The inaugural Mississauga Arabic Book Fair concluded its activities on April 6, 2025, at the headquarters of the Palestinian House in Mississauga, Canada.
Organised by the Nawah Foundation for Cultural and Artistic Production, the two-day literary and artistic event brought together a distinguished group of writers, artists, and representatives of cultural and social institutions from across the Greater Toronto Area.
The exhibition was the result of dynamic Arab cultural collaboration in Canada, with the Nawah Foundation for Cultural and Artistic Production leading the organisation of the accompanying cultural festival. Key partners included Haneen Organization, House of Fiction in Toronto, the East Forum, and the PEN International Club.
Bassima Al Takruri, Director of the book fair, said that the event aims to create an inclusive space that connects writers with readers, artists with cultural practitioners, and bridges the gap between first- and second-generation Arab audiences in Canada, as well as between Arab culture and its broader public. “We are proud to bring together more than 20 Arab publishing houses and platforms, along with over 50 writers and artists, under one roof for a first-of-kind cultural and artistic festival in terms of scale and diversity in Mississauga,” she said.
The fir featured the participation of a distinguished group of writers, intellectuals, and artists, including Asin Chalhoub, Mina Radi, Amal Habib, Kamal Riahi, Bassima Al Takruri, Tayseer Khalaf, Amal Fatayer, Radwan Waheed Taleb, Al Muhannad Al Nasser, Younis Attari, Walid Al Khashab, Karim Shaalan, Medhat Ghobrial, Abdel Rahman Matar, Mohamed Fatih, Salah Salah, Raghda Mikati, Ashraf Zaghal, Jacqueline Hanna Salam, Abdullah AlKhatib, Hani Yakan, and others.
The event featured a diverse lineup of dialogue sessions, book signings, and cultural seminars, including “The Police in Literature and Art – The Dilemma of Censorship”, the Arab-Canadian Theatre Symposium, and “The Price of Freedom” seminar.
The programme also included a children’s musical play performed by Rahaf A Aqbani and Ismail Abu Fakhr, produced by Haneen Organization. On the sidelines of the exhibition, musical performances were delivered by a number of artists, including Egyptian performers Majid Zarif and Natalie, along with artists Yasser Sorial and Layan. The event concluded with a traditional Palestinian Dabke performance by artist Mona Ayesh, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Palestine.
Among the most prominent publishing houses participating in the exhibition were Dar Al Nahda Al Arabiya, Dar Al Mutawassit, Dar Marfa, Tamer Institute for Community Education, Dar Al Rafidain, Dar Al Jadeed, Dar La Maso, Darry Books, Dar Tabaq, Dar Al Ahlia, Dar Loma, Masaa Culture and Publishing, Unique Books, and Transit Books.
