About

     

My name is Elisa Hategan. I’m an author, public speaker, educator on far-right extremism and freelance journalist who has been publishing in various print and digital media for more than a decade. I am also the Executive Director of the non-profit charitable organization The Changemaker Project, and serve as Regional Coordinator for Canada and the United States for Against Violent Extremism (AVE), a global network of former extremists and survivors of extremist violence working in partnership with ISDGlobal, a London, UK NGO and think tank creating operational responses to violent extremism and radicalization.

I am active in the literary community, host a writers online group and run a couple of blogs. I am a multiple Toronto Arts, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Arts Council grants winner, as well as served as a judge on an OAC panel.

As a teenager, I was the inspiration behind the 1998 CBC film WHITE LIES, which starred Sarah Polley as a fictionalized me. My story has since been published in the memoir Race Traitor: The True Story of Canadian Intelligence’s Greatest Cover-Up.

I am a renowned public speaker and subject matter expert on anti-racism, extremist political movements and terrorist recruitment tactics. I have been interviewed by CBC, CTV, CityTV, Global TV, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Globe & Mail, Metro News, Macleans, Newsweek Magazine, Now Magazine, Xtra, Vision TV, Ottawa Citizen, Canadian Jewish News and various local and international media. I have also appeared as a keynote speaker for Toronto City Hall, LGBT, Jewish and community groups and high schools throughout Canada.

My interests are eclectic and wide-ranging. I have a BA from the University of Ottawa (in Criminology and Psychology), a Journalism certificate from Michigan State University and I’m studying Social Media Marketing at George Brown College. I’m also studying for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.

My website is www.elisahategan.com. My memoir Race Traitor: The True Story of Canadian Intelligence Service’s Greatest Cover-Up, is available on Amazon and Kobo, as well as select bookstores.

My articles have been published in Canadian Jewish News, NOW Magazine and Macleans Magazine. My poetry has appeared in several prestigious literary journals such as Grain Magazine, the Fiddlehead and Contemporary Verse 2. I’ve also published several books under a couple of pseudonyms, so developing different author brands comes naturally for me.

To that end, I have assisted several individuals in producing book-length material. I offer ghostwriting, editorial and marketing services to anyone who needs written content but may not have the time to research and/or produce large amounts of writing within a tight deadline. I am also an experienced social media strategist who guides businesses, non-profits and artists in setting up, managing and maximizing their online presence.