2018 Isle of Story Festival

The Isle of Story Festival will take place May 1st-5th in Sydney, celebrating the past, present, and future of storytelling in Cape Breton. After a successful storytelling festival last year, we are back with the second annual Isle of Story Festival. Over the 5 days of the festival there will be opportunities to attend a featured workshop, a “Story Swap” with audience participation, storytelling events and more.

Each year, the Isle of Story Committee presents an outstanding local storyteller the Distinguished Storyteller award. Last year the recipient was Jim St. Claire. This year the award goes to Wanda Robson, who has done so much to share the story of her sister, Viola Desmond, with Nova Scotians and Canadians. There is no doubt stories have power, and Wanda Robson has proven this with her determination to tell her sister’s story and shed light on the struggles of Black Nova Scotians.

The Isle of Story Festival has been made possible by a collaboration of local organizations, including Breton Books, the Cape Breton Regional Library, Cape Breton University's Beaton Institute, Centre for Sounds Communities - CBU and Membertou Heritage Park. Support to make these events possible has been received from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Membertou Governance, Support 4 Culture, Nova Scotia Community Culture & Heritage, and Storytellers of Canada. All events are free and open to everyone. The events calendar at gocapebreton.com has details for each event. For further details, go to facebook.com/isleofstory.