Board of Directors

Anne Bailey’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 Wagner is a writer and editor living in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 land. She has publications in Bellingham Review, The Coachella Review, and others. She is currently writing STEMinist historical fiction to give a voice to the Canadian women whose stories need to be told. www.annashannon.ca

With 20+ years in executive financial management I have excelled in budgeting, policy development & oversight, strategic planning, financial management, and all detailed level accounting positions, having retired (mostly) financial consulting work in 2024. I have participated as the treasurer of boards on at least four occasions, as well as being a Chief Financial Officer and an active member of several varying board committees over my career in multiple industries, responsible for all areas of financial management from transaction to final annual statements. I have built a reputation for business acumen and maximizing cost savings, giving organizations more financial resources to work with. I also pride myself on being an efficiency junkie. Retiring from financial work, I turned my attention to coaching and writing, publishing a self-help book before turning to fiction which I love dearly. I still miss my financial work, and it would be a perfect match for me to be able to fill this role and combine both of my passions together in one organization.

I have demonstrated a high level of business success in every organization I have served. I plan to be a dedicated board member and help bring great success to the WGA.

Kendall Bistretzan was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, before moving to Calgary, Alberta, to pursue her journalism degree. She works as a branded content writer for Hive Labs and is a proud board member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and Sask Girls United. She is currently in the process of querying her debut novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.

T.F. (Timothy Frederick) Pruden spent much of his life learning to write fiction while touring North America performing his music under the stage name Tim Harwill. Since retiring from life on the road, he’s published a series of literary and well-received novels.

Of Metis descent, Mr. Pruden is a chronicler of the obscure captivated by a never-ending search for independence.

His minimalist fiction depicts postmodern life and the challenges of moral relativism among the people of western Canada. Mr. Pruden’s eighth novel ‘A Whippoorwill Called’ published in 2025. He lives in the small town of Thorsby, Alberta, in western Canada.

Shaylean Gladu is a Nêhiyawak poet, published in Northword Magazine, Words in Motion, and Words & Birds. She won first in the 2025 Words in Motion poetry competition, received an honourable mention for the 2026 Kemosa Scholarship, and was a mentee in WGA’s 2026 Mentorship Program.

Shaylean is a public speaker who has appeared at multiple ceremonies, open mics, fundraisers, and launch events. She completed a Visiting Author Tour with the Wood Buffalo Regional Library, promoting poetry in rural Indigenous schools. She will host the Q&A for the 2026 launch of Where the Mourning Gathers (Stacey Grant).

Louise is a Toronto-born French-Canadian who grew up in Montréal. She settled in Banff on traditional Treaty 7 territory with her husband in 2006. Before returning to Canada, she lived in Luxembourg for 15 years and worked in banking, multimedia, and academia as campus director of a US university. Focussed on inclusion and belonging, she taught leadership in MBA and undergraduate programmes in Europe and Canada for 25 years. Her leadership coaching and change management work spanned nonprofits and corporations across North America. She co-owned an inn in Banff and served on the board of the YWCA, chairing its governance committee.

An active member of two workshop groups, Louise committed to her writing career full-time in 2022. She graduated from the Writer’s Studio (SFU) and earned her M.A. in Creative Writing (University of Hull). Louise writes character-driven historical thrillers that explore the intersection of trauma and identity. She is working on her debut novel, Wild Rose.