Canada Reads, the great Canadian book debate, is back for its 24th year! The books on this year’s show all have the power to change how we see, share, and experience the world around us.
Join us for a lively and engaging conversation with Emma Hooper, author of Canada Reads contender Etta and Otto and Russell and James, and the book’s champion, Heartland actor and West Vancouver local Michelle Morgan, hosted by CBC Vancouver’s Amy Bell.
About Canada Reads
Canada Reads premiered in 2002. The first winning book was In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje, which was defended by musician Steven Page. In 2021, CBC Books put together a retrospective to look back at the show’s biggest moments and its impact on Canadian literature. The 2025 debates will take place March 17-20.
About Emma Hooper
Emma Hooper is the author of internationally best-selling and award-winning novels Etta and Otto and Russell and James (2015), Our Homesick Songs (2018), and We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky (2022). Holding a PhD in music-literary studies, she has also published research in the fields of intermediality, gender studies, popular music and retro-futurism. As a musician, she has worked with many clients and collaborators, including Peter Gabriel, Newton Faulkner, the Heavy, and her own projects, Red Carousel and Waitress for the Bees, which once earned her a Finnish Cultural Knighthood. Although she lives in the UK, Emma comes home to Canada as often as she can and recently broke her toe in an over-zealous cross-country skiing incident. She was born and raised in Edmonton.
About Michelle Morgan
Michelle Morgan is a Canadian actor and filmmaker of Chilean descent, best known for her role as “Lou” on the beloved Canadian drama Heartland (CBC). With over 20 years of experience in film and television, some of her credits include Virgin River, Batwoman, and The Good Doctor.
In addition to acting, Michelle has directed over eight hours of primetime television, along with award-winning short films and digital series. A passionate advocate for women’s rights, she has spent two decades supporting women’s shelters across Canada, partnering with organizations like The Brenda Strafford Women’s Shelter and Homefront Calgary.
Michelle lives in Vancouver, B.C., with her husband, three children, and their black cat, Danny.
About Amy Bell
Amy Bell is a digital contributor to CBC. She can be heard weekdays on The Early Edition as the traffic and weather reporter and parenting columnist.
Photo credit: CBC and Sean Maylon