Posts Tagged ‘Writers Union of Canada’
Nova Scotia native overcomes a damaging revelation
Veteran author Harry Thurston capped a climactic literary evening at the Grad House in Halifax by reading from a memoir about losing a big, two-hearted river. The Nova Scotia native, who is slated, as vice-chair, to become chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada, gave a bravura performance, and so managed to overcome the damaging…
Read MoreCanada Council report analyzes PLR program for writers
It’s here at last: the Canada Council’s third and final report on this country’s Public Lending Right Program (PLR). Entitled Options for Renewal, it runs to 58 pages. Exhaustive and authoritative, it lays out the array of choices that face the Public Lending Right Commission. Hats off to Roy MacSkimming, the author and ex-publisher who…
Read MoreTime for a Confederation of Canadian Writers?
What we need here in Canada is a Confederation of Canadian Writers.This is not my idea, but I like it. Merilyn Simonds, chair of the The Writers’ Union of Canada, has been marking TWUC’s 40th anniversary by meeting union members across the country. In Toronto the other night, she mentioned that Calgary authors have voiced…
Read MoreBirthday poem sparks controversy at Writers’ Union AGM
Controversy erupted Saturday at the annual general meeting of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) when members were urged to seek the attention of book clubs and reading groups with a bad poem. The motion that sparked a spirited debate was the second of two involving Canada’s Public Lending Right Program (PLR), which reimburses authors…
Read MoreThe Tribe Invites You to Party at the Toronto Public Library
It did not officially launch the annual general meeting of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC). But last night’s Toronto event, a literary cabaret mounted by the Creative Nonfiction Collective, drew a star-studded, standing-room-only crowd to Harbord House. This preliminary event left no doubt whatsoever: The Tribe is gathering in force at the Centre of…
Read MoreThe Tribe gathers to celebrate PLR
That’s how Margaret Laurence would have described it — as a gathering of The Tribe. Scores of Canadian authors are heading to Toronto from across the country for the annual general meeting and conference of the Writers’ Union of Canada. The May 26 kick-off event, which is open to the public, celebrates the 25th anniversary…
Read MoreThe Wicked Need No Rest . . .
OK, here we go. On May 4, Our Hero addresses the Canadian Celtic Arts Association in downtown Toronto. It’s a public event co-sponsored by Celtic Studies, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, and Ken will talk about his book How the Scots Invented Canada. Details: please click here. On May 25, Ken will read from…
Read MoreCanadian literature in libraries
I recently returned from Ottawa, where as chair of the Public Lending Right Commission, I reported to the board of the Canada Council. My main message? Next year (2011) marks the 25th anniversary of the PLR Program, which recognizes Canadian authors for the presence of their books in libraries. These are still early days. But…
Read More