EXPERIENCE BLACK CANADIAN LITERATURE WITHOUT LEAVING DURHAM REGION
Witness exceptional Black literary arts talent in Ajax's historic Pickering Village!
BlackLit Durham is a bimonthly literary arts event produced by the Canadian Black Literature Institute and generously supported by Ajax Public Library and the Ajax Centre for the Arts. The Durham Region-based series is designed to showcase, highlight, amplify, and celebrate Black Canadian literary voices of all genres in their full splendour and diversity.
Event History
An event featuring contributors to the book AfriCANthology, hosted at Ajax's St. Francis Centre in June 2022, was such a rousing success that audience members called for a recurring series based on similar themes to showcase Black Canadian artists. The idea for BlackLit Durham was born.
Now into its fourth full season in the heart of Pickering Village, BlackLit Durham is the only recurring literary arts focused series of its kind in the eastern GTA, drawing audience members from across Durham Region and beyond.
Our Community
Durham Region (pop. 697,000 in 2021) is the easternmost regional municipality of the Greater Toronto Area. Most people do not realize that there are large Black populations in the Region's communities, such as Whitby, Pickering, and Oshawa. In fact, the Town of Ajax, where BlackLit Durham takes place, has the largest Black population (by percentage) of any large municipality in Canada.
Our Partners
blacklit durham / CBLF in the news
#CBLF2026 on the Dr. Vibe show — august 21, 2026
by Dr. Vibe, August 21, 2026
Festival Director Greg Frankson discussed the upcoming Canadian Black Literary Festival with the irrepressible Dr. Vibe and his guest co-host Jonathan “Juiceman” Shaw on The Morning Vibe™ via livestream to YouTube and Facebook.
Canadian Black Literary Festival in Ajax spotlights Black Canadian authors, literature — August 20, 2026
by Arjun Banerjee, Ajax News Advertiser, August 20, 2026
With the theme ‘voices of freedom,’ the festival presents award-winning authors, speakers and poets from the region and beyond who bring a diversity of experiences and talents to the stage.
Blacklit Durham expands into national festival — June 20, 2026
by thecaribbeancamera.com, June 20, 2026
“Four years ago, in partnership with Ajax Public Library, our movement began when BlackLit Durham was born in Pickering Village. Now, we have created a festival to amplify Black literary voices and transform regional momentum into an international game changer,” says Frankson.
Blacklit Durham to feature two top Black literary voices — June 11, 2025
by sharenews.com admin, Share News, June 2025 Edition, pg. 4
"Nearly three years ago, we presented an event with Ajax Public Library to promote the release of AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets, and people loved not having to go to downtown Toronto to experience high-quality Black Canadian creativity," says Frankson.
BlackLit Durham: Pulling Black Canadian literature out of the shadows — April 3, 2025
by Chenelle Richards, The Chronicle – Durham College / Ontario Tech U.
"Black literary voices usually slip through the cracks. BlackLit Durham creates a space for Black Canadian writers and listeners yearning for authentic representation with the allure of open mic performances and diverse written works."
Ajax host first Canadian Black Literary Festival — august 26, 2026
aired on CBC Radio One 99.1FM in Toronto, August 26, 2026
[On Saturday, August 29], Ajax will host the inaugural Canadian Black Literary Festival. Greg Frankson, the executive director, talks about what is in store for the full day event.
Books, beats and everything else on Toronto's fall culture calendar — august 29, 2026
by AfroToronto Team, August 29, 2026
If the date [of the Canadian Black Literary Festival on August 29] slipped past you, the reading series it grew from keeps meeting every other month, which makes it worth a follow rather than a one-time visit.
Upcoming events
LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACKLIT DURHAM
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Our Next Event
Details about the next BlackLit Durham showcase that you don't want to miss!
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Partners
Details about the organizations that collaborate to present BlackLit Durham.
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Festival
Info about the inaugural Canadian Black Literary Festival on August 29, 2026.
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Contact
Reach out to BlackLit Durham with comments, suggestions, and feedback.