Atwood accepts mayor’s invitation to visit the Hammer

A literary icon is coming to Hamilton.

Margaret Atwood has accepted an invitation by Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina to tour the city’s renovated library.

This comes after Toronto councillor Doug Ford refused to take libraries off the chopping block for funding cuts, and Atwood voiced her criticism.

The councillor went as far as claiming that people wouldn’t know who Atwood was if they saw her on the street – something that disappoints Bratina.
“It’s unfortunate that someone of the stature of Margaret Atwood, who is internationally known, in English and in translation all over the world, and is part of the Canadian cultural fabric would be dismissed in the manner that she was, not by the mayor, but his brother I understand.”
Bratina hopes Atwood’s visit will help promote Hamilton’s libraries and culture.

Photo from University of Toronto