Perdita Felicien

A two-time Olympian, Perdita Felicien is one of the best hurdlers in the world, and the first Canadian woman to become a world champion in any event in track and field. She has been the Canadian champion in the women's 100-metre hurdles eight times. In 2003 she won that event at the IAAF World Championships and was named Canadian Athlete of the Year.

Perdita Felicien is standing up for Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald.

Find out more about Perdita.

Samantha Nutt

Internationally recognized as an expert on war and human rights issues, Dr. Samantha Nutt has spent 15 years spearheading humanitarian efforts in countries at war, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierre Leone and Somalia. She is a founder and the executive director of War Child Canada.

Samantha Nutt is making a case for The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy.

Find out more about Samantha.

Roland Pemberton (a.k.a. Cadence Weapon)

Roland Pemberton, professionally known as Cadence Weapon, has been busting rhymes since he was 13 years old. Ten years later, the award-winning hip-hop artist, DJ and producer has recorded two critically acclaimed albums and been named Edmonton's poet laureate.

Roland Pemberton is backing Generation X : Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland.

Find out more about Roland.

Simi Sara

An award-winning broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio, Simi Sara made her media mark at Citytv Vancouver, with stints as evening news anchor and host of Breakfast TV and the popular culinary show City Cooks .

Simi Sara is talking up Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott.

Find out more about Simi.

Michel Vézina — winning panelist, Canada Reads 2010

Multi-talented Michel Vézina is a fiction writer, a publisher and a highly regarded critic. He currently hosts a series of live shows in Montreal featuring music, spoken word and video collaborations. He honed his performance skills as a clown in a travelling punk band/circus and in his theatre company, Le Cochon Souriant.

Michel Vézina is fighting for Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer Lederhendler.

Find out more about Michel.

Visit the CBC Book Club for a celebration of Michel's winning pick for Canada Reads 2010, Nicolas Dickner's Nikolski.