Book Clubs For Inmates

Book Clubs for Inmates (BCFI) is a registered charity that organizes volunteer-led book clubs within federal and provincial penitentiaries across Canada. Currently, BCFI facilitates over 50 book clubs from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

BCFI runs French and English language book clubs for men and women incarcerated in minimum, medium, and maximum security facilities. Book clubs are usually made up of 10-18 members who meet once a month to discuss books, both fiction and non-fiction of literary merit.

Every month, hundreds of inmates participate in book clubs across the country and each year thousands of brand new books are purchased, read, and discussed. 

Discussion is mediated by community volunteers, who guide conversation into themes such as identity, adversity, forgiveness, and resilience—and how these themes relate to the inmates’ lives. The book clubs encourage positive change through the power of literature. 

Learn more about our work at: www.bookclubsforinmates.com