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Our 2026 Oxford Reads title is...

Cover of How to Survive a Bear Attack

📚 How to Survive a Bear Attack by Claire Cameron

How to Survive a Bear Attack weaves together a real-life tragedy and the author’s own experiences to explore grief, fear, and our relationship with the wild. This memoir it invites discussion on trauma, parenthood, nature, and how we make sense of the unthinkable.

About the Author

Claire Cameron is a bestselling Canadian author and journalist whose work often explores survival, nature, and the human experience. Her acclaimed books include The Bear, which was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, and The Last Neanderthal, a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.

Drawing on her experience as a former wilderness instructor in Algonquin Park, Cameron's writing is deeply connected to the natural world. Her memoir, How to Survive a Bear Attack, investigates a rare fatal bear attack in Algonquin Park while weaving in her own personal story. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Oxford Reads Gala with author Claire Cameron

Friday, October 30 at 7pm

Woodstock Collegiate Institute 

Woodstock, ON

 

Oxford County Library and Woodstock Public Library are excited to hold the 2026 Oxford Reads Gala featuring author and this year's Oxford Reads pick, Claire Cameron. Hosted by Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan, the evening will be an intimate conversation with Claire Cameron as she discusses her book How to Survive a Bear Attack.

More Ways to Get Involved

There are lots of ways to celebrate this year's Oxford Reads title! Throughout September and October, we are hosting book clubs, wildlife photography presentations, nature walks, and more! 

For Oxford County Library programs, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.

For Woodstock Public Library programs, you can find all the details on the program calendar here.


About last year's title

Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan

Cover of Life in Two Worlds by Ted Nolan

Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan

An inspiring memoir about perseverance, identity, and the power of staying true to oneself. Born and raised in the Garden River First Nation, Nolan overcame adversity to reach the highest levels of professional hockey, winning the NHL’s Coach of the Year award. But his journey was never just about the game—it was about navigating two worlds, facing discrimination, and ultimately returning to his roots to uplift Indigenous youth. Candid and deeply personal, this book is a must-read for hockey fans and anyone moved by stories of resilience and leadership.

About the Author

TED NOLAN grew up on the Garden River First Nation Reserve and played three seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He served as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whal­ers and as head coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 1995 to 1997 and from 2013 to 2015; he was also head coach for the New York Islanders from 2006 to 2008. Ted has coached internationally, taking Team Latvia to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games in 2014.

Previous Oxford Reads Selections

2025 - Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back by Ted Nolan
2024 - Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin
2023 
- The Maid by Nita Prose
2022
- Driven by Marcello di Cintio
2021 - Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
2020 - Crow by Amy Spurway
2019 - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
2018 - The Purchase by Linda Spalding