What does it mean to be Guest of Honour?
On 6 October 2016, the Government of Canada signed a contract committing itself to Canada’s participation as the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2020. Canada FBM2020 was then established as an entity in collaboration with the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) and the Association nationale des éditeurs de livres (ANEL) to manage, in French and English, the role and involvement of the Canadian book publishing industry at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2020. Canada FBM2020 uses both official languages to represent English, French, and Indigenous members of the publishing industry from across Canada.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Canada’s plans as GoH were impacted. On July 7th, 2020 the Government of Canada and the Frankfurter Buchmesse announced the official postponement of Canada’s Guest of Honour role to 2021.
In 2021, Canada was proud to take the stage as the Guest of Honour and delivered a week of literary and cultural programming during the fair, across the city of Frankfurt, Germany.
At the Handover Ceremony on October 24, 2021, the scroll was handed to Spain, bidding farewell to Canada as the Guest of Honour country.
October 20, 2019 – Handover Ceremony.
Why Singular Plurality – the name says it all.
Canada is eclectic and multicultural, and our differences are woven into this colourful fabric that shows a nation that’s growing and striving to push further on all fronts, resulting in vibrant, creative industries. This is reflective of today’s Canadian literature, which more than ever is bursting with new voices and perspectives that are reaching broad audiences. Our literature will be the star of our celebration in 2020/2021, from rising and emerging writers and illustrators to the highly acclaimed and renowned authors. Canada will reveal powerful writing from all literary genres and from French, English, and Indigenous voices, while still heralding the myriad of backgrounds that represent our country, our SINGULAR PLURALITY.
Caroline Fortin, President, Canada FBM2020/2021
Learn more about us.
Please note that as of October 24th, 2021, Canada’s role as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair has concluded. The information on this and any related pages is no longer being updated and serves only as a record of past activities.
Canada FBM2020 receives financial support from the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) and strategic oversight from an independent Board of Directors and works with key partners in government and the industry to deliver the major elements of the GoH program.
The entity is a member of the Frankfurt 2021 steering committee, which oversees the GoH project, and includes representatives of PCH, the Canada Council for the Arts, Global Affairs Canada, the Embassy of Canada to Germany, and Telefilm Canada.