The Reading Partnership is thrilled to announce the return of The Next Chapter Literacy Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Scarborough Town Centre (STC). This free, all-day celebration of books, music, and art brings together families, children, and book lovers for a day of community, creativity, and storytelling to inspire a love of reading among children and families.
Last year’s inaugural festival brought together more than 1,500 people, with over 2,600 free books distributed. This year’s festival will expand into all lower courts of STC, opening with Asha Frost, Indigenous healer and storyteller, who will engage families through story and song.
“We’re building The Next Chapter Festival into Canada’s largest and most inclusive literacy festival, and spotlighting Scarborough as a vibrant hub where diverse communities come together and dream big about the future,” says Camesha Cox, Founder of The Reading Partnership.
“Through events like this, we are fostering connection, culture, while addressing literacy inequities in under-resourced communities, and supporting families in building their children’s confidence and reading skills.”
Founded in 2011, The Reading Partnership delivers evidence-informed literacy programs to over 3,500 children and families each year. Drawing on the experiences of Black caregivers and service providers, the organization recently launched Teaching Our Children to Read, a first-of-its-kind study conducted with Black Health Alliance and the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation. The report highlights the barriers limiting Black children’s access to literacy skills, and highlights solutions that meet the needs of these communities.
The Next Chapter Festival engages families as partners in children’s literacy journeys through activities designed to inspire a love of reading. Festival highlights include live performances, readings from young authors, features from local writers, a drumming workshop led by Sistema, and hands-on science experiments hosted by Visions of Science. Families can also enjoy activities from the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto Zoo, and TVO.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with The Reading Partnership and to once again host The Next Chapter Festival at STC,” says Karen Calibuso-Kwa, Marketing Manager at Oxford Properties Group for Scarborough Town Centre.
“As the heart of the Scarborough community, we are passionate about creating opportunities that bring people together. Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning and empowerment, and events like this bring that message to life for families in our community. The festival is a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and connection, and we’re thrilled to offer a space where children and parents can discover the joy of reading together.”
Throughout the day, guests can explore literacy-themed activities, discover the programs offered by The Reading Partnership, and visit an immersive listening lounge where they can experience stories from the online 360° Stories Listening Lounge, created by children who participated in the program, in partnership with Strides Toronto. Guests can also enjoy a panel conversation with young 360° Stories authors, moderated by Randell Adjei, Ontario’s first Poet Laureate.
“As we embark on our next chapter, The Reading Partnership remains dedicated to addressing the critical literacy gaps affecting the communities we serve,” adds Cox.
Attend The Next Chapter Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Scarborough Town Centre to celebrate and learn more about initiatives to empower children and families through literacy. Tickets are free. Get your tickets here.
About The Reading Partnership
The Reading Partnership is a Scarborough-based registered charity committed to building community and cultivating a love of reading for children and families, particularly in underrepresented, racialized neighbourhoods. Serving over 2,000 families annually, we help children ages 0-12 across Canada develop the skills and confidence to read and learn independently through inclusive, interactive and evidence-informed literacy programming. Our vision is that every child in every community has the literacy skills and self-determination to positively impact their world.
Registration is currently open for the fall edition of the Reading Partnership for Parents program, a FREE 10-week program offered in-person and online that helps caregivers teach their 4-6 year olds how to read. Learn more at readingpartnership.com. Note, registration for this program closes on September 21, 2025.
Register today!