President: | Colin Martin, Calgary |
Colin Martin is a literature and writing instructor who lives in Calgary. He has contributed to the local writing communities for the past two decades in myriad ways including as the founding editor of NōD Magazine, former editor and long-time President of filling Station Magazine, President from 2017-2021 of the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society, and as freelance editor, instructor, writer, grant jurist, and arts and education administrator. He seeks always to advocate for writers and writing communities, and is more than comfortable reading financial statements; after all, they’re just another way of writing the story of a place and its people. | |
Vice President: | Dorothy Bentley, Southern Alberta, Rural |
Dorothy Bentley: Growing up in Southern Ontario with preoccupied parents gave Dorothy a love of nature, books, and scribbling words. Transplanted to Alberta, she is a previous freelance writer of articles, cartoons, and columns, yet she now limits herself to poetry and fiction. Her writings regularly appear in literary journals, and she is the author of a picture book, Summer North Coming (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2019) and a YA novel, Escape from the Wildfire (Lorimer Kids & Teens, 2022). In the time period BC (before children), she won the WBRL Excuses Excuses contest. Recently, she was a winner of the RMWB Words in Motion poetry contest (2016); and she was short-listed for an Excellence in the Arts Award, Literary Arts category, by Arts Council Wood Buffalo (2022). She lives with her family in the Foothills which are never too quiet with their excitable sheltie and a cat named Whitney Mewston who likes to sing. | |
Treasurer: | Nicolas Brown, Westlock |
Nicolas Brown is a Chartered Professional Accountant, military reservist, and experienced non-profit director. Mr. Brown has over 6 years of accounting & payroll experience, and over 10 years of experience in volunteer and governance roles. As an aspiring author, his current projects include sci-fi, fantasy, and short story collections. | |
Secretary: | Moorea Gray, Calgary |
Moorea Gray: As an active member of the WGA since 2004, Moorea has participated in workshops, attended Alberta Literary Awards events, and has written for WestWord. The WGA has provided her with many long-lasting opportunities, and she feels it is her turn to give back to this important writing community. Moorea has great interest and involvement in Alberta literature—both past and present. In 2019, Moorea published an anthology containing the works of Icelandic-Canadian writer Stephan G. Stephansson. She is president of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club and sits on a committee for the Leif Eriksson Iceland Club. In June 2021, Moorea completed a two-year term as a committee member with the Calgary Distinguished Writers’ Program at the University of Calgary. Moorea holds an Education Degree and a master’s degree in English Literature. | |
Members at Large: | Moni Brar, Calgary |
Moni Brar was born in rural India, raised in northern British Columbia, and now gratefully divides her time between the unceded territories of Treaty 7 and Metis Nation Region 3 (Calgary) and the Syilx Okanagan Nation (Oliver). She has multiple nominations for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize and was the winner of the 2022 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award. She has received writing awards and honours from PRISM international, Room, Arc, Blood Orange Review, and Subnivean. Her writing appears in Best Canadian Poetry, The Literary Review of Canada, Passages North, and Hobart. She is an alum of Tin House, The Banff Centre, and The Humber School for Writers. | |
Nicole Hill, Edmonton | |
Nicole Hill is a lifelong Albertan and has been a member of the WGA board as a member-at-large since 2021. She teaches sociology and gender studies and is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. One of Nicole’s most recent publications is the co-edited collection, Obstetric Violence: Realities and Resistance from Around the World (2022), in which she is also a chapter author. Nicole has a BA in sociology and an MA in integrated studies from Athabasca University. In 2023, Nicole will complete her PhD in sociology from the University of Alberta, and a certificate in editing from Simon Fraser University. Nicole has a passion for writing that enriches and challenges our ways of thinking and doing. | |
Anne Bailey, Edmonton | |
Anne Bailey: Anne’s writing career has two main trajectories. First, in 1993, she earned a PhD in English from Western University and published two books of literary criticism on Timothy Findley in 1998. Then, after a 12-year academic career, she moved into strategic communications at the University of Alberta and began a second career as a professional writer. Over 20-plus years, Anne held leadership roles in several key strategic communications units and served as speechwriter for three successive university presidents. She is now a self-employed professional writer and communications consultant. Anne recently joined the WGA to reconnect with her roots as a literary writer as well as to develop more connections to the non-academic writing community in Alberta. Although a new member, she feels serving on the Board is an exciting opportunity to unite the two parts of her career—the literary and the professional. Working closely with the executive team at the U of A, she gained extensive experience in board and committee governance and has an excellent understanding of board roles and responsibilities. She brings expertise in strategic communications to the Board (from strategic planning to group facilitation to fundraising), and most importantly, to supporting and promoting Alberta writers and their work. It is her privilege to serve this thriving community. | |
Anna Shannon, Calgary | |
Anna Shannon (she/her) is a writer with publications in Existere Journal of Arts & Literature, NōD, Regulus Press, Remington Review, The Coachella Review, and more. She holds credentials in psychology and professional writing from the University of Calgary and lives in Treaty 7 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. To learn more, visit annawordsgood.com. Anna Shannon is currently writing a novel based on the life of a 19th century Canadian photographer, Alice, who travelled from Victoria to St. John’s with her photographer husband, Oliver Brown Buell. Her next book will be a creative nonfiction account of Oliver, delving deep into the research she’s conducted on their lives and work. If she ever finishes these books, she plans to give feature writing a try. Anna has had several short stories and essays published, and has fun experimenting with genre and narrative. Turns out she likes writing stories with dread, guilt, vigilantism, and quests to change lives with the power of meatloaf. When she’s not writing with her feline companion, she’s playing Pickleball, running her condo board, and solving the latest murder on Brit Box. Anna has a background in corporate governance, technical writing, post-secondary administration, and costume construction. She enjoys her volunteer role as a reader for a national literary magazine, and the opportunities she’s had to support the work of the WGA. | |
Member at Large (Youth Rep): | Kendall Bistretzan, Calgary |
Kendall Bistretzan was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, before moving to Calgary in 2017. In 2021, she received her degree from Mount Royal University, majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing. She’s worked as an investigative fellow for the Institute for Investigative Journalism, an editorial intern for Avenue Magazine, and is currently employed as a chase producer for QR Calgary. Outside of work, Kendall is the Co-Founder and Director of Communications for Sask Girls United, a non-profit that provides free online programming to youth across Saskatchewan. In her free time, Kendall writes prose and reviews that have been published in FreeFall Magazine, Understorey Magazine, Blue Marble Review and more. She is also working on her debut novel. As someone who enjoyed and appreciated the youth programming provided by her local writer’s guild growing up, Kendall is excited for the opportunity to facilitate experiences and connections for other young writers across Alberta. | |
Past President: | Blaine Newton, Edmonton |
Blaine Newton is a playwright, sketch and fiction writer, improviser and sometime engineer. His recent theatre productions include The Kyleness of Kyle and The Thin Grey Line, Cursive Writing Productions; Bravo, Shadow Theatre; Five Stages of Death, Cursive Writing Productions; and Oral Fixations (co-written with author Leslie Greentree), Ignition Theatre. His recent publications include the stories By the Numbers, Freefall Magazine, and Life in a Bottle, University of Bristol 2021 Anthology. |
2022/2023 | |
President: | Blaine Newton, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Colin Martin, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Nicolas Brown, Westlock |
Secretary: | Moorea Gray, Calgary |
Past President: | Carol Parchewsky, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Dr. Kimberly Fraser, Sherwood Park | Nicole Hill, Edmonton | Dorothy Bentley, Southern Alberta, Rural | Moni Brar, Calgary |
2020/2021 | |
President: | Carol Parchewsky, Calgary |
Vice President: | Theresa Uchechi Ezeuko, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Nicolas Brown, Westlock |
Secretary: | Lori Hahnel, Calgary |
Past President: | |
Members at Large: | Alison Clarke, Edmonton | Lisa Mulrooney, Stony Plain | Dr. Kimberly Fraser, Sherwood Park | Teresa Wouters, Grande Prairie | Sophie Pinkoski, Edmonton (Youth Rep) |
2019/2020 | |
President: | Leslie Chivers, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Leanne Myggland-Carter, Spruce Grove |
Treasurer: | Susan Carpenter, Calgary |
Secretary: | Kevin Thornton, Fort McMurray |
Past President: | Carol Parchewsky, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Dr. Kimberly Fraser, Sherwood Park |Teresa Wouters, Grande Prairie | Sophie Pinkoski, Edmonton (Youth Rep) |
2018/2019 | |
President: | Carol Parchewsky, Calgary |
Vice President: | Leslie Chivers, Edmonton |
Treasurer: | Falon Reed, Redwater |
Secretary: | Lori Hahnel, Calgary |
Past President: | Dustin Archibald, Grande Prairie |
Members at Large: | Alison Clarke, Edmonton | Joan Crate, Calgary | Lisa Mulrooney, Stony Plain | Sophie Pinkoski, Edmonton (Youth Rep) |
2017/2018 | |
President: | Dustin Archibald, Grande Prairie |
Vice President: | Carol Parchewsky, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Falon Reed, Redwater |
Secretary: | Lori Hahnel, Calgary |
Past President: | Anne Logan, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Alison Clarke, Edmonton | Joan Crate, Calgary | Leslie Chivers, Edmonton | Sophie Pinkoski, Edmonton (Youth Rep) |
2016/2017 | |
President: | Anne Logan, Calgary |
Vice President: | Dustin Archibald, Grande Prairie |
Treasurer: | Falon Reed, Redwater |
Secretary: | Fran Kimmel, Lacombe |
Past President: | Barb Howard, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Karen Pheasant, Edmonton | Kim McCullough, Calgary | Marc Colbourne, Edmonton | Teresa Wouters, Grande Prairie | Rachel Lee, Edmonton (Youth Rep) |
2015/2016 | |
President: | Barb Howard, Calgary |
Vice President: | Anne Logan, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Falon Reed, Redwater |
Secretary: | Fran Kimmel, Lacombe |
Past President: | Peter Midgley, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Dustin Archibald, Grande Prairie | Leslie Chivers, Edmonton | Terry Cho, Calgary | Karen Pheasant, Edmonton | Barbori G. Streibl, Calgary (Youth Rep) |
2014/2015 | |
President: | Peter Midgley, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Barb Howard, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Kimberley Champigny, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Anne Logan, Calgary |
Past President: | Vacant |
Members at Large: | Leslie Chivers, Edmonton | Terry Cho, Calgary | Fran Kimmel, Lacombe | Rena J. Traxel, Onoway | Barbori Streibl, Calgary (Youth Rep) |
2013/2014 | |
President: | Peter Midgley, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Barb Howard, Bragg Creek |
Treasurer: | Kimberley Champigny, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Ann Logan, Calgary |
Past President: | Julie Sedivy, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Fran Kimmel, Lacombe | Shannon Lepine, Edmonton (Youth Rep) | Dianne Linden, Edmonton | Rena Traxel-Boudreau, Onoway |
2012/2013 | |
President: | Julie Sedivy, Calgary |
Vice President: | Peter Midgley, Edmonton |
Treasurer: | Kimberley Champigny, Red Deer |
Secretary: | (Vacant) |
Past President: | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin |
Members at Large: | Janet Gurtler, Calgary | Barb Howard, Bragg Creek | Fran Kimmel, Lacombe | Shannon Lepine, Edmonton (Youth Rep) | Dianne Linden, Edmonton |
2011/2012 | |
President: | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin |
Vice President: | Julie Sedivy, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Kimberley Champigny, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Rosemary Griebel, Calgary |
Past President: | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin |
Members at Large: | Jordanna Bubar, Edmonton (Youth Rep) | Dianne Linden, Edmonton | Peter Midgley, Edmonton | Susan Toy, Calgary | Teresa Wouters, Grande Prairie |
2010/2011 | |
President: | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin |
Vice President: | Julie Sedivy, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Kimberley Champigny, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Rosemary Griebel, Calgary |
Past President: | Audrey Seehagen, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Leslie Greentree, Red Deer | Jennifer Kunlire, Calgary (youth member) | Dianne Linden, Edmonton | Teresa Wouters, Grande Prairie |
2009/2010 | |
President: | Audrey Seehagen, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Ian LeTourneau, Athabasca |
Treasurer: | David Richardson, Grande Prairie |
Secretary: | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin |
Past President: | Blaine Newton, Red Deer |
Members at Large: | Karen Bass, Hythe | Leslie Greentree, Red Deer | Rosemary Griebel, Calgary | Jennifer Kunlire, Calgary (youth member) | Julie Sedivy, Calgary |
2008/2009 | |
President: | Blaine Newton, Red Deer |
Vice President: | Audrey Seehagen, Edmonton |
Treasurer: | David Richardson, Grande Prairie |
Secretary: | Karen Bass, Hythe |
Past President: | Dymphny Dronyk, Grande Prairie |
Members at Large: | Rosemary Griebel, Calgary | Jennifer Kunlire, Calgary (youth member) | Patricia MacQuarrie, Wetaskiwin | Shirley Serviss, Edmonton | Ian LeTourneau, Athabasca |
2007/2008 | |
President: | Dymphny Dronyk, Grande Prairie |
Vice President: | Blaine Newton, Red Deer |
Treasurer: | Arthur Kan, Edmonton |
Secretary: | Audrey Seehagen, Edmonton |
Past President: | Lori Lavallee, Lethbridge |
Members at Large: | Karen Bass, Hythe | J. Paul Cooper, Calgary | Shirley Serviss, Edmonton | Richard Stevenson, Lethbridge |
2006/2007 | |
President: | Lori Lavallee, Lethbridge |
Vice President: | Kelly Clemmer, Wainwright |
Treasurer: | Arthur Kan, Edmonton |
Secretary: | Dymphny Dronyk, Grande Prairie |
Past President: | Vern Thiessen, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Alexis Hillier, Edmonton (youth member) | Audrey Seehagen, Edmonton | J. Paul Cooper, Calgary |
2005/2006 | |
President: | Vern Thiessen, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Lori Lavallee, Lethbridge |
Treasurer: | Arthur Kan, Edmonton |
Secretary: | John Mulholland, Grande Cache |
Past President: | Vivian Hansen |
Members at Large: | Kathryn Arnold, Edmonton | Kelly Clemmer, Wainwright | Dymphny Dronyk, Grande Prairie | Alexis Hillier, Edmonton (youth member) |
2004/2005 *elected at the Special General Meeting, December 11, 2004, Red Deer | |
President: | Vern Thiessen, Edmonton* |
Vice President: | Lori Lavallee, Lethbridge* |
Treasurer: | Joan Marklund, Drumheller |
Secretary: | Lorna Klose, Calgary* |
Past President: | Vivian Hansen, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Kathryn Arnold, Edmonton* | Kelly Clemmer, Wainwright* | Marilyn Dumont, Edmonton | John Mulholland, Grande Cache* | Wendy Rajala, Calgary* |
Secretary:Gail Gravelines, Edmonton
2004/2005 (elected at AGM) | |
President: | Anne Burke, Calgary |
Vice President: | Harvey Walker, St. Albert |
Treasurer: | Joan Marklund, Drumheller |
Past President: | Vivian Hansen, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Marilyn Dumont, Edmonton | Michelle Greyson, Cochrane | Rebecca Holand, Lethbridge | Faye Holt, Calgary |
2003/2004 | |
President: | Vivian Hansen, Calgary |
Vice President: | Anne Burke, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Susan Weckesser, Whitecourt |
Secretary: | Vivia Oliver, Caroline |
Past President: | Christina Grant, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | David Breakenridge, Sherwood Park | Michelle Greysen, Cochrane | Bob Stallworthy, Calgary | Harvey Walker, St. Albert |
2002/2003 | |
President: | Christina Grant, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Sharon Drummond, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Diane Schuller, Hythe |
Secretary: | Michael Penny, Edmonton |
Past President: | Suzette Mayr, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Vivian Hansen, Calgary | Richard Stevenson, Lethbridge | Diane Schuller, Hythe | Lyle Weis, Edmonton |
2001/2002 | |
President: | Suzette Mayr, Calgary |
Vice President: | Christina Grant, Athabasca |
Treasurer: | Mark Giles, Calgary |
Secretary: | Linda Goyette, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Sharon Drummond, Calgary | Ruth C. Mackay, Millerville | Anna Mioduchowska, Edmonton | Diane Walton, Alberta Beach |
2000/2001 | |
President: | Geo Takach, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Suzette Mayr, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Leo Jacques, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Mark Giles, Calgary |
Members at Large: | Christina M. Grant, Athabasca | Ruth C. MacKay, Millerville | Anna Mioduchowska, Edmonton | Diane Walton, Alberta Beach |
1999/2000 | |
President: | Anne Burke, Calgary |
Vice President: | George Takach, Edmonton |
Treasurer: | Leo Jacques, Red Deer |
Secretary: | David Huggett, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Rosemary Nixon, Calgary | Bernard Bloom, Calgary | Don Trembath, Morinville | Christine M. Grant, Athabasca |
1998/1999 | |
President: | Scot Morison |
Vice President: | Anne Burke, Calgary |
Treasurer: | Leo L. Jacques, Red Deer |
Secretary: | David Huggett, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Rosemary Nixon, Calgary | Sandra Wunsch, Medicine Hat | Don Trembath, Morinville | Bernard Bloom, Calgary |
1997/1998 | |
President: | Tololwa Mollel, Edmonton |
Vice President: | Shirley Serviss, Edmonton |
Treasurer: | Paul Harris, Red Deer |
Secretary: | Cherylyn Stacey, Edmonton |
Members at Large: | Elizabeth Celements, Medicine Hat | Sarah Murphy, Calgary | Anne Burke, Calgary | David Poulsen, Claresholm |
1996/1997 | |
President: | Fred Stenson |
Vice President: | Tololwa Mollel |
Treasurer: | Paul Harris |
Secretary: | Cheryl Chamberlain |
Members at Large: | Caterina Edwards | Jenny King-Brown | Sarah Murphy | Anne Burke |
1995/1996 | |
President: | Darlene Quaife |
Vice President: | Fred Stenson |
Treasurer: | Michael Penny |
Secretary: | Diane Walton |
Members at Large: | Jars Balan | Paul Harris | John Glawson | David Poulsen | Miki Andrejevic |
1994/1995 | |
President: | Alice Major |
Vice President: | Darlene Quaife |
Treasurer: | E. Stewart Bishop |
Secretary: | Diane Walton |
Members at Large: | Robert Runte | Lyn Thompson | Jars Balan | Irene Morck |
1993/1994 | |
President: | Candas Jane Dorsey |
Vice President: | Alice Major |
Treasurer: | E Stewart Bishop |
Secretary: | Robert Runte |
Members at Large: | Dave Duncan | Lyn Thompson | Diane Walton | Janeen Werner-King |
1992/1993 | |
President: | George Melnyk |
Vice President: | Candas Jane Dorsey |
Treasurer: | E. Stewart Bishop |
Secretary: | Robert Runte |
Members at Large: | Marie Jakober | Shirlee Matheson | Charles Noble | Diane Walton |
1991/1992 | |
President: | Reg Silvester |
Vice President: | George Melnyk |
Treasurer: | Yvonne Adam |
Secretary: | Caterina Edwards |
Members at Large: | Candas Jane Dorsey | Sarah Murphy | Charles Noble | Fred Wah |
1990/1991 | |
President: | Jon Whyte |
Vice President: | Reg Silvester |
Treasurer: | Michael Penny |
Secretary: | Amber Hayward |
Members at Large: | Caterina Edwards | Larry Harris | Sarah Murphy | Lorine Sweeney |
1989/1990 | |
President: | Myrna Kostash |
Vice President: | Jon Whyte |
Treasurer: | Michael Penny |
Secretary: | Amber Hayward |
Members at Large: | Lorine Sweeney | Darlene Quaife | Roberta Rees-Whalley | Melody Szabo |
1988/1989 | |
President: | Aritha van Herk |
Vice President: | Myrna Kostash |
Treasurer: | Becky Romanchych |
Secretary: | Monica Hughes |
Members at Large: | Sylvia Bough | Mary Howes | Birk Sproxton | Andrew Wreggitt |
1987/1988 | |
President: | Martyn Godfrey |
Vice President: | Aritha van Herk |
Treasurer: | Phyllis Shuell |
Secretary: | Vacant |
Members at Large: | Monica Hughes | Sylvia Bough | Joan Crate Taylor | Andrew Wreggitt |
1986/1987 | |
President: | Monty Reid |
Vice President: | Martyn Godfrey |
Treasurer: | Phyllis Shuell |
Secretary: | Mark Lowey |
Members at Large: | Sylvia Bough | Rebecca Luce-Kapler | Andrea Spalding | Richard Stevenson |
1985/1986 | |
President: | Gloria Sawai |
Vice President: | Monty Reid |
Treasurer: | James W. Fishbourne |
Secretary: | Shirlee Matheson |
Members at Large: | Elona Malterre | Don Meredith | Andrea Spalding | P. Derryn Yeomans |
1984/1985 | |
President: | Chris Wiseman |
Vice President: | Lorne Daniel |
Treasurer: | Clair Woodbury |
Secretary: | Shirlee Matheson |
Members at Large: | Elona Malterre | Rhonda McAdam | Monty Reid | Cora Weber-Pillwax |
1983/1984 | |
President: | Joan Clark |
Vice President: | Kathy Osgood |
Treasurer: | Mary Woodbury |
Secretary: | Ian Adam |
Members at Large: | Sharleen Chevreaux | Bill Latta | Marie Moser | Marilynn Stratton | Mary Riskin |
1982/1983 | |
President: | Ted Blodgett |
Vice President: | Tim Christison |
Treasurer: | Reg Silvester |
Secretary: | Mary Riskin |
Members at Large: | Cathy Reninger | Doug Barbour | Fred Stenson | Sharleen Chevreaux |
1981/1982 | |
President: | Ted Blodgett |
Vice President: | Tim Christison |
Treasurer: | Reg Silvester |
Secretary: | Mary Riskin |
Members at Large: | Cathy Reninger | Doug Barbour | Fred Stenson | Sharleen Chevreaux |
1980/1981 | |
President: | Rudy Wiebe |
Vice President: | Christopher Wiseman |
Treasurer: | Beverly Hocking |
Secretary: | Merna Summers |
Members at Large: | Joan Clark | Jan Truss | William Latta | Ted Blodgett |