The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is excited to announce the finalists for the 2026 Alberta Literary Awards. The Alberta Literary Awards were created by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta in 1982 to recognize excellence in writing by Alberta authors. Entries are judged by an independent jury recruited by the WGA. The winners will be announced […]
March 13, 2026: Thanks to research by the Centre for Free Expression and the CBC, Albertans now know how far the Alberta government’s recent order on the selection of school library materials goes in curtailing their freedom to read. More than 200 titles have been removed from Alberta school libraries as a direct result of […]
What is the Kemosa Scholarship? First established in 2017 by Dr. Nhung Tran-Davies in partnership with Tlicho Dene author Richard Van Camp, the Kemosa Scholarship offers an opportunity for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Mothers to obtain resources to help them complete the work on their writing – whether that be a novel, a collection of […]
WGA Casino Night FundraiserJuly 30 – 31, 2026 Varying Shifts (Morning, Evening, and Overnight)Starlight Casino, West Edmonton Mall 8882 170 St NW #2710Edmonton The Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s casino fundraiser will be at the Starlight Casino at West Edmonton Mall (second floor) in Edmonton from July 30 – 31, 2026. By partnering with a local […]
February 25, 2026 The Writers’ Guild of Alberta and the Writers’ Union of Canada are grateful for the outpouring of support we have received in the follow-up to receiving notice that our Freedom to Read event venue (the Kensington Legion in Calgary) had cancelled our booking. A joint statement was issued from the Board of […]
February 19, 2026For Immediate Release Reading Event at Calgary Legion Cancelled During Freedom to Read Week The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (WGA) are shocked and disappointed to have had a joint Freedom to Read Week event discussing censorship and book-banning cancelled by the contracted venue. A public gathering […]
You may be receiving fraudulent emails using our name claiming to share ‘protected documents’ from an email address that is not the writersguild.ca. Please note that any emails that are NOT coming from our domain in this way should NOT be opened and should be marked as SPAM. Thank you to those of you who […]
The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is pleased to share that we have now matched the mentors and mentees for our 2026 Mentorship Program! As always, there was a wide and deep pool of applicants for both mentors and mentees, and we encourage those who were unsuccessful this year to apply again next round. Thank you […]
WestWord invites members to answer the following: Most writers work (night shifts, multiple jobs) to supplement their writerly income. What else do you do outside of your writing hours (raising a family, elder care, hobbies) and does it help or hinder your writing? Please send your answers (100 words or less) to WestWord editor Raymond Gariepy at: [email protected]. In the heading, include: Question to Members. […]
The WGA needs your support! And best of all, it only takes a few seconds of your time. The WGA has been selected to compete for community votes to win funds for the Preservation of Culture: Multi-Lingual Writing Program through the Field Law: Community Funding Program. Voting Closes on November 22, 2025. Cast your vote […]
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled. We will be notifying registered participants and plan to send all anthologies by mail. Please keep an eye out in the new year for more events.
PLEASE NOTE: As of this time, the Strawberry Creek Writing Retreat is sold out! Please stay tuned for our next retreat, most likely taking place in the late summer or fall of 2026. The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is excited to confirm that we will be hosting a self-directed writing retreat next spring in Strawberry […]
Stephan V. Benediktson June 22, 1933 – October 14, 2025 We are sorry to learn that long-time supporter of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, Stephan V. Benediktson, passed away October 14, 2025. Stephan was a dedicated supporter of the arts and Icelandic culture who sponsored the WGA’s Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, named for […]
The Olive Reading Series returns November 12th for another night of features, open mic readings, and time to chat and connect with local writers. Wednesday, November 12th, 20257:00 PM – 9:00 PM MTRooster Bar & Kitchen 10732 82nd Ave (Whyte Ave)FREE The November reading will feature author of ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (2025), Marco Melfi, and multidisciplinary […]
