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Glad Day Bookshop heads into first Pride Week under new co-ownership

Toronto’s Glad Day Bookshop is heading into its first Pride Week under its new co-ownership of 22 investors.

Scott Dagostino, manager of Glad Day, says co-owners Michael Erickson and Fatima Amarshi spearheaded the bookstore’s first Pride event programming in several years.

“The approach behind the programming was in line with the store’s philosophy – a commitment to local authors … a diversity of voices, and great writing,” Dagostino says.

Toronto’s Pride Week runs from June 22–July 1, and Glad Day has a full lineup of events scheduled for its new third-floor community space. The store is presenting a series of free literary events, spoken word and storytelling nights (schedule is here), and, under a new official partnership with Toronto Pride, will host the Proud Voices series, featuring writers such as Sky Gilbert, Daniel Allen Cox, and Lamda Literary Award winner Farzana Doctor. Co-owner Erickson believes the series, which kicks off June 29 after the Trans March, will be a highlight of the festival.

Erickson, a local high school teacher, says when the owners took over the shop in February, they wanted to create a platform for storytelling and a place for community members and families to gather in a friendly, alcohol-free environment. He adds that hosting these events will help generate revenue in tough economic times.

Other Glad Day events include a book sale, a talk on gender and queerness in video games hosted by Jamie Woo, and an introduction to burlesque dancing.

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