CBCwriter part of lineup for Word fest

An accomplished Canadian screenwriter with his own CBC show is one of the many literary figures in Saskatoon for the Word on the Street festival.

Ins Choi was born in South Korea and came to Canada with his family when he was only a year old. Choi said his uncle owned a convenience store in Toronto called Kim’s Grocer, which served as the inspiration for the play that turned into a popular TV show.

“My first memory of Canada is the smell of chocolate bars, the smell of a convenience store,” Choi said.

Kim’s Convenience is a series that revolves around a KoreanCanadian family running a convenience store in Toronto, and their interactions among themselves and in the community.

Choi is in Saskatoon for the annual Word on the Street literary festival, featuring readings, discussions and workshops that are open to the public.

“It’s actually a treat for me to be able to do this, and meet people in Saskatoon for the first time,” he said.

Choi said he was most looking forward to meeting some of the Indigenous writers and poets in attendance. He said he was particularly impressed by the writing and poetry of Billy-Ray Belcourt and Saskatchewan’s own Randy Lundy, two Indigenous writers participating in the event.

The Word on the Street Saskatoon runs on Sunday, Sept. 16 from 11 in the morning until 5 p.m. on Broadway Avenue.