Writers Guild of Alberta
{{Short description|Canadian non-profit organization for writers}}
The Writers' Guild of Alberta (WGA) was founded in 1980 as a non-profit organization for writers based in Alberta, Canada.{{cite web |title=The Writer's Life: For 20 years the Writers Guild of Alberta has encouraged and enabled writers to pursue the Writers Life |url=https://albertaviews.ca/the-writers-life/ |website=Alberta Views website |accessdate=22 January 2019}} It claims to be the largest provincial writers' organization in Canada, representing approximately 1,000 writers throughout the province.{{cite web |title=WGA Annual Report 2017/2018 |url=http://writersguild.ca/PDF/AnnualReport2018.pdf |website=WGA website |accessdate=16 July 2018}}
Location and leadership
Its main office is based in Edmonton, with a southern office located in Calgary. The founding president was Rudy Wiebe.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Fiction, Volume 2 |pages=1391–1392 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=Dec 8, 2010}} Past presidents include E. D. Blodgett, Joan Clark, Candas Jane Dorsey, Myrna Kostash, Alice Major, Suzette Mayr, George Melnyk, Darlene Quaife, Gloria Sawai, Fred Stenson (writer), Vern Thiessen and Aritha van Herk.{{cite web |title=WGA Board of Directors Archive |url=https://writersguild.ca/about/board-of-directors/ |website=WGA website |accessdate=21 January 2019}} A new president is nominated and elected at each year's AGM event. The president for the 2019–2021 year is Leslie Chivers.{{cite web |title=WGA Board of Directors |url=https://writersguild.ca/about/board-of-directors/ |website=WGA website |accessdate=14 November 2020}}
Programs
The WGA provides professional services and development to established and emerging writers through its annual conference, mentorship program, writing retreats and youth programs. Its quarterly publication is WestWord magazine.{{cite web |title=WGA What We Do |url=https://writersguild.ca/about/what-we-do/ |website=WGA website |accessdate=21 January 2019}}
Awards
Created in 1982, the Alberta Literary Awards{{cite web |title=WGA Alberta Literary Awards |url=https://writersguild.ca/programs-services/awards/ |website=WGA website |accessdate=23 January 2019}} are awarded annually by the WGA to recognize and celebrate outstanding Alberta writing. They include the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize and The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize, as well as awards for children's literature, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, published short fiction and short nonfiction, and unpublished essays.{{cite web |title=Deborah Willis, Suzette Mayr, Chris Turner among finalists for Alberta Literary Awards |url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/books/deborah-willis-suzette-mayr-chris-turner-among-finalists-for-alberta-literary-awards |website=Calgary Herald website |accessdate=21 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Gisèle Villeneuve, Richard Harrison among 2017 Alberta Literary Award winners |url=https://quillandquire.com/awards/2017/06/12/gisele-villeneuve-richard-harrison-among-2017-alberta-literary-award-winners/ |website=Quill & Quire website |accessdate=21 January 2019}} The Golden Pen Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges an outstanding Alberta writer. The 2019 recipient is Bob Stallworthy.{{cite web |title=2018 Alberta Literary Awards Winners |url=https://albertamagazines.com/latest-news/6791/ |website=Alberta Magazine Publishers Association website |accessdate=21 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Writer's Block – Episode July 17, 2018 |url=https://cjsw.com/program/writers-block/episode/20180717/ |website=CJSW-FM website |accessdate=21 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=WGA Golden Pen Award Past Recipients |url=https://writersguild.ca/wga-golden-pen-award-past-recipients/ |website=WGA website |accessdate=21 January 2019}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://writersguild.ca The Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Official website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Canadian writers' organizations
Category:Professional associations based in Alberta
Category:1980 establishments in Alberta
Category:Organizations based in Edmonton
Category:Arts organizations established in 1980
Category:Canadian literary awards
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