AGP Executive Report

Canadian Publishing & Books: Canada Reads winner The Cure for Drowning keeps topping the Canadian fiction bestseller list for a third straight week (Bookmanager weekly sales from independent stores), underscoring how mainstream Canadian fiction is still finding big audiences. Libraries & Local Culture: Teck Centennial Public Library in Kirkland Lake hosts a special Robert Frost poetry reading tied to an upcoming local theatre production, a reminder that libraries in Canada are still major community arts hubs. AI & Tech in Canada: Meta says it’s building its first 1-gigawatt AI-optimized data centre in Alberta, with major investment and jobs, while the broader debate over AI datacenters’ costs and impacts keeps heating up. Digital Media & Streaming: Netflix is expanding short-form video and adding licensing deals with major digital publishers, pushing Canada’s media ecosystem further toward creator-style feeds. Sports & Storytelling: Wimbledon’s Arthur Fery continues his fairytale run, while Canada’s World Cup journey ends as Morocco books the quarter-finals—both stories feeding the kind of narrative momentum book publishers love to ride.

Publishing & Media Deals: Netflix is expanding beyond series with short-form video licensing deals, signing BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst, People, Tastemade and more—bringing publisher clips to members in Canada from Aug. 3. Books & Culture: A McMaster University study highlights precision bacteriophage therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, while a separate feature spotlights a novel on time and memory (“Habits of the Sea”). Local Publishing/Arts: Regina International Film Festival and Awards announced nominees across features, documentaries, shorts and Indigenous categories for Aug. 12–22. Canadian Business/Industry: Mont Royal Resources plans helicopter-supported till sampling at its Chateaufort gold project in Québec, with fieldwork wrapping late July. Community & Housing: Ottawa’s planning committee advanced a bylaw aimed at curbing bad-faith renovictions, heading to city council for final approval July 15. Weather & Safety: A tornado warning was cancelled for eastern Alberta, though severe storms remain a concern.

Publishing & Streaming: Netflix is rolling out short-form video licensing deals with major publishers (including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, People and Variety) starting Aug. 3 across Canada and other markets, betting on bite-sized content to compete with TikTok-style viewing. Canadian Media Literacy: A new report from the Public Library Association and PressReader finds libraries are embedding media literacy support into everyday help, with 65% of staff saying patrons struggle with digital resources. TV/Books Crossover: “Heated Rivalry,” based on Canadian author Rachel Reid’s novel, is barred from Emmy nominations due to U.S. eligibility rules, even as one cast member lands a guest-actor nod. Sports & Culture: Montreal’s Olympic Q-Series for 2028 has confirmed beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, flag football and park skateboarding, with upgrades planned for Olympic Park’s skate facilities. Local Arts: Canmore, Alta. debuts “The Cheezie Musical,” turning Hawkins Cheezies into a homegrown stage story running through Aug. 15. Travel/Reading Season: Parks Canada is waiving admission fees at 223 sites this summer, but the “fine print” matters for parking and camping details.

Publishing & Streaming: Netflix is rolling out short-form video in Canada and the U.S. starting Aug. 3 via licensing deals with major U.S. publishers including Penske Media, BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst and People, bringing series from about two minutes up to 20 minutes. Media & Consumer Backlash: Sony PlayStation posts are being hijacked on social media by fans protesting its plan to end physical disc production for new games starting in 2028. Canadian Books & Community: A Toronto-based queer author donated two poetry collections about belonging and identity to newcomer settlement groups and the Greater Sudbury Public Library for Pride Week. Local Literacy: Vancouver’s “Reading in the Wild” returns as a free outdoor summer reading series at the Water Resources Education Center, pairing stories with nature-focused activities. Policy & Public Services: A Newfoundland and Labrador report argues affordability depends on stronger public services, warning austerity and tax cuts don’t deliver the same household value. Tech & Work Myths: A piece challenges popular job-search advice that claims resumes are mostly rejected by applicant-tracking systems, saying the widely cited numbers trace back to unsupported marketing.

Queer Books in Niagara: Toronto author Alexander Burton donated 48 books—five copies of The Unknown Life of Jake Fidellius and three copies of A-Z of Being Gay per library—to six Niagara public libraries for Pride, including Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland, Beamsville (Lincoln Pelham), and Grimsby. Local Theatre: The Foster Festival announced the world premiere of Norm Foster’s comedy Euchre Night, running Aug. 6–16 at Ridley College’s Mandeville Theatre, starring Kirsten Alter, Nora McLellan, Jenny L. Wright, and Patricia Yeatman. Community & Reading Picks: A Niagara Falls mayor apologized to Kashechewan evacuees after comments at a council meeting about homelessness; meanwhile, a “Country People” reading pick for July landed on the U.S. GMA Book Club list. Publishing/Media Deals: Netflix will feature short-form video series from major publishers (including Billboard and IndieWire) starting Aug. 3 in Canada and other markets. Policy Watch: Canada’s Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act is set to come into force Aug. 4, with a new public registry and commissioner.

Publishing & Media Deals: Radio-Canada bought 50+ hours of French-language kids and drama programming from Federation International, including Disney+’s Lucky Luke, adding to its growing slate of international acquisitions. Film & Censorship: India’s government ordered ZEE5 to take down Diljit Dosanjh’s Satluj (formerly Punjab 95) citing “security concerns” and IT Rules obligations, after a long CBFC certification fight. AI & News Rights: Nigeria’s competition regulator says it’s investigating major tech and AI firms (Meta, Alphabet, X and generative AI platforms) over alleged “unlawful exploitation” of news content and unfair market practices. Canadian Defence Procurement: Canada’s submarine decision is framed as a geopolitics-and-industrial-partnership play, with reporting highlighting how economic deals are increasingly tied to military buying. Books & Culture: A Canadian launch event promoted Ian Angus’s new book Metabolic Rifts, while a separate piece recommends soccer reading for World Cup fans. Sports (World Cup): Belgium’s 4-1 win over the U.S. in Seattle—amid the Folarin Balogun suspension controversy—sets up a quarterfinal vs Spain.

Metadata & Visibility: Author Diane Helentjaris argues women’s history isn’t missing online—it’s hidden by how records are labeled and searched, with inconsistent metadata making contributions harder to find. Royal Security Drama: Prince Harry’s UK visit is set to proceed without Meghan and the kids after a security standoff, with reports also saying an accommodation invite was withdrawn at the last moment. Canadian Publishing/Media Training: Canadian Catholic News runs an in-person Toronto seminar on reporting for students, aiming to recreate the newsroom experience and push participants to find stories in the city. Local Culture & Comics: Kingston’s inaugural Eh! Game Expo brings together indie creators, comic book talent, and pop-culture fans for tournaments and trading. Publishing Tech/Indie Tools: Quebec-based SteadIP launches a Kickstarter to help developers publish local projects to the public internet with public URLs and tunnels. Health Services: Fort Nelson General Hospital’s ER is temporarily closed due to staffing challenges, with 911 and virtual clinic options highlighted. Sports & Books Crossover: Mariposa Folk Festival spotlights Canadian icons Neil Young and The Tragically Hip, with festival programming built around tributes.

Wimbledon Watch: Novak Djokovic set a men’s singles record with his 106th Wimbledon win, reaching the quarterfinals after beating Roman Safiullin, while Naomi Osaka pulled a major upset over top seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach her first career quarterfinal. World Cup Discipline Shock: FIFA suspended U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s automatic red-card ban, clearing him to face Belgium after a call from Donald Trump to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino—prompting fresh controversy over fair play and politics. Canadian Arts & Culture: Vancouver’s Polygon Gallery is hosting an extended exhibition honouring photographer Greg Girard, with more than 160 images spanning decades. Publishing & Affordability: A BookNet Canada-linked discussion argues books are too expensive, pointing to rising Canadian hardcover prices and the cost pressure on readers. Local Crime (Toronto area): A man was killed in a Brampton shooting, with police seeking two suspects and reporting a boy on a bike hit in Etobicoke. Climate Angle: A commentary piece links recent heat domes across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia to climate change pressures.

Indigenous Voices & Poetry: Secwépemc poet kit-xgwélemc kennedy won an Indigenous Voices Award, crediting family and a cross-genre writing course for helping him find his voice. Publishing & Film Rights: Diljit Dosanjh’s human-rights drama Satluj (aka Punjab 95) was pulled from ZEE5 in India “until further notice,” after its release and amid ongoing “developments,” reigniting censorship-and-distribution questions. AI & Media Compensation: Cloudflare says it will block ad-linked web scraping for AI training by default and pay publishers when their content shapes AI answers, as Meta ramps up AI ad creation at Cannes Lions. Local Health & Access: A Surrey family is fundraising for a gene-editing procedure for their 3-year-old, arguing Ontario won’t fund the treatment. Books & Memory: Honor (Astra Books) spotlights Yad Vashem-recognized rescuers in WWII Ukraine, tying real letters to a YA narrative of courage. Sports & Culture: Canada’s World Cup run ends with Morocco’s 3-0 win; France beats Paraguay 1-0 on Mbappé’s penalty to set up a France-Morocco quarterfinal.

World Cup Shock (Canada): Morocco ended Canada’s 2026 run with a clinical 3-0 Round of 16 win in Houston, scoring after the break and then sealing it late as Azzedine Ounahi struck twice; Canada’s early pressure couldn’t turn into enough chances, and the co-hosts became the first host nation eliminated. World Cup Stakes (France): Kylian Mbappé converted a second-half penalty to send France past Paraguay 1-0 and set up a quarterfinal with Morocco. IP & AI (Canada-adjacent): Japan’s Supreme Court shut the door on AI as a patent inventor, ruling the “inventor” must be a natural person—an issue that will ripple through how Canadian creators and publishers think about AI-driven work. Publishing & Culture (Canada): Northern BC Writers Association’s July fest in Prince George includes a horror-writing workshop (July 6), plus genre sessions and launches aimed at local writers. Film/Streaming (Canada watchers): Reports say Diljit Dosanjh’s Punjab 95 was heavily cut, renamed Satluj, and released on ZEE5 with little promotion—sparking renewed debate about censorship and marketing.

World Cup (Canada): Canada’s historic run continues in the Round of 16 as they face Morocco on July 4 in Houston, after Stephen Eustáquio’s 92nd-minute winner sent them past South Africa; Morocco also edged through, setting up a high-stakes matchup with Canada aiming to extend their first-ever knockout-stage success. Sports & Culture (Canada): Canadian Blood Services says summer demand for blood and plasma doesn’t pause, urging eligible donors to book and keep appointments through July. Publishing/Books (Canada): A Canadian Blood Services reminder and a few culture items aside, the week’s standout book-related items are mostly international entertainment coverage rather than major Canadian publishing announcements. Sports (NHL): Toronto Maple Leafs add new hope with the No. 1 pick, selecting Gavin McKenna, as the team looks to rebound after a down year. Sports (Wrestling): AEW Redemption lands in Montreal July 26, with ticket sales tracking at 5,112 distributed so far.

World Cup (Canada): Canada’s Round of 16 is set after a late, historic win over South Africa, and the next test is Morocco in Houston—an underdog matchup with Alphonso Davies expected to play a bigger role after his hamstring injury. World Cup (Colombia/Ghana): Colombia edged Ghana 1-0 to claim the final Round of 16 spot, with Jhon Arias scoring early after Luis Suárez was brought on following Jhon Córdoba’s injury. Book culture & publishing: Montreal Comiccon returns with major pop-culture programming and a big market that includes books and creator Artist Alley—another reminder that Canadian fandom is still feeding the reading ecosystem. Canadian business/retail: Winnipeg’s Tavern United downtown location has permanently closed, with the brand pointing fans to nearby spots. Health & aging: A new piece argues the “60 to 72” years can be a proactive “renaissance,” focusing on lifestyle and environment as key drivers of healthier aging. Community & books: A Winnipeg jewelry-making studio (Gem Studio) is drawing people in through hands-on experiences—an example of how “do something” retail is reshaping local culture.

World Cup Tech & Drama: FIFA’s “connected ball” sensors helped erase Croatia’s late equalizer vs Portugal, a call that hinged on micro-contact data from the Trionda ball. Toronto Food Scene: Summerlicious returns July 3–18 with three-course deals at 230+ restaurants, timed to keep the World Cup buzz going in the city. Quebec Culture & Cuisine: Baie-Saint-Paul’s Charlevoix momentum continues as Michelin-starred chef Hugue Dufour opens Le Relais des Florent at Famille Migneron de Charlevoix. Canadian Publishing & Books: Prime Video greenlit Sarek, a Swedish thriller series based on Ulf Kvensler’s novel—another reminder of how books keep feeding screen adaptations. Health Access (Saskatchewan): BreastCheck expands to women aged 40–43, adding about 76,000 more people to routine screening. Indigenous Healing: A new Clan Mothers Healing Village in Manitoba is under construction to support Indigenous girls, women and two-spirit people after sexual exploitation trauma. Local Libraries: Airdrie Public Library is projecting 600,000+ visits in its first full year at Inspire.

World Cup, Canada-hosted: Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 at B.C. Place to reach the Round of 16, with Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye scoring; the next match is set for Vancouver. Health Policy Clash: Mark Carney’s office and Alberta’s government are back in the spotlight over Medicare, as critics warn Alberta’s changes move toward two-tier care. Publishing & Culture: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened its “Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present” exhibit amid controversy over wording and whether Hamas was described as a terrorist group; the museum says revisions are in process. Indigenous Land & Law: Commentary argues Canada’s reserve land returns don’t go far enough, calling for stronger protection of undeveloped lands near communities. Travel & Books/Reading Life: Canada-first summer travel is trending as Canadians book closer to home, with the World Cup driving demand in Toronto and Vancouver. Science & Medicine: UCalgary and McMaster researchers report a first-in-class CAR T-cell therapy targeting solid tumors, including early promise in sarcoma and brain cancer models.

Press Freedom: A Quebec Superior Court ordered a publication ban tied to an alleged plot involving a militia, drawing criticism from press-freedom advocates over how broad the restriction is. Publishing & Books: Toronto-born Cory Doctorow’s new AI-focused book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, topped Canadian non-fiction bestseller lists, warning that AI hype is fuelling a dangerous bubble. Canadian Media: Every Year After (based on Carley Fortune’s novel) was renewed for a second season, with the next instalment drawing from Fortune’s One Golden Summer set in Barry’s Bay, Ont. Tech & Quantum: Pasqal’s Canadian subsidiary Aeponyx launched a PIC packaging centre of competency at C2MI in Bromont, Quebec, aiming to tackle a scaling bottleneck for quantum and advanced sensing. Trade & Books/Readers: USMCA renewal talks are back on, with reporting highlighting how uncertainty could hit border economies—an issue that will likely ripple into cross-border publishing and distribution.

Social Media Safety Laws: More than 40 countries are debating or rolling out bans and limits on kids’ social media use, with Australia leading via a under-16 ban and other nations using age cutoffs or parental consent. Space & Culture: The Lunar Codex and the International Lunar Observatory Association plan to launch cultural archives to the Moon, including poetry and song lyrics, with Canadian provinces and Indigenous nations among the contributors. Canadian Energy Debate: Ottawa’s new nuclear push—strategy plus faster approvals for a high-level waste repository—signals a major shift toward reactors, but critics warn about unanswered technical, economic, security, and environmental questions. Jewish Literary Community: Writers and publishers are grappling with antisemitism and the fallout from Israel/Palestine debates, with calls for what would actually help authors keep publishing safely. Sports & Books Crossover: Assouline releases Football: The Impossible Collection, a luxury World Cup-themed volume curated by Rory Smith. Cybersecurity & AI: A researcher claims Anthropic’s Fable 5 helped plan an IoT botnet after it was reinstated, reigniting concerns about AI safety guardrails. Local Governance: Vancouver’s park board escalates a dispute with City Hall over promises tied to park-land projects.