PONGAPALOOZA 2022

Join us for the 9th Annual Pongapalooza on Tuesday November 8, 2022 to help provide books to kids in need.
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Spin to Win!
Join us on Tuesday November 8th for another round of fun at the 9th annual Pongapalooza at Spin Toronto! 

There are so many ways to join the fun at Pongapalooza in support of First Book Canada.

Can’t attend this year’s event?

Focus on First Book Canada, Our Partners

Providing Books to Kids Through Ping Pong

And the winner is...
Read the results of the 2019 RBC Capital Markets Pongapalooza on the blog.

Pongapalooza is an annual ping pong tournament held annually in support of First Book Canada.

Funds raised from this high-energy event helps us continue our mission of reaching children in need across the country and distributing books that they can take home, keep, and share with their families.

Since 2012, Pongapalooza has raised nearly $300,000 for First Book Canada, providing thousands of brand-new books through our programs and members.

Read more
Get In On the Action
No matter how skilled you are with a paddle, you can get involved and help kids in need.
Team Registration
Register a team of 4 ping pong players from your company. On the day of the event, your team will be assigned a distinguished local author as an honorary captain. All teams receive 4 complimentary guest tickets for friends & colleagues to cheer you on!
Register Your Team
Spectator Tickets
Join the fun by playing at free tables, trying your luck at side games, or checking out the silent auction. Purchase your spectator ticket for $35.00 before the event.
Spectator Tickets
Sponsor a Teacher Team to Play in Your Place!
Can’t make the event, but would like to support First Book Canada?
Sponsor a Teacher Team!
Contact Us
For general inquiries, please email us at canada@firstbook.org, or phone us at (866) 732-3669.
Email Us
2019 Author Champions
Check out the fantastic authors who cheered on their teams at our 2019 Pongapalooza!
David Albertyn
Born in Durban, South Africa, DAVID ALBERTYN immigrated to Canada with his family when he was ten years old. "Undercard" is his first novel.
Lana Button
LANA BUTTON is a children’s author from Eastern New Brunswick. Her award winning picture books have been named Best Bets.
Karma Brown
KARMA BROWN is an award-winning journalist and author of the bestsellers "Come Away With Me", "The Choices We Make", and "In This Moment".
Ann Y. K. Choi
Originally from South Korea, ANN Y.K. CHOI immigrated to Canada in 1975. Her debut novel, "Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety", was a finalist for the Toronto Book Award.
Kelly Collier
Author-illustrator Kelly Collier was born in Ottawa and grew up in Toronto. The idea for "A Horse Named Steve" came from a doodle she did to fill a small empty frame at home.
Paul Covello
PAUL COVELLO is an illustrator, a designer and a motion-graphics artist. He lives in Toronto.
Anthony De Sa
ANTHONY DE SA is the critically acclaimed author of the novel "Kicking the Sky" and "Barnacle Love". His latest novel is "Children of the Moon".
Stacey May Fowles
STACEY MAY FOWLES is an award-winning novelist, journalist, and essayist. She is the author of the popular Baseball Life Advice e-newsletter.
Josh Greenhut
JOSH GREENHUT is the author of more than fifteen books for children, including a number of Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures.
Samra Habib
SAMRA HABIB is a writer, photographer, and activist. As a journalist she's covered topics ranging from fashion trends and Muslim dating apps to the rise of Islamophobia in the US.
Sarah Hampson
SARAH HAMPSON is an award-winning columnist and feature writer for The Globe and Mail. "Mr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest" is her first foray into the world of writing for children.
Farah Heron
An unapologetic, outspoken feminist, FARAH HERON tells stories that reflect the diversity in her own life and explores how women thrive in an uncertain world.
Naseem Hrab
NASEEM HRAB is a writer and storyteller. Naseem worked as a librarian for a time and now works in children's publishing.
Amy Jones
AMY JONES's first novel, "We're All in This Together", was a national bestseller, won the Northern Lit Award, and was a finalist for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.
Hilary Leung
HILARY LEUNG is a writer, designer, illustrator, ultimate Frisbee player and dad. He is the author and illustrator on the Scholastic titles "Will Bear Share?" and "Will Sheep Sleep?"
Lesley Livingston
LESLEY LIVINGSTON is an award-winning author of teen fiction, best known for her Wondrous Strange trilogy. Her latest book is "The Triumphant".
Ruth Marshall
RUTH MARSHALL is a Canadian actor known for her TV roles in Flashpoint, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Doc with Billy Ray Cyrus and for her voiceover work.
Hannah McKinnon
HANNAH MARY MCKINNON was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. "Her Secret Son" is Hannah Mary’s third novel.
Nicki Pau Preto
NICKI PAU PRETO is a graphic designer and YA author living just outside Toronto, Canada.
Laurie Petrou
LAURIE PETROU is an associate professor at the RTA School of Media at Ryerson University in Toronto. Her first book, a collection of short stories titled "Between", was a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book.
Andrew Pyper
ANDREW PYPER is the author of "The Homecoming", which was an instant national bestseller in Canada.
Barbara Reid
BARBARA REID is a critically acclaimed Canadian author and illustrator, well known to children, parents, and teachers alike for her timeless stories and vibrant Plasticine illustrations.
Gilbert Reid
GILBERT REID is a veteran television and radio producer and writer. His short story, “Pavilion 24,” was nominated for Best Fiction by the Canadian Magazine Awards.
Jennifer Robson
JENNIFER ROBSON is the #1 Globe & Mail bestselling author of five novels including "Somewhere in France", and "Moonlight Over Paris".
Eric Beck Rubin
ERIC BECK RUBIN is a cultural historian who writes on architecture, literature and psychology, and "School of Velocity" is his first foray into fiction.
Johanna Schneller
JOHANNA SCHNELLER is a contributor to The Globe and Mail. She is one of North America's leading freelance journalists specializing in entertainment features.
Richard Scrimger
RICHARD SCRIMGER has written more than 20 books for children and adults.
Rick Smith
RICH SMITH, PhD is a Canadian author, environmentalist and non-profit leader and the Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute.
Star Spider
STAR SPIDER’s writing was longlisted for both the 2014 CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize and the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. "Past Tense" is her first novel.
Marissa Stapley
MARISSA STAPLEY is the author of the bestselling novel "Mating for Life", and "Things to Do When It's Raining", which has been published in nine countries and translated into seven languages.
Amy Stuart
Amy Stuart’s debut novel "Still Mine" was an instant national bestseller. She was the winner of the 2011 Writers’ Union of Canada Short Fiction Competition.
Joel A. Sutherland
JOEL A. SUTHERLAND is a mild-mannered children and youth services librarian by day, and a speculative fiction writer and editor by night.
Nicola Winstanley
NICOLA WINSTANLEY has always believed in the power of stories to bring comfort. Her latest book is "How To Give Your Cat a Bath (in Five Easy Steps)".
Kristen Worley
KRISTEN WORLEY is a former world-class cyclist and now an international inclusivity and diversity advisor, educator and public speaker.
Pongapalooza's Impact On Kids In Need
Since 2012, Pongapalooza has raised over $280,000 for First Book Canada, providing thousands of brand new books and educational resources to Canadian children in need.

With generous support from our sponsors, First Book Canada is elevating the quality of education for children in need on a permanent, sustainable basis – but we cannot do it alone. Our partners in getting life-changing books to kids represent some of the smartest, most generous organizations across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and we want you to join us in this fun ping pong event. Help us reach thousands of Canadian children who want to experience the joy of reading and owning their very own first book.

What is Pongapalooza?
Watch the video to find out!

SPiN Toronto, a ping pong social club, will once again host a night of epic ping pong in support of First Book Canada where thirty-two teams of four will battle it out for the 2022 Pongapalooza Cup. Who will come out on top? Join us amidst the battlefield of swinging paddles and stray balls where guests can win remarkable prizes, play recreational ping pong, taste SPiN’s amazing hors d’oeuvres, and cool off with a refreshing beer.