them used to be the highlight of my year. And all the authors were so nice.