Dr. Lara El Mekaui
@lelmek.bsky.social
Research Fellow @cercmigration.bsky.social
Lead non-fiction editor
@thenewquarterly.bsky.social
Writing and Communications Instructor
@uwaterloo.ca
website: thehesitantlocal.ca
Lead non-fiction editor
@thenewquarterly.bsky.social
Writing and Communications Instructor
@uwaterloo.ca
website: thehesitantlocal.ca
This is a thank-you post to the incredible people at @thenewquarterly.bsky.social for organizing another successful iteration of the Wild Writers Festival and for allowing me to read and lead conversations with exciting #CanLit authors.
#WildWriters2025 #AuthorPanels #WritingCommunity
#WildWriters2025 #AuthorPanels #WritingCommunity
November 19, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is a thank-you post to the incredible people at @thenewquarterly.bsky.social for organizing another successful iteration of the Wild Writers Festival and for allowing me to read and lead conversations with exciting #CanLit authors.
#WildWriters2025 #AuthorPanels #WritingCommunity
#WildWriters2025 #AuthorPanels #WritingCommunity
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
🌍 Migration as a Social Good: We Stand with Migrants. Join us for a global teach-in/out in Toronto. Open dialogue + Film screening + Discussion. Event is FREE and open to all.
📅 Nov. 11, 12-2pm
📍First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 116 Bond St.
🔗 migrationscholarsmobilize.org/toronto-tio
📅 Nov. 11, 12-2pm
📍First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 116 Bond St.
🔗 migrationscholarsmobilize.org/toronto-tio
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 AM
🌍 Migration as a Social Good: We Stand with Migrants. Join us for a global teach-in/out in Toronto. Open dialogue + Film screening + Discussion. Event is FREE and open to all.
📅 Nov. 11, 12-2pm
📍First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 116 Bond St.
🔗 migrationscholarsmobilize.org/toronto-tio
📅 Nov. 11, 12-2pm
📍First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 116 Bond St.
🔗 migrationscholarsmobilize.org/toronto-tio
Buzzing after moderating the panel, Rewriting The Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with @mbatiz.bsky.social @kasiajaronczyk.bsky.social and @karensmythe.bsky.social at the 2025 Wild Writers Festival @thenewquarterly.bsky.social
Check out their phenomenon novels!
Check out their phenomenon novels!
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Buzzing after moderating the panel, Rewriting The Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with @mbatiz.bsky.social @kasiajaronczyk.bsky.social and @karensmythe.bsky.social at the 2025 Wild Writers Festival @thenewquarterly.bsky.social
Check out their phenomenon novels!
Check out their phenomenon novels!
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Apply by Oct. 15! ➡️ Are you a non-Canadian born #entrepreneur in Toronto with a business idea or early-stage venture? Enterprise Bridge Toronto: Community Bootcamp & Mentorship for Immigrant Entrepreneurs is now accepting applications!
🔗: www.torontomu.ca/cerc-migrati... #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs
🔗: www.torontomu.ca/cerc-migrati... #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs
October 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Apply by Oct. 15! ➡️ Are you a non-Canadian born #entrepreneur in Toronto with a business idea or early-stage venture? Enterprise Bridge Toronto: Community Bootcamp & Mentorship for Immigrant Entrepreneurs is now accepting applications!
🔗: www.torontomu.ca/cerc-migrati... #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs
🔗: www.torontomu.ca/cerc-migrati... #ImmigrantEntrepreneurs
The #WildWritersFestival is back! I am excited to be moderating 2 panels this year.
1-Rewriting the Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with Kasia Jaronczyk/Karen Smythe/Martha Bátiz
2-Telling Other People’s Stories with Mélikah Abdelmoumen/ Sadiqa de Meijer
#literaryfestival #canlit
1-Rewriting the Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with Kasia Jaronczyk/Karen Smythe/Martha Bátiz
2-Telling Other People’s Stories with Mélikah Abdelmoumen/ Sadiqa de Meijer
#literaryfestival #canlit
Join TNQ for a weekend of impressive Canadian literature, in-depth discussions, and immersive writing workshops at the 2025 Wild Writers Literary Festival! Check out the program today: wildwriters.ca/2025-program/
#wildwriters2025 #canlit #literaryfestival
#wildwriters2025 #canlit #literaryfestival
September 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The #WildWritersFestival is back! I am excited to be moderating 2 panels this year.
1-Rewriting the Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with Kasia Jaronczyk/Karen Smythe/Martha Bátiz
2-Telling Other People’s Stories with Mélikah Abdelmoumen/ Sadiqa de Meijer
#literaryfestival #canlit
1-Rewriting the Past: Experimental Approaches to Historical Fiction with Kasia Jaronczyk/Karen Smythe/Martha Bátiz
2-Telling Other People’s Stories with Mélikah Abdelmoumen/ Sadiqa de Meijer
#literaryfestival #canlit
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
For labour market mobility, Canada got extra points especially for women and youth. This means we’re seeing positive signals for improvement, according to Marshia Akbar, Director of the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab.
September 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
For labour market mobility, Canada got extra points especially for women and youth. This means we’re seeing positive signals for improvement, according to Marshia Akbar, Director of the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab.
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
🎓 Doctoral Fellowship Opportunity - #ImmigrationResearch The Immigration Research Initiative at @concordia.ca is offering THREE 3-month doctoral fellowships in 2026.
⏳ Application deadline: September 12, 2025
🔗 Full details on IRI's website: www.irimmigration.org/chercheuses-... #DoctoralFellowship
⏳ Application deadline: September 12, 2025
🔗 Full details on IRI's website: www.irimmigration.org/chercheuses-... #DoctoralFellowship
Chercheuses et Chercheurs Invités/Visiting Scholars - IRIMMIGRATION
OUVERT/OPEN – Opportunité de Soutien Financier pour Professeurs Adjoints & Chercheurs Postdoctoraux – Financial Support Opportunity or Assistant Professors & Postodctoral Researchers Les candidatures ...
www.irimmigration.org
August 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🎓 Doctoral Fellowship Opportunity - #ImmigrationResearch The Immigration Research Initiative at @concordia.ca is offering THREE 3-month doctoral fellowships in 2026.
⏳ Application deadline: September 12, 2025
🔗 Full details on IRI's website: www.irimmigration.org/chercheuses-... #DoctoralFellowship
⏳ Application deadline: September 12, 2025
🔗 Full details on IRI's website: www.irimmigration.org/chercheuses-... #DoctoralFellowship
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
The results for the 2025 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest are in! Congratulations to the winning writers. We look forward to publishing these personal essays in future issues: tnq.ca/the-2025-edn...
August 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The results for the 2025 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest are in! Congratulations to the winning writers. We look forward to publishing these personal essays in future issues: tnq.ca/the-2025-edn...
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Vincent Anioke's "Finite Automata", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/finite...
June 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Vincent Anioke's "Finite Automata", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/finite...
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Attention writers! The annual Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Contest closes in one week! Be sure to get your submissions in by June 10th! ⏰
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
June 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Attention writers! The annual Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Contest closes in one week! Be sure to get your submissions in by June 10th! ⏰
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
The Queen Mary Wasifiri New Writing Prize now with an exciting new development as it’s now open to entries in translation – across all three categories
Link here wasafiri.org/writing-priz...
Please share :)
Link here wasafiri.org/writing-priz...
Please share :)
Enter the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
The 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, the sixteenth edition of the prestigious prize, is open from 30 January to 30 June.
wasafiri.org
June 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The Queen Mary Wasifiri New Writing Prize now with an exciting new development as it’s now open to entries in translation – across all three categories
Link here wasafiri.org/writing-priz...
Please share :)
Link here wasafiri.org/writing-priz...
Please share :)
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Attention nonfiction writers! Submissions are now open for regular nonfiction until June 30, 2025.
Note: Although there is a deadline, the total submission cap for nonfiction is 50 submissions. Be sure to submit your essays as soon as possible: tnq.ca/submit/
#litmagsubmissions #nonfiction
Note: Although there is a deadline, the total submission cap for nonfiction is 50 submissions. Be sure to submit your essays as soon as possible: tnq.ca/submit/
#litmagsubmissions #nonfiction
June 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Attention nonfiction writers! Submissions are now open for regular nonfiction until June 30, 2025.
Note: Although there is a deadline, the total submission cap for nonfiction is 50 submissions. Be sure to submit your essays as soon as possible: tnq.ca/submit/
#litmagsubmissions #nonfiction
Note: Although there is a deadline, the total submission cap for nonfiction is 50 submissions. Be sure to submit your essays as soon as possible: tnq.ca/submit/
#litmagsubmissions #nonfiction
Today, I co-led the workshop "Refresh and Reset—Exploring Movement Activities in the Writing Classroom in the A.I. Era." We discussed how movement-based activities foster creativity and critical thinking in writing.
@federationhss.ca
@federationhss.ca
June 1, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Today, I co-led the workshop "Refresh and Reset—Exploring Movement Activities in the Writing Classroom in the A.I. Era." We discussed how movement-based activities foster creativity and critical thinking in writing.
@federationhss.ca
@federationhss.ca
#toronto
Show love to Petra Avenue Market on Dundas and Elizabeth.
I'm constantly missing Lebanese/Levantine food, and their baked goods are the real deal.
They've only been open for a month, but what a great culinary addition to the city!
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com
Show love to Petra Avenue Market on Dundas and Elizabeth.
I'm constantly missing Lebanese/Levantine food, and their baked goods are the real deal.
They've only been open for a month, but what a great culinary addition to the city!
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com
Petra Avenue Market
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
#toronto
Show love to Petra Avenue Market on Dundas and Elizabeth.
I'm constantly missing Lebanese/Levantine food, and their baked goods are the real deal.
They've only been open for a month, but what a great culinary addition to the city!
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com
Show love to Petra Avenue Market on Dundas and Elizabeth.
I'm constantly missing Lebanese/Levantine food, and their baked goods are the real deal.
They've only been open for a month, but what a great culinary addition to the city!
petra-ave-market-store.onrender.com
I had the pleasure of interviewing Tasneem Jamal for the new Wild Series section on her latest book "I Never Said That I Was Brave" ( @houseofanansi.bsky.social 2024) ! We talked about quantum physics, literary festivals, and the role of gossip as a narrative device. Check it out! #TasneemJamal
We're thrilled to announce that our Special Issue 174: Whose Truth Is It Anyway, is now live on our website and available for purchase!
Grab your copy and discover your truth today! tnq.ca/issues/issue...
Grab your copy and discover your truth today! tnq.ca/issues/issue...
May 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I had the pleasure of interviewing Tasneem Jamal for the new Wild Series section on her latest book "I Never Said That I Was Brave" ( @houseofanansi.bsky.social 2024) ! We talked about quantum physics, literary festivals, and the role of gossip as a narrative device. Check it out! #TasneemJamal
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Congratulations to 2023 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest honourable mention @chrisbanks6625.bsky.social!
📣Finalist – Personal Journalism
“Black Hammers Falling”
By Chris Banks | The New Quarterly
🔗 zurl.co/Oq7Di #NMA25
“Black Hammers Falling”
By Chris Banks | The New Quarterly
🔗 zurl.co/Oq7Di #NMA25
May 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Congratulations to 2023 Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest honourable mention @chrisbanks6625.bsky.social!
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Congratulations, Saeed Teebi! 🎉
🧠 Finalist | Columns & Essays | #NMA25
You Will Not Kill Our Imagination
@thenewquarterly.bsky.social | By Saeed Teebi
🔗 zurl.co/K5yom
You Will Not Kill Our Imagination
@thenewquarterly.bsky.social | By Saeed Teebi
🔗 zurl.co/K5yom
May 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Congratulations, Saeed Teebi! 🎉
Calling all short fiction writers!
The New Quaretly @thenewquarterly.bsky.social is a great home for first-time and seasoned publications. Check out the Peter Hinchliffe Award for Short Fiction, and apply!
The New Quaretly @thenewquarterly.bsky.social is a great home for first-time and seasoned publications. Check out the Peter Hinchliffe Award for Short Fiction, and apply!
Attention writers! The deadline for our annual Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Contest has been extended until June 10, 2025!
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
For more information, visit: tnq.ca/tnq-contest-...
May 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Calling all short fiction writers!
The New Quaretly @thenewquarterly.bsky.social is a great home for first-time and seasoned publications. Check out the Peter Hinchliffe Award for Short Fiction, and apply!
The New Quaretly @thenewquarterly.bsky.social is a great home for first-time and seasoned publications. Check out the Peter Hinchliffe Award for Short Fiction, and apply!
I had the pleasure of researching & compiling the new section on Black Canadian Lit & Book Prizes—check it!
blackcanada.ca/black-writin...
blackcanada.ca/black-writin...
Black Writing Awards – Call and Response-ability: Black Canadian Works of Art and the Politics of Relation
The Transformative Appeal and Reception Aesthetics of Black Canadian Literature, Film, and Music
blackcanada.ca
May 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I had the pleasure of researching & compiling the new section on Black Canadian Lit & Book Prizes—check it!
blackcanada.ca/black-writin...
blackcanada.ca/black-writin...
Reposted by Dr. Lara El Mekaui
Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Jennifer Cassidy's "first words", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/first-words/
May 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Featured this week in The New Quarterly is Jennifer Cassidy's "first words", from our latest Issue 174! Click here to read the full story: tnq.ca/story/first-words/
Hi, I’m Lara—editor, writer, and researcher based in Ontario.
I also teach writing and communications.
My work explores storytelling, migration, and belonging.
You can find more of my work at thehesitantlocal.ca.
I also teach writing and communications.
My work explores storytelling, migration, and belonging.
You can find more of my work at thehesitantlocal.ca.
Lara El Mekaui
Belonging in our Scattered World
thehesitantlocal.ca
May 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Hi, I’m Lara—editor, writer, and researcher based in Ontario.
I also teach writing and communications.
My work explores storytelling, migration, and belonging.
You can find more of my work at thehesitantlocal.ca.
I also teach writing and communications.
My work explores storytelling, migration, and belonging.
You can find more of my work at thehesitantlocal.ca.