Giller Power Panel: East Coast Style

A descendent of Africville, Amanda Carvery was born and raised in Halifax, NS.

Between her love of poetry, photography, and community spirit,  Amanda released her debut book “A Love Letter to Africville” which captures photos and stories from Africville Elders.

When not behind a lens, Amanda can be found with her two children, supporting births as a doula, or volunteering in her communities. She loves baking, practicing circus aerials, and hiking around Nova Scotia with her friends.

Megan Gail Coles is a writer of plays, screenplays, poetry and prose originally from the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland/Ktaqmkuk. Her books include Squawk, Satched, Eating Habits of the Chronically Lonesome and Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club which has recently been optioned by The JDB Film Company with Megan attached as Executive Producer. Her work has been a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller prize, a Canada Reads contender and has twice won the BMO Winterset award. Megan is a graduate of Memorial University, the National Theatre School of Canada and UBC. She is the Artistic Director of Poverty Cove Theatre Company and a PhD student at Concordia University. Megan lives in St. John’s where she is the Executive Director of Riddle Fence Publishing. Her new fiction is forthcoming from Doubleday Canada.

Mark Critch is one of the hardest working comedians in show business, winning multiple awards for both writing and performance. In addition to 20 years writing and performing on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mark is the host of CBC’s long-running Halifax Comedy Festival and has appeared in CBC’s world-renowned Just for Laughs series. Mark is the author of two best-selling books published by Penguin. His memoir ‘Son of a Critch’ was adapted into a hit CBC television series, for which he also writes, acts and Executive Produces.

Michael Crummey is the author of 12 books of fiction and poetry. His most recent novel, The Innocents, was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor-General’s Award, and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. Passengers, a collection of poetry, was published in 2022. He lives in St. John’s NL.

Andre Fenton is an award-winning African Nova Scotian author, spoken-word artist, screenwriter and arts educator who has represented Halifax at seven national poetry festivals across Canada. He is a recipient of the Emerging Artist Recognition Award at the 2022 Creative NS Awards, and the author of three young adult fiction novels, Worthy of Love, which won bronze in The Coast’s 2018 Best Of Awards, He is also the author of ANNAKA, that was the 2022 recipient of The Community & Place Award from Digitally Lit, and is the author of The Summer Between Us, which won Gold in The Coast’s 2022 Best Of Awards. Andre has facilitated writing and performances workshops at over 50 schools across Nova Scotia. He is currently screenwriting the film adaptation of his novel, ANNAKA that is being produced by Fine Devils Films. Andre is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Tom Power is the award-winning host of Q with Tom Power produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Tom’s heartfelt and enthusiastic interview style has attracted guests from around the globe including Harry Styles, Bono, Denzel Washington, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Seinfeld, Lee Jung-Jae, Celine Dion, Guillermo del Toro and Janelle Monae.

Tom started his radio career in his home of St. John’s Newfoundand while studying folklore at Memorial University. At just 21 he joined CBC full time as the host of the folk music show Deep Roots, making him the youngest host of a national radio show since Peter Jennings.

When he’s not behind the mic, Tom is a fixture at traditional music sessions across the country. An in-demand public speaker and beloved presence on social media, he can usually be found frequenting the dingy pool halls of whatever city he finds himself in.