Perdita Felicien, Cadence Weapon among panellists for next 'Canada Reads'

TORONTO - Olympic hurdler Perdita Felicien and Edmonton poet laureate Roland Pemberton will join the panel for the latest edition of "Canada Reads."

The CBC-Radio program features celebrities promoting a work of fiction of their choice. Books are gradually voted off until a winner is declared.

Felicien will argue on behalf of "Fall on Your Knees," by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Pemberton, who performs under the name Cadence Weapon, has chosen Douglas Coupland's "Generation X."

The other panellists include Vancouver broadcaster Simi Sara, who'll push for "Good to a Fault" by Marina Endicott, and Montreal author Michel Vezina, whose choice is "Nikolski" by Nicolas Dickner. Rounding out the group is War Child Canada executive director Dr. Samantha Nutt. Her pick is "The Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy.

The "Canada Reads" debates will air from March 8 to 12 and be moderated by Jian Ghomeshi. It's the ninth edition of the show.