“Anarchism is about freedom and equality.” Matt Black, one of the organizers of the fifth annual Calgary Anarchist Bookfair, is eager to shed the negative stereotypes surrounding anarchism. “Every year, I’m amazed by the variety of people that attend,” says Black. “There’s a different version of ‘anarchism’ for every anarchist — some stress the ecological aspect, some are union activists, some build worker-owned co-operatives. If you’re looking for people who throw bombs,” he adds, “I would refer you to the government. They have this wing called ‘the Army’ whose whole purpose is to throw bombs.”

Anarchist book fairs take place around the world, from London to Dublin to Zagreb, with a closer-to-home circuit running between Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Victoria. “It’s all about building community, giving the anarchist and activist communities a chance to get together once a year,” says Black. “It’s kind of a cross between Christmas and a family reunion.”

Vendors at this year’s book fair are wide-ranging. Representing Calgary is Haymarket Books, the recently homeless worker-owned co-operative. It’s joined by Edmonton’s Freedom Press, Saskatoon’s Turning the Tide, Winnipeg’s Junto Library and more. “The variety of books is usually pretty stunning,” says Black, “everything from how to build a compostable toilet to the theories of the French Revolution.”

Many of the books on display aren’t available through major booksellers. “In Canada, we’re in a particularly tight spot, because Chapters and Indigo are essentially the same company, and they control the overwhelming majority of the brick-and-mortar book trade,” says Black. “Even online, people often think that if they can’t find it on Amazon, it doesn’t exist. That’s simply not true.”

The vendors aren’t limited to books — there are zines, T-shirts, patches and more. “This year, we have a prison abolition group and a vendor who sells homemade teddy bears, using the proceeds to fund a variety of political groups,” says Black. “The book fair is about the buying and selling of books, but ultimately, it’s about information.”

To keep the information rolling, the book fair also includes a diverse series of workshops. “Some are fairly academic,” says Black, “but there’s also a workshop on how to fix your own bike.” Other workshops tackle classism, body literacy, the tar sands, event promotion, menstrual charting and the age of surveillance. There are also three film screenings: Haiti: We Must Kill the Bandits; The Forest for the Trees; and Polly II: Plans for a Rev.

The weekend closes with a keynote speaker, Jon Zerzan, a well-known American anarchist and philosopher whose work surrounds the idea of a “free society.” “Within the anarchist community, he’s quite contentious,” says Black. “We’re anticipating a charged evening. There’s nothing worse than a keynote speaker that agrees with everyone – that’s boring.”

If you’re not yet sufficiently tantalized, check this out: the book fair promises free vegan food prepared by Food Not Bombs for everyone who comes through the door.

The Calgary Anarchist Bookfair runs April 25 to 27 at the Old Y Centre (223 12 Ave. S.W.); hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, with events running throughout. For a full schedule and list of vendors, visit bookfair.anarchistservices.ca.