Welcome to the home of S.W.A.T. (Students, Writers And Teachers), Toronto’s first-ever ongoing writers-in-schools program.

Welcome to NOW HEAR THIS!

NOW HEAR THIS! is the literacy outreach arm of the Descant Arts & Letters Foundation. The program connects professional authors with community groups, students and aspiring writers in order to promote Canadian literature and encourage self-expression, critical thinking and empowerment through literacy education. Explore our website to find out more about our projects, writers, how to bring a workshop to your school or organization, and ways to get involved!

This website was recently redesigned with the help of an Ontario Arts Council Compass Grant.

Recently on NOW HEAR THIS!!

Paul Vermeersch - taking over the world one blog at a time

Posted by Jennifer de Visser on Mar 5th 2010

We told you a little while back about the launch of The Al Purdy A-Frame Anthology which was edited by our very own Writer-in-Residence, Paul Vermeersch. Well, Paul has been keeping busy. So busy, in fact, that he actually had to step down for the year 2010 as a NOW HEAR THIS! Writer-in-Residence. He’ll still always be a member of our family as far as we’re concerned and we are happy to celebrate in his success.

Get to know... Angela Szczepaniak

Posted by Rachel Hopwood on Mar 5th 2010

Over the course of the winter 2010 edition of S.W.A.T., we're posting brief interviews with each of our participating Writers-in-Residence. We want to give all of you a chance to get to know the amazing people who work so hard to make the S.W.A.T. program a success!

Today we present the third of our twelve writer interviews - with the astonishing Angela Szczepanak!

Angela describes herself as having been a student nearly forever; a condition that has most recently landed her neckdeep in a doctoral dissertation on innovative poetry, dysfunctional detective fiction, and comic books. She also writes fiction, poetry, cartoons, and critical essays, and works as a poetry editor for Redwood Coast Press (California). One of her early career highlights was participating in LOCCAL’s first hygiene themed poetry-art project—traces of her visual poetry may still be found on placards in some of the finest public restrooms in Seattle. Her first book is a novel-in-poems, called Unisex Love Poems (DC Books). Eventually forthcoming will be her typeface-cartoon extravaganza, The QWERTY Institute of Cosmetic Typographical Enhancement. Angela Szczepaniak is the S.W.A.T. Writer-in-Residence for Michael Power/St. Joseph.

Our Q & A with Angela Szczepaniak… after the jump!

Mariko Sets Us On Fire

Posted by Becky Russell on Mar 4th 2010

Some of you may remember our stellar Writer-in-Residence, Mariko Tamaki, who was with us during 2008/09. Well, she’s taken some time off as she’s working on a book and various other projects. (Rumour has it that the new book might be titled You Set Me on Fire.)

Get to know... Aaron Tucker

Posted by Rachel Hopwood on Mar 1st 2010

Today we present the second of our twelve writer interviews - with the amazing Aaron Tucker!

Aaron's most recent work has appeared in Descant, Rampike and The Windsor Review. He also publishes regular reviews for Broken Pencil, Matrix and The Danforth Review in addition to running the poetry criticism site Agora. He is currently teaching at Ryerson University. This year, Aaron Tucker is the S.W.A.T. Writer-in-Residence for Bishop Allen.

Our Q & A with Aaron Tucker… after the jump!

Freedom to Read Week 2010

Posted by Jennifer de Visser on Feb 26th 2010

Do you ever think about the books that you see on the shelves at your local library? Your school library? What about the books that aren’t on the library shelves?

We’re heading into the final days of Freedom to Read Week (February 21-27, 2010) and at NOW HEAR THIS! we’re asking ourselves about censorship. As the Freedom to Read Week organizers say:

“Freedom to read can never be taken for granted. Even in Canada, a free country by world standards, books and magazines are banned at the border. Books are removed from the shelves in Canadian libraries, schools and bookstores every day. Free speech on the Internet is under attack. Few of these stories make headlines, but they affect the right of Canadians to decide for themselves what they choose to read.”

To celebrate Freedom to Read Week we’re bringing you a short list of books that have been recently challenged on our home turf of Toronto:

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