A book fair only in name but oh the amount of shame!

May 4, 2024 10:35 AM

Ottawa International Food and Book Expo definitely did not do what it says on the tin.
posted by Kitteh (19 comments total)

... a festival that featured far-right speakers, new age spirituality gurus, conspiracy theorists, obscure cults or intergenerational dating events for “cougars.” ...

One of those political panels spiralled out-of-control after an anti-lockdown activist heckled Senator Kim Pate, a local People’s Party candidate hijacked a microphone to promote her anti-vaccine book and Maxime Bernier physically restrained the moderator while shouting about “freedom of speech.”

That whole thing sounds nuts. I feel sorry for the venders, though, they got straight up scammed.
posted by Dip Flash at 11:36 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]

At the end where he is trying to convince Charlottetown, PEI, to have him head a consortium to build a CFL stadium is really giving me Lyle Lanley selling a monorail vibes.
posted by fimbulvetr at 11:45 AM on May 4 [2 favorites]

That article is a hell of a ride!
posted by tavella at 11:47 AM on May 4 [2 favorites]

Just when you think it's reached maximum bonkers, there's more. Good grief, what a disaster for the people who thought they were participating in something legit.
posted by EvaDestruction at 12:09 PM on May 4 [2 favorites]

I can't believe I missed this!

"One recent article authored by Stokes claimed that a Nazi-alien alliance was responsible for acts of arson at a Kellogg’s cereal factory."

When is the next one!?
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 12:11 PM on May 4 [3 favorites]

Good ole Randy Hillier, one of the asshats in one of the photos, is a well-known nutter in my neck of the woods. When the Freedom Convoy was at its peak, Randy was encouraging supporters to tie up 911 so that no one with a legit emergency could get through. I think he was finally ousted as mayor of his small town.
posted by Kitteh at 12:24 PM on May 4 [7 favorites]

No, no, not a small town mayor! Good ole Randy was an elected member of our Provincial Parliament!
* shudder *
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 1:04 PM on May 4 [6 favorites]

My bad, you're right!
posted by Kitteh at 1:15 PM on May 4

It's always a scam.

It's always a scam.
posted by mhoye at 2:21 PM on May 4 [4 favorites]

You know that, I know that, but way too many people don't.
posted by Kitteh at 2:57 PM on May 4

In a statement to PressProgress, Samuels did not dispute any of the allegations or criticisms about the book festival raised by vendors or others but instead issued a variety of legal threats about the publication of this article.


Awesome.
posted by mollweide at 4:03 PM on May 4 [7 favorites]

If you wanted a tidy summary of the state of the Canadian polity these days, this is basically it.
posted by klanawa at 4:06 PM on May 4 [4 favorites]

Oh, Canada, we stand appalled for thee...
posted by JoeXIII007 at 4:34 PM on May 4 [2 favorites]

So it's like the Fyre Festival for boomers!
posted by Naberius at 5:36 PM on May 4 [4 favorites]

What, no sad … Oompa Loompa

I, too, am surprised Pierre Poilievre wasn't there.
posted by mazola at 5:47 PM on May 4 [6 favorites]

A few times I've been a vendor at events that haven't been as great as I would like. A couple of times have been honestly terrible. But this is a shitstorm on a whole other level. This is honestly impressive.
posted by jenjenc at 6:49 PM on May 4 [3 favorites]

My favourite line from the article: “We agreed to dance for a literary event…”

I feel sorry for the vendors and performers. It’s tough enough out there without this kind of BS.
posted by rpfields at 12:22 PM on May 5 [1 favorite]

US book fair compared to Fyre Festival after chaotic scenes
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:27 PM on May 5

Nora Loreto was invited to be a moderator/host for the event, accepted thinking it was a legit event, and has written up her experience (which included getting manhandled by Maxime Bernier). They're now refusing to pay her.
posted by adrienneleigh at 7:54 PM on May 5 [1 favorite]