Simcoe Reads
Another Year in the Books
Simcoe Reads ran from July 2 to October 23, 2025.
There were 8 libraries participating, with 8 unique Canadian book selections. This year, the discussion had a great mix of fiction and non-fiction titles, offering something for everyone!
On October 23, 2025 all the participating libraries and their champions discussed their book selection and vied for the title of Simcoe Reads Champion 2025. And we are very excited to announce that at the end of the night, your very own Barrie Public Library, with our champion Brett Glover and our book "Our Crumbling Foundation" was voted the winner!
For more information on Simcoe Reads and the amazing titles from this year, visit simcoereads.ca.
The Simcoe Reads books and their champions this year included:
To learn more about the books chosen and the champions who will represented them, click the dropdown menu below.
Barrie Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2025!!
Champion: Brett Glover
Book: Our Crumbling Foundation
By: Gregor Craigie
Bradford West Gwillimbury
Champion: Marzana Ahmed Khan
Book: Silver Nitrate
By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Essa Public Library
Champion: Alexia Daley
Book: Dandelion
By: Jamie Chai Yun Liew
Innisfil IdeaLab & Library
Champion: Riley Ma
Book: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
By: Kate Beaton
Midland Public Library
Champion: Jennifer Ellis
Book: The Bittlemores
By: Jann Arden
New Tecumseth Public Library
Champion: Naomi Simpson
Book: You Are The Medicine
By: Asha Frost
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Gloria Martin
Book: The Paris Express
By: Emma Donoghue
Severn Public Library
Champion: Mary Soucie
Book: The Art of Choosing
By: Sheena Iyengar
Simcoe Reads 2024 was an amazing success. With 6 amazing Simcoe County Libraries participating, the selection of books and champion representation was second to none!
For more information on each library's champions and the books they represented, see below:
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Amy Courser
Book: Mindful of Murder
Author: Susan Juby
Essa Public Library
Champion: Stephanie Cryer
Book: And Then She Fell
Author: Alicia Elliot
Innisfil ideaLab & Library
Champion: Barbara Love
Book: The Berry Pickers
Author: Amanda Peters
Midland Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2024!
Champion: Kevin Cascagnette
Book: Moon of the Turning Leaves
Author: Waubgeshig Rice
New Tecumseh Public Library
Champion: Cass Sigler
Book: Into the Bright Open
Author: Cherie Dimaline
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Sherry Lawson
Book: The Strangers
Author: Katherena Vermette
Innisfil IdeaLab & Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2023
Champion: Raj Grover
Book: On the Ravine
By: Vincent Lam
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Shakir Barmare
Book: How to Calm Your Mind - Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times
By: Chris Bailey
Bradford West-Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Jen Turner
Book: Scarborough
By: Catherine Hernandez
Essa Public Library
Champion: Amy Kiezebrink
Book: The Maid
By: Nita Prose
Midland Public Library
Champion: Roberta Douglas
Book: Breast Cancer: After the Diagnosis
By: Jane Pritchard
New Tecumseh Public Library
Champion: Melissa Medaglia
Book: Women Talking
By: Miriam Toews
Ramara Public library
Champion: Jane Ste. Marie
Book: A World of Curiosities
By: Louise Penny
Essa Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2022
Champion: Krista White
Book: Washington Black
By: Esi Edugyan
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Claudine Cousins
Book: Can You Hear Me Now?
By: Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Meade Helman
Book: Hench
By: Natalie Zina Walschots
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Jeanette Luchese
Book: Not on My Watch
By: Alexandra Morton
Midland Public Library
Champion: Susanne Marchand
Book: The Last High
By: Daniel Kalla
New Tecumseth Public Library
Champion: Shira Harrison
Book: What Strange Paradise
By: Omar El Akkad
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Dorothy MacDonald
Book: The Forgotten Home Child
By: Genevieve Graham
Simcoe Reads 2022 - Grand Finale Video (click picture to watch)
Simcoe Reads 2022 - Grand Finale Video (click picture to watch)
Essa Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2021
Champion: Grace Baker
Book: Gutter Child
By: Jael Richardson
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Carolina Belmares
Book: A Mind Spread Out On the Ground
By: Alicia Elliott
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Emily Dahlgren
Book: Ayesha at Last
By: Uzma Jalaluddin
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Anne Smith
Book: The Company We Keep
By: Frances Itani
Midland Public Library
Champion: Cady McLaughlin
Book: The Centaur’s Wife
By: Amanda Leduc
New Tecumseth Public Library
Champion: Judy Penz Sheluk
Book: Greenwood
By: Michael Christie
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Linda Lyons
Book: Indians on Vacation
By: Thomas King
Simcoe Reads 2021 - Grand Finale Video (click picture to watch)
Barrie Public Library - Winner of Judge's Choice Award
Champion: Lisa Morgan
Book: An Ocean of Minutes
By: Thea Lim
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Noora Akhavan
Book: Empire of Wild
By: Cherie Dimaline
Essa Public Library - Winner of Community Choice Award
Champion: Emily Wood
Book: The Saturday Night Ghost Club
By: Craig Davidson
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Lynn Dollin
Book: Moon of the Crusted Snow
By: Waubgeshig Rice
Midland Public Library
Champion: Kristi Presse
Book: From the Ashes
By: Jesse Thistle
