The 41st Annual JCC Jewish Book Festival (February 21–26, 2026) places a strong spotlight on British Columbia writers whose work speaks to identity, memory, creativity and contemporary Jewish life. Taking place at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver and venues across the Lower Mainland, the festival brings local voices into conversation with leading authors from around the world.

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Among the featured BC authors is Dina Goldstein, the Vancouver-based photographer known for her provocative, socially engaged visual work. Goldstein will present The Archive XXX – 30 Years of Photography, alongside a special pre-festival event, Photography: Witness in Our Community (February 12), reflecting on decades of portraiture, documentary work and cultural observation.

Victoria writer and scholar Dr. Ted Rosenberg addresses urgent contemporary issues with Ayekha Where Are You?: A Memoir and Reflection about Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism and the Western Response to October 7, 2023 (self-published $28.99). His appearance brings a local perspective to global conversations around antisemitism, academia and moral responsibility.

Vancouver author Marina Sonkina will present her novel One Thousand and a Night: As Told by Larissa, Ukrainian Construction Shock Worker (Guernica Editions $25), a tragi-comic, deeply human story led by an unforgettable 80-year-old narrator navigating family, history and survival.

Mental health, girlhood and identity are explored by Sunshine Coast–based Claire Sicherman, who will discuss Bloom: Letters about Girlhood (Caitlin Press $25), co-written with Nicole Breit. The book’s collaborative voice and its focus on young women’s inner lives add an important dimension to the festival’s programming.

Together, these BC authors reflect the festival’s commitment to courageous storytelling, regional talent and conversations that resonate far beyond local borders.

The JCC Jewish Book Festival runs February 21–26, 2026, with pre-festival and epilogue events extending into February and March. Full details and updates are available at www.jccgv.com/jewish-book-festival.