The Word On The Street is more than a festival, it’s a community! Get to know our team, working year-round to help you discover great books by Canadian and Indigenous authors.
Co-Executive Director
kent@thewordonthestreet.ca
Kent Robinson is Co-Executive Director of The Word On The Street Toronto and has been part of the festival’s evolution for more than 13 years. A lifelong reader with a passion for science fiction and fantasy, Kent has always been drawn to imaginative storytelling and creative expression. His early love of graphic art grew into a career spanning branding, design, media production, and cultural programming.
As Founder of Propagation Media, Kent has worked with leading cultural organizations across Canada to create engaging events, campaigns, and digital experiences. At The Word On The Street, he is committed to championing Canadian and Indigenous authors and illustrators, helping connect their stories with readers while ensuring the festival continues to inspire new generations of book lovers.
Co-Executive Director
kim@thewordonthestreet.ca
Kim Robinson is Co-Executive Director of The Word On The Street Toronto, where she brings more than 20 years of experience in event production, sponsorship, and cultural programming. Throughout her career—from Women in Film & Television Toronto to the Toronto Screenwriting Conference and now The Word On The Street—she has been passionate about creating opportunities that celebrate and amplify Canadian and Indigenous storytellers, who she believes are among the best in the world.
Working alongside Kent Robinson, Kim has spent more than a decade helping shape the festival’s growth, strengthening partnerships, expanding accessibility, and ensuring it remains Canada’s largest celebration of books and reading. A lifelong reader with a particular love of horror novels, she’s happiest with a book that keeps her up at night and reminds her of the power of a great story.
Operations Director
dominic@thewordonthestreet.ca
Dominic is an arts & culture professional dedicated to bringing transformative and creative public experiences to life. His experiences range from grassroots community initiatives to international cultural institutions. He previously served as Managing Director of the Forest City Film Festival and was part of the team supporting Canada’s Guest of Honour role at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
As Operations Director at WOTS, he is excited to help build effective systems and support impactful strategies to unlock a new chapter of growth, and deepen the organization’s impact.
He is also an artist who enjoys cooking, weird movies, and exploring his new home city of Toronto!
Bookkeeper
finance@thewordonthestreet.ca
Joyce Chan has served in both the profit and nonprofit sectors, utilizing best practices from leading organizations. In her next life, she would be a stand-up comedian and combine this with her passion for volunteering with downtown women’s shelters.
Communications Manager
rachel@thewordonthestreet.ca
A former teacher turned publishing professional, Rachel Pallotta is thrilled to be the Communications Manager at The Word On The Street for 2026. A recent graduate of the Centennial College publishing program, she brings a passion for the publishing industry that is fuelled by a lifelong love of reading, books, and storytelling in all its forms. As Communications Manager, Rachel looks after the festival’s communications, digital marketing, and audience engagement efforts.
In her previous work as an elementary school teacher, Rachel prioritized making learning accessible for all students, and finding creative ways to foster meaningful conversations. She brings that same mindset into her work at The Word On The Street, combining creativity with coordination to support authors, partners, and audiences alike.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her dog.
Programming Manager
erin@thewordonthestreet.ca
With her background in media and communications at Trinity Western University and further studies in Publishing at Centennial College, Erin Vanderstelt has developed a passion for storytelling, literature, and the ways stories bring people together. Through her education and experiences, she has come to appreciate the creativity, collaboration, and conversation that surrounds books and the written word. This passion has led her to pursue opportunities that bring stories, writers, and readers together within the literary community
As Programming Manager at The Word On The Street Toronto, Erin helps bring the festival’s programming to life by supporting author communications, program development, and the delivery of engaging experiences that connect writers and readers.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, hanging out with her dog, and discovering new books to add to her endless to-be-read pile.
Exhibitor & Logistics Manager
events@thewordonthestreet.ca
Khadija comes from a background in environmental sustainability and live events, and is excited to step into her role as Exhibitor & Logistics Manager at The Word on the Street. Khadija has taken on many front-facing roles at music and comedy venues across Toronto, gaining experience in fast-paced, people-focused environments. She has worn many different hats throughout her career, but Khadija’s favourite part of working in events is building meaningful connections with the people she meets along the way.
During her free time, you can usually find Khadija watching indie films with friends, working on her rollerblading skills, checking out free clothing swaps, or stuffing her face with donuts!
Publicist
daniel@thewordonthestreet.ca
As a writer for stage and TV Daniel has earned 4 Canadian Comedy Awards and has been nominated for a Dora and Canadian Screen Award. Writing credits include This Hour has 22 Minutes, The Hour with George Strombolopolous, The Canadian Screen Awards, The Writer’s Guild of Canada Awards. Daniel has also written, produced and directed for JFL and The Second City Toronto. Daniel’s first book Media Whore was published in 2017 and is available in major bookstores worldwide.
As a publicist Daniel has promoted many incredible organizations and people including: The Second City Toronto, The Red Cross, Norm Macdonald, Louis C.K., Paula Poundstone, The Word On The Street Festival, Gilda’s Club, The SCTV Reunion, Moose Hide Campaign, The Orange Shirt Society, Comedy Bar Toronto, Medicine Wheel Publishing, Arsenal Pulp Press, The Toronto International Buskerfest (for Epilepsy Toronto)
Mailing Address
The Word On The Street Toronto
192 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, ON M5T 2C2
General Inquiries
toronto@thewordonthestreet.ca
President
Amanda Olson is an accomplished publishing professional with over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. Currently the Director of Marketing and Sales at Annick Press, Canada’s largest independent publisher, she is also a dedicated community builder. Amanda contributed extensively to Toronto’s Danforth East Community Association, co-chairing the Danforth East Arts Fair, and most recently co-chaired the “Picnic & Parade,” the public-facing event for the 2026 International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) World Congress in Ottawa. As President of The Word On The Street (WOTS), she brings together her industry expertise and community-focused leadership to champion Canadian and Indigenous literature, and foster vibrant cultural engagement.
Vice-President
Natalee A. Johnson is Caribbean-Canadian author, educator, creator, community change agent, and advocate for children, youth, women, and families. She is the founder of Passion 4 Dreams a space that focus on promoting literature and providing wellness workshops and events within the GTHA.
As a change agent, she continually advocates for equity, diversity, and inclusion while dismantling anti-Black racism, inequalities, and system discrimination within systems.
Natale has served on several boards within the GTHA and is an active volunteer within her community. She is passionate about community, utilizing her talents, skills, and knowledge to empower and inspire others. As an author, motivational speaker, and creator, she focus on inspiring, educating, and promoting sustainability while building stronger communities.
Treasurer
Aymen looks after the numbers at House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books, after eight years in operations at ECW Press. He teaches Publishing Finance at Humber College, where he tries to convince a room of aspiring editors that spreadsheets are not the enemy.
He came to publishing by reading too much, which is the usual route, and to finance by finding out he was good at it, which is not. He reads a lot of SFF and dreams of living on the moon in retirement, where he assumes the bookkeeping is simpler.
Secretary
Cindy Ma (she/her) is a publicity manager at HarperCollins Canada. She previously worked in publicity at House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books. She has over a decade of experience in the Canadian publishing industry. Cindy enjoys reading, matchmaking books with readers, and drinking excessive amounts of black coffee.
Board Member
Nancy Cooper is from the Chippewas of Rama First Nation in southern Ontario. She has worked in the community for the past 35 years as an educator and community development worker. Currently, Nancy works with all of the First Nation Public Libraries in Ontario as a consultant for the Ontario Library Service and as an acquiring editor at Annick Press.
As a writer, Nancy has written for Chirp, Chickadee and Owl magazines and is the author of four children’s picture books. Her fifth picture book will be published in early 2028 from Second Story Press.
As part of her work at the Ontario Library Service, Nancy has administered the highly successful First Nation Communities READ award, a national Indigenous literature award that is now in its 22nd year.
Board Member
Deepak Iyer is a technology and privacy lawyer at a global technology company, where he advises on technology transactions, data licensing, partnerships, and acquisitions. He joined the board of The Word On The Street out of a deep belief in community, and in making sure that access to community, and to literacy, is never treated as a luxury. For Deepak, the Festival embodies both: a community space where stories are shared openly and everyone is welcome.
Outside of work, Deepak is happiest behind a camera, deep in a long form article, or in the company of dogs. He’s also an enthusiastic tinkerer and is rarely idle; there’s always something on the go: a new project, a new curiosity, a new rabbit hole.
Board Member
Paul Nazareth has worked in Canada’s philanthropic sector for over 30 years. Previously, he taught philanthropic tax, financial, estate and gift planning with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP). He also served as VP at Canada’s largest charity, CanadaHelps. In addition, he spent 15 years working with charities—from universities to churches.. Then as a philanthropic advisor with a national wealth management firm and trust company. On boards since 16 (trauma), he is currently part of the Governing Circle of the Circle on Philanthropy (healing). He sits on the board of Word on the Street and on the editorial community committee of The Philanthropist Journal. Paul was founding faculty for the Master Financial Advisor in Philanthropy program and has taught and served on multiple post-graduate advisory groups at Georgian and Humber colleges as well as Carleton University’s Masters of Nonprofit Leadership. He now represents for-profit companies, dozens of private advisors and diverse donors who generate over $100 million in annual donations to charities.
Board Member
Alex Snider is co-owner of Queen Books, an independent general interest community bookshop located in Toronto. She is a much-respected supporter of the Toronto and the greater Canadian literary scene. She joined WOTS in 2020.
Board Member
Marguerite Pigott is Film Commissioner and Director of Creative Industries for the City of Toronto, responsible for the growth and support of the screen content production, music, creative technology, and tourism industries in Toronto. Previously, she served as Vice Chair of Ontario Creates, and as Vice President of World Literacy Canada. An established creative leader in content production, Marguerite has served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Canadian Media Producers Association, Head of Creative Development for the national pay television broadcaster Super Channel, and Vice President of Development and Production for Odeon Films, An Alliance Atlantis Company. She has Executive Produced many feature films, including Fubar, Saint Ralph, and waydowntown, and also served as a Programmer of the Canadian Feature Film Selection for the Toronto International Film Festival.
