Canada reads 2022 takes place 28-31. March. The debates will be hosted by Ali Hassan and will be broadcast on CBC Radio One, CBC TV, CBC Gem and on CBC Books.
Get ready for the debates by watching the book trailers made for the show by independent Canadian artists in collaboration with CBC Books below.
That Canada reads 2022 candidates are:
Michelle Good’s novel will be championed by Christian Allaire at Canada Reads 2022. 1:16
In the novel Five small Indians, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie were taken from their families and sent to an after-school center when they were young. Barely out of childhood, they are released without resources and left to establish adulthood on the east side of Vancouver. Over the decades, friends cross paths and struggle with the weight of their shared past.
Five small Indians will be championed by Vogue fashion writer Christian Allaire.
The trailer was created by Niitsitapi, Dene visual artist Lauren Crazybull and edited by Evan Peacock.
Crazybull’s practice focuses on painted portraits, experimental map making, and immersive installation. Her background includes working with young people, radio programming and illustration.
The purpose of her work has been to examine the function of colonialism in portraits and other stories that are not always truthful representations of the original existence. Crazybull’s portraits depict indigenous peoples as they appear to her. Through her work, she pays homage to nuanced experiences and seeks a sincere understanding of the many facets of original life.
The trailer for Five small Indians was narrated by Kyla Garcia, who also narrated the audiobook. The sound design was by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Ryan B. Patrick.
Catherine Hernandez’s novel will be championed by Malia Baker at Canada Reads 2022. 1:13
Scarborough is the polyphonic story of a neighborhood that refuses to fall apart in the face of poverty and crime. Interweaving stories of three children growing up in difficult conditions, with stories of three adults doing their best to help them, Scarborough is a lively and emotional debut.
Scarborough will be championed by actress and activist Malia Baker.
The trailer is created by Wenting Li, who is an illustrator and wall painter based in Toronto.
Wenting has worked for The Walrus, Globe and Mail, the New York Times and the Polaris Music Prize. Her latest public mural is The hope in Chinatown in Toronto. This is her first solo animation project.
The trailer for Scarborough was narrated by author Catherine Hernandez. The sound design was by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Ryan B. Patrick.
Esi Edugyan’s novel will be championed by Mark Tewksbury at Canada Reads 2022. 1:13
Washington Black tells the story of 11-year-old Washington Black, who was born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. His master is Christopher Wilde, a man obsessed with developing a machine that can fly. The two develop a bond, but when a man is killed, Wilde has to choose between his family and saving Washington’s lives – and the choice results in an unforgettable adventure around the world.
Washington Black will be championed by Olympian Mark Tewksbury.
The trailer was created by Toronto-based motion designer and illustrator Karolina Ficek.
Ficek developed an interest in animation after graduation through a mentorship and personal projects. She has worked with Reader’s Digest, UNICEF, Diabetes Canada and Covenant House.
The trailer for Washington Black was narrated by Dion Graham, who also narrated the audiobook. The sound design was by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Ryan B. Patrick.
Omar El Akkad’s novel will be championed by Tareq Hadhad at Canada Reads 2022. 1:09
What a strange paradise is a novel that tells the story of a global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child. Nine-year-old Amir is the only survivor of a ship filled with refugees coming to a small island. He ends up with a teenage girl named Vanna, who lives on the island. Although they do not share a common language or culture, Vanna is determined to keep Amir safe. What a strange paradise tells both their stories and how they each reached this moment, asking the questions, “How did we get here?” and “What are we going to do about it?”
What a strange paradise will be championed by CEO and founder of Peace by Chocolate Tareq Hadhad.
The trailer was created by artists and animators Alia Hijaab and Laurel Pucker.
Hijaab is an artist, animator and storyteller based on the undeveloped territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. In his practice, Hijaab ponders the construction of memory and belonging and draws on his experience as a mixed Syrian who grew up in the Arabian Gulf and immigrated to Canada alone as an 18-year-old.
After graduating from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2018, she was one of the founding members of the Flavourcel Animation Collective and has explored animation installations, food and art events, GIF production, music video production and collaborative art production ever since.
Pucker is an artist and animator based in unfinished Coast Salish territories. She graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2018 with a focus on 3D animation and went on to become one of the founding members of the Flavourcel Animation Collective. Her work spans several media, where the only constant is a strong love of triangles and a desire to create things filled with joy where possible.
The trailer for What a strange paradise was narrated by Dion Graham, who also narrated the audiobook. The sound design was by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Ryan B. Patrick.
Clayton Thomas-Müller’s memoirs will be championed by Suzanne Simard at Canada Reads 2022. 1:17
Life in the city with dirty water is a memoir by Cree activist Clayton Thomas-Müller. It covers his entire life: from playing with toy planes as a way to escape the pain between the generations in Canada’s housing school system to spending time in juvenile detention and later becoming an activist in the fight against colonial racism, environmental degradation and violence. Along this rocky road, Thomas-Müller remains attached to his Cree heritage and spirituality.
Life in the city with dirty water will be championed by forest ecologist Suzanne Simard.
The trailer was created by multimedia artist Ella Cooper in collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Elysha Poirier.
Cooper is an award-winning independent producer, multimedia artist, educator, author and director based in Toronto who has worked in the arts, film and culture sectors for over 20 years.
Her creative work explores the diaspora, representations of the black body in Canada and the First Nations territories, textile art, illustration, art for social change, community storytelling, children’s programming and photography. She is also the founder of Black Women Film! Canada.
Poirier is a multidisciplinary artist working on animation, film and video. By combining digital and analog techniques, she creates inherent worlds that tumble between 2D animation, mixed media and 3D environments.
Based in Montreal, she is currently experimenting with generative platforms for virtual and mixed reality, including experimental web design. Poirier’s realized a wide range of installations and engaged in live performances for dance, experimental music, film, theater and the web.
The trailer for Life in the city with dirty water was narrated by author Clayton Thomas-Müller. The sound design was by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Ryan B. Patrick.