Kingston WritersFest 2025 highlighted Canadian identity amid U.S. ties and global shifts.

Kingston WritersFest returned in 2025 with a focus on language’s power, featuring 13 events, 14 studios, and three salons. Co-founders Merilyn Simonds and Jan Walter revived the festival amid financial struggles with help from Eric Friesen and Sarah Tsiang. A key panel, “Elbows Up and After,” explored Canadian identity, discussing historical shifts like the 1960s decolonization and the 1988 NAFTA deal. Panelists Carol Off, David Moscrop, and Ian Reid examined patriotism versus nationalism, with Moscrop questioning how Canada might respond if the U.S. became authoritarian, citing deep economic ties—75.9% of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Despite these dependencies, the group agreed Canadians are increasingly united in affirming their national identity.