By: Daniel Shehori
For most new residents, moving to Muskoka in August means settling in just in time to catch the tail end of the summer season. But for Kent and Kim Robinson, their move north came right in the middle of orchestrating Canada’s largest celebration of books and reading.
As the Co-Executive Directors of The Word On The Street (WOTS) Toronto, the husband-and-wife duo spends their days programming a massive footprint of Canadian and Indigenous authors for a festival that draws thousands to the downtown core. Now, they are bringing their deep literary passion to their new home in Muskoka.
“We moved to Muskoka in August, but our connection to the area goes back much further,” the Robinsons shared. “Our family has had a presence here for more than 20 years, so making Muskoka our home feels like a very natural next chapter for us.”
The couple brings a powerhouse combination of cultural programming and event production to the region. Kent has been a driving force behind WOTS’s evolution for more than 13 years. A lifelong science fiction and fantasy reader, he parlayed an early love of graphic art into a dynamic career spanning branding and media production as the Founder of Propagation Media.
Working alongside him, Kim brings over 20 years of heavyweight event experience, having previously shaped initiatives for Women in Film & Television Toronto and the Toronto Screenwriting Conference. A devoted horror fan who loves a book that keeps her up at night, Kim has spent the last decade helping expand the festival’s accessibility and national footprint. Together, their shared mission is clear: celebrating and amplifying Canadian and Indigenous storytellers, who they firmly believe are among the best in the world.
Despite the fast-paced demands of producing a massive Toronto-based festival, the couple has already begun embedding themselves in Muskoka’s vibrant arts scene.
“We already love the area and have been thrilled to discover just how strong and vibrant the literary community is across Muskoka,” they noted. They have spent their rare downtime exploring the region’s independent hubs, specifically highlighting Second Story Books and CornerHouse Books in Rosseau, Cedar Canoe Books in Bracebridge and Huntsville, and The Shipyards in Gravenhurst. “It has been exciting to see the enthusiasm for books, authors and local literary culture throughout the region. There is a real sense of community around these bookstores, and we look forward to becoming more connected to it.”
With the Word On The Street festival taking over Toronto’s David Pecaut Square this weekend, the Robinsons are looking forward to a well-deserved reset once the stages are finally packed away.
“After the festival wraps, we hope to take a little vacation time and enjoy more of what Muskoka has to offer,” they said. “The timing could not be better. We are especially looking forward to experiencing Muskoka in the fall, when the area is at its most beautiful with the fall colours, and having a bit of time to explore, read and discover even more of the literary community that we are now lucky to call our own.”
The Word On The Street Toronto runs this weekend, September 26 and 27, at David Pecaut Square. To view the full schedule of free events and author appearances, visit toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca.
