New Brock University research conducted in collaboration with beloved Canadian author, actor and playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald is poised to change the way readers experience and engage with literature.

The findings of the Mapping Ann-Marie MacDonald (MAMM) project will be unveiled at a public symposium on Saturday, June 20 that will also give guests a sneak peek of the critically acclaimed Fall on Your Knees novelist’s latest play, Best Soldier, which she’s been developing during her residency with the University.

Held at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) in St. Catharines, the event will highlight innovative Brock literary learning and theatre creation research while also offering a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into MacDonald’s creative process.

Brock University research assistants working on the Mapping Ann-Marie MacDonald (MAMM) project put finishing touches on a 3D map for the upcoming MAMM Symposium. From left are third-year English Language and Literature student Riley Campbell, Brock Digital Humanities graduate Paige Wolf (BA ’25), third-year English Language and Literature student Sloane Gray and Social Justice and Equity Studies master’s student Emily Mills.

MacDonald will perform a reading from Best Soldier, which is still in development.

MAMM was designed to advance scholarly research on MacDonald’s influential body of work, explore new types of humanities research and promote collaborative student learning across academic disciplines.

Co-led by Neta Gordon, Professor of English Language and Literature, and Aaron Mauro, Chair and Associate Professor of Digital Humanities, the interdisciplinary team also includes Ebru Ustundag, Associate Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies, and Tim Ribaric, Scholarly Publishing and Platforms Librarian, as well as student research assistants.

The team was driven to explore how MacDonald’s work helps people understand their connections to places, communities and other people.

Gordon is thrilled to share insights gained during MacDonald’s three-year research involvement at Brock, especially on how the author’s accessible way of questioning political and cultural ideas can inspire new approaches to academic research.

“In putting together an interdisciplinary team of senior and junior researchers and working collaboratively to make decisions, the MAMM project highlights how new ways of thinking can emerge out of relationships and community building,” she said.

MacDonald said the project “represents something new. A synthesis. A tool for critical analysis, and a portal to the mysteries of imagination and creative process.”

The symposium will also celebrate MacDonald’s tenure as Brock’s 2026 Walker Cultural Leader, which launched in January with an excerpt reading of Best Soldier by the playwright.

Over the past six months, MacDonald has worked with the Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) to deliver student workshops offering valuable insight and perspective on developing artistry and creative voice in relation to theatre creation.

“DART students have had an exceptionally rare opportunity to apply techniques Ann-Marie has taught them in their own play development projects, while observing how Ann-Marie’s own work on Best Soldier has evolved during her residency as Walker Cultural Leader,” said DART Chair and Professor Jennifer Roberts-Smith. “It’s been an inspiring few months.”

The MAMM symposium program will feature research poster presentations, a 3D map in the MIWSFPA lobby, digital exhibitions showcasing virtual literary maps and live demonstrations run by the research team.

Faculty and student researchers will formally present their findings to the public from 11 a.m. to noon. MacDonald’s reading from Best Soldier will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., including time for audience questions. Following the reading, Roberts-Smith will facilitate a discussion with MacDonald and Canadian theatre artists Alisa Palmer and Rebecca Harper.

The public symposium is free to attend, but tickets must be reserved ahead of time on Brock University Tickets.

The MAMM project was supported by a Government of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant.