2025 STARFest Director's Message

It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you to the 15th anniversary of STARFest. As Director, I feel so lucky to help lead a festival that continues to celebrate the richness and diversity of Canadian voices. Over the past fifteen years, STARFest has grown into a beautiful community and a place where stories come to life, where ideas are shared, and where readers and writers join together in the spirit of  curiosity.

This milestone year is more than just a celebration of time; it’s a tribute to the many voices that have shaped us. It honours the authors who have moved and challenged us, the readers who have championed literature with unwavering support, and the community that has taken root around a shared love of books and storytelling.

This year in particular, as books are under attack in Alberta, our festival feels more important than ever.

Now is not the time to retreat from ideas that help us think in new and exciting ways. And as ideologies become more rigid, and voices are hemmed in by fear, we must continue to work towards an expansiveness of thought and purposefulness in our actions. Now more than ever, together we read. We listen. We speak.

This year’s festival features an exciting lineup that includes both fresh perspectives and the return of cherished and familiar voices. Whether you’re here to discover a new author, engage in thought-provoking conversations, or simply immerse yourself in the joy of reading, there’s something here for everyone.

Thank you for being a part of STARFest’s story.

Your passion and presence are what make this festival possible and meaningful. Here’s to another unforgettable chapter together.

Julie Ruel, STARFest Director