Upcoming Events

• Apr 29, 2025

  Apr 2025 Book Club Meeting:Prairie Edge

  Join author Shashi Bhat and others from the Free Press and McNally Robinson for a discussion of Death by a Thousand Cuts.

  See more
  

Past Events

• Mar 25, 2025

  Mar 2025 Book Club Meeting:Prairie Edge

  Join author Conor Kerr, the Free Press’ Ben Sigurdson, Daniel Bear of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar for a discussion of Kerr’s novel Prairie Edge.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Feb 25, 2025

  Feb 2025 Book Club Meeting:The Lightning Bottles

  Join author Marissa Stapley, the Free Press’ Denise Duguay, Riva Billows of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar for a discussion of Stapley’s novel The Lightning Bottles.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jan 28, 2025

  Dec 2024/Jan 2025 Book Club Meeting:The Last Secret

  Join author Maia Caron, author and Free Press copy editor Ariel Gordon, Chris Hall of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar for a discussion of Caron’s novel The Last Secret.

  Watch the meeting replay
  
• Patron and Book Club Exclusive

  Dec 2, 2024

  Meet, Mingle and Be Merry

  On Dec. 2, 2024, Free Press Patrons, as well as book club members, are invited The Forks to meet and mingle with some of the Free Press’s arts and life reporters, have some snacks and hot beverages, listen to editor Paul Samyn and CEO Mike Power speak (among others) and be treated to some music by Madeleine Roger. Attendees also receive exclusive, one-night-only discounts at several shops within The Forks Market.

  Learn more about becoming a Patron
  

• Nov 26, 2024

  Nov 2024 Book Club Meeting:Pinching Zwieback

  Join author Mitch Toews, Free Press books editor Ben Sigurdson, Daniel Bear of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar for a discussion of Towes’ novel Pinching Zwieback.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Oct 29, 2024

  Oct 2024 Book Club Meeting:What’s Not Mine

  Join author Nora Decter, Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti, Chris Hall of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press audience engagement manager Erin Lebar for a discussion of Decter’s novel What’s Not Mine.

  Watch the meeting replay
  
• Patron Exclusive

  Oct 10, 2024

  Ask Paul Anything

  Free Press Patrons have the opportunity to ask editor Paul Samyn anything. Paul will answer those questions live on YouTube Live on Oct. 10, 2024.

  Watch the replay
  Learn more about becoming a Patron
  

• Sept 24, 2024

  Sept 2024 Book Club Meeting:An Evening with Birdy O’Day

  Join author Greg Kearney, Free Press Books editor Ben Sigurdson, Angela Torgerson of McNally Robinson Booksellers, director of Plume/Thin Air Festival Charlene Diehl and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion of Kearney’s novel An Evening with Birdy O’Day.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 22, 2024 to Aug 24, 2024

  Summer Reading Challenge for Kids (2024)

  The fourth edition of the Summer Reading Challenge for Kids encourages young readers between the ages of 7 and 15 to pick a book off our reading lists curated by McNally Robinson, and then submit a review. Reviews are published in print and online twice throughout the summer.

  See more
  

• Aug 27, 2024

  Jul/Aug 2024 Book Club Meeting:mmm… Manitoba

  Join authors Kimberley Moore and Janis Thiessen, Free Press arts and life reporter Eva Wasney, Chris Hall of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of mmm… Manitoba.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 25, 2024

  Jun 2024 Book Club Meeting:The Twistical Nature of Spoons

  Join author Patti Grayson, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, Angela Torgerson of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of The Twistical Nature of Spoons.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• May 28, 2024

  May 2024 Book Club Meeting:An Ordinary Violence

  Join author Adriana Chartrand , Free Press Arts & Life reporter Eva Wasney, Joanna Graham of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of An Ordinary Violence.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Apr 30, 2024

  Apr 2024 Book Club Meeting:Moon of the Turning Leaves

  Join author Waubgeshig Rice, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson and Angela Torgerson of McNally Robinson Booksellers to discuss Moon of the Turning Leaves.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Mar 26, 2024

  Mar 2024 Book Club Meeting:Valley of the Birdtail

  Join authors Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson, Free Press Arts & Life editor Jill Wilson, Adam Araujo of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of Valley of the Birdtail.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Feb 27, 2024

  Feb 2024 Book Club Meeting:Hold Your Tongue

  Join author Matthew Tétreault, Free Press columnist Rebecca Chambers, Adam Araujo of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of Hold Your Tongue.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jan 30, 2024

  Dec 2023/Jan 2024 Book Club Meeting:Wild Hope

  Join author Joan Thomas, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, Angela Torgerson of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of Wild Hope.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Nov 28, 2023

  Nov 2023 Book Club Meeting:Russian Daughter

  Join author Sarah Klassen, Free Press copy editor and poet Ariel Gordon, Angela Torgerson of McNally Robinson Booksellers and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of Russian Daughter.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Nov 1, 2023

  Oct 2023 Book Club Meeting:Shelterbelts

  Join author Jonathan Dyck, Free Press arts and culture reporter Eva Wasney, Chris Hall from McNally Robinson, and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of Shelterbelts.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Sept 25, 2023

  Sept 2023 Book Club Meeting:A Safe Girl to Love

  Join author Casey Plett, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s John Toews, director of Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival Charlene Diehl, and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of A Safe Girl to Love.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 23, 2022 to Sept 2, 2023

  Summer Reading Challenge for Kids (2023)

  The fourth edition of the Summer Reading Challenge for Kids encourages young readers between the ages of 7 and 15 to pick a book off our reading lists curated by McNally Robinson, and then submit a review. Reviews are published in print and online twice throughout the summer.

  See more
  

• Aug 28, 2023

  Jul/Aug 2023 Book Club Meeting:The Woo-Woo

  Join author Lindsay Wong, Free Press photojournalist Jessica Lee, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Nadya Pankiw for a discussion of The Woo-Woo.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 26, 2023

  Jun 2023 Book Club Meeting:Fishing with Tardelli

  Join author Neil Besner, Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion of Besner’s memoir, Fishing with Tardelli.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• May 29, 2023

  May 2023 Book Club Meeting:Out of Mind

  Join author David Bergen, Free Press reporter Ben Waldman, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion of Bergen’s newest novel, Out of Mind.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Apr 24, 2023

  Apr 2023 Book Club Meeting:Permanent Astonishment

  Join author Tomson Highway, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion of Highway’s memoir Permanent Astonishment.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Mar 27, 2023

  Mar 2023 Book Club Meeting:Even That Wildest Hope

  Join author Seyward Goodhand, Free Press reporter Katie May, McNally Robinson’s Joanna Graham and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion on Even That Wildest Hope.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Feb 27, 2023

  Feb 2023 Book Club Meeting:Wonder World

  Join author K.R. Byggdin, Free Press copy editor Denise Duguay, McNally Robinson’s John Toews and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion on Wonder World.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jan 31, 2023

  Dec 2022/Jan 2023 Book Club Meeting:A Theory of Crows

  Join author David A. Robertson, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion on The Theory of Crows.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Dec 22, 2022

  Movie Night:Hanukkah on Rye

  A virtual screening of the locally shot Hallmark holiday film Hanukkah on Rye.

  

• Nov 28, 2022

  Nov 2022 Book Club Meeting:Hey, Good Luck Out There

  Join author Georgia Toews, Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion on Hey, Good Luck Out There.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Oct 24, 2022

  Oct 2022 Book Club Meeting:The Full Catastrophe

  Join author Meira Cook, Free Press books editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion on The Full Catastrophe.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Oct 18, 2022

  Winnipeg Free Press and Nonsuch – Sips and Snacks

  Celebrate the Winnipeg Free Press’ 150th anniversary with an evening of food and drink in Nonsuch Brewing Co.’s taproom! Enjoy a guided journey through three unique appetizers paired with craft beers from Nonsuch including ‘After Deadline’ Italian Grape Ale.

  

• Oct 1, 2022

  Free Press Fall Supper

  The second edition of the Free Press Fall Supper took place at the Ukrainian Labour Temple and used the Free Press’s new community cookbook, Homemade, as inspiration for the meal.

  See more
  

• Sept 26, 2022

  Sept 2022 Book Club Meeting:The Gunsmith’s Daughter

  Join author Margaret Sweatman, Free Press books editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s Chris Hall and special guest Charlene Diehl, director of the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, for a discussion about The Gunsmith’s Daughter.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Aug 29, 2022

  Jul/Aug 2022 Book Club Meeting:And Then Is Heard No More

  Join author Raye Anderson, Free Press writer Eva Wasney, and McNally Robinson’s Angela Torgerson to discuss Anderson’s locally set murder mystery, And Then Is Heard No More, at the Free Press Book Club’s Aug. 29 meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 17, 2022 to Aug 27, 2022

  Summer Reading Challenge for Kids (2022)

  The third edition of the Summer Reading Challenge for Kids encourages young readers between the ages of 7 and 15 to pick a book off our reading lists curated by McNally Robinson, and then submit a review. Reviews are published in print and online twice throughout the summer.

  See more
  

• Jun 27, 2022

  Jun 2022 Book Club Meeting:Life in the City of Dirty Water

  Join author Clayton Thomas-Muller, Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall to discuss Thomas-Muller’s memoir, Life in the City of Dirty Water, at the Free Press Book Club’s June 27 meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• May 30, 2022

  May 2022 Book Club Meeting:The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice

  Join author Dr. Philipp Schott, Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall to discuss Dr. Schott’s essay collection, The Accidental Veterinarian, at the Free Press Book Club’s May 30 meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Apr 25, 2022

  Apr 2022 Book Club Meeting:You Don’t Have to Die in the End

  Join author Anita Daher, Free Press writer Jill Wilson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall to discuss Daher’s novel, You Don’t Have to Die in the End, at the Free Press Book Club’s April 25 meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Apr 13, 2022

  Apr 2022 Brew Box Virtual TastingFeaturing Barn Hammer Brewing Company

  Barn Hammer Brewing Company is the featured brewery for the April 2022 Brew Box, which also includes tasting items from Utoffeea and Melt Chocolate Co.. Drinks writer Ben Sigurdson will host the live virtual tasting, alongside Tyler Birch from Barn Hammer, Cate Dyck from Utoffeea, and Amanda Green of Melt Chocolate Co. The replay of the tasting will be available to those who purchased the box.

  See more
  

• Mar 28, 2022

  Mar 2022 Book Club Meeting:Persephone’s Children

  Join author Rowan McCandless, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson’s John Toews and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion about Rowan’s memoir, Persephone’s Children.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Mar 22, 2022

  Movie Night:Duty Free

  After a 75 year-old mother gets fired from her job, her son takes her on a bucket-list adventure to reclaim her life. As she struggles to find work, he documents a journey that uncovers the betrayals plaguing her past and the economic insecurity soon to shape not only her future, but that of an entire generation.

  See more
  

• Feb 28, 2022

  Feb 2022 Book Club Meeting:The Strangers

  Join author Katherena Vermette, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion about Katherena’s newest novel, The Strangers.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jan 31, 2022

  Dec 2021/Jan 20222 Book Club Meeting:Moon of the Crusted Snow

  Join author Waubgeshig, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion about Moon of the Crusted Snow.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Dec 9, 2021

  Movie Night:Crashing Through the Snow

  Maggie and Sam are crashing Christmas. When he proposes that they team up against his sister’s perfect Christmas, neither of them are prepared for the blended family challenges that lie ahead.

  

• Nov 29, 2021

  Nov 2021 Book Club Meeting:Status Update

  Join author George Toles, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin Erin Lebar for a discussion about Status Update.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Oct 25, 2021

  Oct 2021 Book Club Meeting:Hour of the Crab

  Author Patricia Robertson, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and FPBC admin Erin Lebar hosted the virtual book club meeting for October, at which they discussed Patricia’s collection of short stoires, Hour of the Crab.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Oct 17, 2021

  Free Press Fall Supper

  Our inaugural Free Press Fall Supper, an elevated version of a traditional fall supper with a multi-course dinner built around an editorial feature created by our arts and life reporters.

  See more
  

• Sep 29, 2021

  Reopening MB:Revival of the Arts and Culture sector

  Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti hotsed a panel of special guests for a virtual town hall discussion on how our arts and culture organizations are recovering after being the first to shut down at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what plans look like as they reopen. Panelists include Lynne Skromeda, executive director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Camilla Holland, executive director of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre; and Jorge Requena Ramos, artistic director of the West End Cultural Centre.

  Watch
  

• Sep 27, 2021

  Sept 2021 Book Club Meeting:Fight Night

  Author Miriam Toews, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, Thin Air writers festival director Charlene Diehl and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Toews’ latest novel, Fight Night, at our September Free Press Book Club meeting. This meeting was presented in collaboration with Thin Air Writers Festival and McNally Robinson.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Sep 23, 2021

  Sept 2021 Brew Box Virtual TastingFeaturing Trans Canada Brewing

  Trans Canada Brewing Company was the featured brewery for our Sept. 2021 Brew Box, which also included tasting items from A Taste of Africa and Bliss Gourmet Baked Goods. Drinks writer Ben Sigurdson hosted the live virtual tasting, which featured Tyler Sattler from Trans Canada, Sal and Anna Calamusa from Bliss Gourmet, and Stuart Webb from A Taste of Africa. The replay of the tasting is available to those who purchased the box.

  

• Sep 22, 2021

  Reopening MB:Sports and COVID-19

  Free Press sports editor Steve Lyons and reporter Mike McIntyre hosted a panel of special guests for a virtual town hall discussion on how the pandemic affected the world of professional and amateur sport, and what the future holds for fans and athletes. Panelists include Wade Miller, Winnipeg Blue Bombers president and CEO and Janet McMahon, Sport Manitoba president and CEO.

  See more
  

• Sep 15, 2021

  Reopening MB:Recovery of the food and drink industry

  Free Press reporters Eva Wasney and Ben Sigurdson hosted a panel of special guests for a virtual town hall discussion on the new and ongoing challenges facing the local food and beverage industry as patrons return to indoor dining and drinking. Panelists include Melanie Foucault, co-owner of Preservation Hall Eatery and Wine Bar; John Heim, president of Torque Brewing; and Shaun Jeffrey, executive director/CEO Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservices Association.

  See more
  

• Sep 8, 2021

  Reopening MB:Vaccine ethics

  A special Free Press virtual town hall to discuss the ethical, moral and legal issues surrounding vaccine and mask mandates, and how these topics will play out as key themes in this month’s federal election. Arthur Schafer, an ethicist specializing in bioethics, philosophy of law, social philosophy and political philosophy and the founding director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, joined columnist Dan Lett for this discussion.

  Watch
  

• Aug 30, 2021

  Jul/Aug 2021 Book Club Meeting:The Paris Apartment

  Author Kelly Bowen, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall and Free Press Book Club admin and engagement manager Erin Lebar discuss Bowen’s latest novel, The Paris Apartment, at our summer Free Press Book Club meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jul 17, 2021

  Jul 2021 Brew Box Virtual TastingFeaturing Little Brown Jug

  Little Brown Jug was the featured brewery for our June 2021 Brew Box, which also included tasting items from Tomahawk Chips and Decadence Chocolates. Drinks writer Ben Sigurdson hosted the live virtual tasting, which included from Little Brown Jug, Alfred Lea from Tomahawk Chips, and Helen Staines from Decadence Chocolates.

  

• Jun 29, 2021

  COVID and the Classroom:Lessons learned from a school year in the midst of a pandemic

  Free Press editor Paul Samyn and education reporter Maggie Macintosh host a virtual town hall to revisit the school year that was – and frequently wasn’t for far too many students. Panelists include Rory Ramos, a Grade 10 student; Kathy Heppner, a high school teacher and parent council chairwoman; and Kirsten Baesler, state superintendent of North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction.

  See more

• Jun 28, 2021

  Jun 2021 Book Clu Meeting:Paul is Dead

  Author Doug Whiteway (C.C. Benison), Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Whiteway’s latest novel, Paul is Dead, at our June Free Press Book Club meeting.

  Watch the meeting replay
  

• Jun 23, 2021 to Aug 31, 2021

  Summer Reading Challenge for Kids (2021)

  The second edition of the Summer Reading Challenge for Kids encouraged young readers between the ages of 7 and 15 to pick a book off our reading lists curated by McNally Robinson, and then submit a review. Reviews were published in print and online twice throughout the summer.

  See more
  

• May 6, 2021

  Movie NightPercy

  

• May 1, 2021

  May 2021 Book Club Meeting:Once Removed

  Author Andrew Unger, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Unger’s novel, Once Removed, at our May Free Press Book Club meeting.

  See more
  

• Apr 26, 2021

  Apr 2021 Book Club Meeting:Treed

  Ariel Gordon, Free Press columnist Jen Zoratti, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Gordon’s essay collection Treed at our April Free Press Book Club meeting.

  See more
  

• Mar 29, 2021

  Mar 2021 Book Club Meeting:We Are All Perfectly Fine

  Author Dr. Jillian Horton, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Horton’s debut novel, We Are All Perfectly Fine, at our March Free Press Book Club meeting.

  See more
  

• Mar 25, 2021

  Movie Night:Al Simmons – The Barber of Seville

  A virtual screening of Al Simmons’s adaptation of the Barber of Seville, including a live chat with Simmons. Hosted in collaboration with Manitoba Opera.

  

• Mar 4, 2021

  Apr 2022 Brew Box Virtual TastingFeaturing Fort Garry Brewing

  Fort Garry Brewing was the featured brewery for our March 2021 Brew Box, which also included tasting items from Chocolaterie Constance Popp and Piccola Cucina. Drinks writer Ben Sigurdson hosted our live tasting call, which also included Josh Berscheid from Fort Garry, Constance Menzies from Chocolaterie Constance Popp and Pina Romolo of Piccola Cucina.

  

• Feb 23, 2021

  Feb 2021 Book Club Meeting:Songs for the End of the World

  Author Saleema Nawaz, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Nawaz’s novel, Songs for the End of the World, at our February Free Press Book Club meeting.

  See more
  

• Jan 25, 2021

  Dec 2020/Jan 2021 Book Club Meeting:Five Wives

  Author Joan Thomas, Free Press literary editor Ben Sigurdson, and McNally Robinson co-owner Chris Hall discuss Thomas’s latest novel, Five Wives, at our January Free Press Book Club meeting.

  See more
  

• Dec 17, 2020

  Movie Night:On the 12th Date of Christmas

  Two seemingly incompatible game designers in Chicago team up to create a romantic city-wide scavenger hunt to promote a hotel chain.

  

• Dec 10, 2020

  Manitoba’s Pandemic panel discussion

  A Q&A and panel discussion on what went wrong and how to make things right again in relation to Manitoba’s response to COVID-19.

  See more

• Feb 11, 2020

  Movie Night:I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight

  Iris DelaCruz meets Simon Friesen in the depths of coldest Canadian winter. This initiates an energetic, fun, sexy affair – complete with all the passion and intensity of a 20 something infatuation. But while he’s away on a trip, she hooks up with some other boys on a dating app, and things become significantly more complicated.