WGA Board Response to GOA Ministerial Order: Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Library Materials
The Writers’ Guild of Alberta stands with librarians and educators, echoing their grave concerns about the impact of the Government of Alberta’s ministerial order on the “Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Library Materials.” Banning books—and make no mistake, this is the intended outcome of this order—has real consequences in our society. This ministerial order infringes on a fundamental charter right: the right to freedom of expression, a right that includes freedom to listen, read, and receive
Protected: Premee Mohamed Blue Pencil Session Applications (WGA 2025 Late Summer Retreat)
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: Jenna Butler Blue Pencil Session Applications (WGA 2025 Late Summer Retreat)
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Horizons Writers Circle Presents: Meditative Yoga and Journaling
August 4, 2025Yoga: 11:20am – 12pmJournaling: 12pm – 1:20pmAlberta Legislature (Bandshell Stage), 9820 – 107 Street, NWEdmontonFree The Horizons Writers Circle is back with a new event: Meditative Yoga and Journaling on the Legislature grounds. Join facilitator Ting Pimentel-Elger for an afternoon of yoga and journaling, and don’t forget to bring your own journal and mat to enjoy and relax. Horizons Writers Circle will be joining the Healing Together event with the Philippine Community to mark the passing of 100
Office Closed June 30 & July 1, 2025
Please note that the WGA office will be closed on Monday, June 30th and July 1st for Canada Day. Emails and phones will not be monitored during that time. We will be back in the office July 2nd.
Regional Writer-in-Residence (Contract, Multiple Positions)
Writers’ Guild of Alberta Employment Opportunity: Regional Writer-in-Residence (6 Positions Available) The Writers’ Guild of Alberta invites all those qualified to apply for the position of Regional Writer-in-Residence (RWiR). There are up to 6 positions available. Alberta regions we are looking to include this year are Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Greater Edmonton, and the Greater Calgary areas. This program provides WGA members access to the services of a Virtual RWiR, with priority given to those who cannot
WGA Membership Prices Increasing – Buy Now and Save $15
Following the WGA’s annual AGM, membership have approved a price increase to our member fees that will go into effect on July 2nd, 2025. You can still purchase a membership at our current prices until then with all of the same benefits for 2025-2026, so be sure to buy or renew yours now. New Membership Prices: Regular Members: $95 Senior (60+) Members: $65Low Income Members: $45 And as usual, students enrolled in full-time high school or post-secondary studies can join
Save the Date: Stroll of Poets Festival — September 5-7, 2025 (Calgary)
Stroll of Poets Festival, Calgary Friday, September 5 – Sunday, September 7, 2025Time: TBAConfirmed Locations: The Attic, Central Library, Collector’s Gallery of Fine Art, The Confluence,Ironwood Stage and Grill, Madison 12|12, The Next Page, Rosso Inglewood and Vegan Street Calgary The Stroll of Poets Festival returns to Inglewood & area this September! More info coming soon. Stay tuned! Featuring curators Kyle Flemmer, Peter Katsnelson, Daniel Poitras, Shone Thistle, and MelVee X. *Artwork by illustrator and graphic designer Charlie Pearson.
WGA Late Summer Retreat (Caroline) — August 28-31, 2025
WGA Late Summer Writers’ Retreat 2025 The Retreat takes place from Thursday, August 28th to Sunday, August 31st. The full schedule is now available below. Session details are also available below and WGA staff are available to answer questions in person. For information on previous registration and fees, please scroll to the end of the page. Schedule Thursday, August 28 Friday, August 29 Saturday, August 30 Sunday, August 31 8:30 AM Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 10:30 AM Self-Directed Writing Time Workshop:
Fringe Festival Mini Poetry Slam — August 3, 2025 (Calgary)
Fringe Festival Mini Poetry Slam Sunday, August 3rd, 20259:30 PM to 11:15 PMFestival Hall1215 10th Ave SE Tickets are $22 and available here.*selected participants will have their cover charge refunded Join us for the second annual mini Poetry Slam at Calgary Fringe Festival this summer! Hosted by Calgary Poetry Slam’s Matt Miller. Sign-up starts at 9:30pm.Participants announced at 9:45pm.Show starts at 10:00pm. This is a mini version of the Calgary Poetry Slam. Six performers will be selected by random draw and will each
Connections Brewing (Calgary) — July 29th, 2025
Connections Brewing (Calgary) Tuesday, July 29th, 20256:00pm – 9:00pm MSTLast Best Brewing & Distilling607 – 11th Ave SWUpstairs in the dining roomFree. No registration required. Open to members of WGA and/or AWCS.Street parking free after 6pm. 7 minute walk from 4th street c-train station. Come ready to mingle and network with the Calgary literary community. Our July event will feature literary trivia, hosted by Ashley Frerichs. Prizes for the winning team include a round of drinks and free books!
Pub Night (Edmonton) — July 16, 2025
WGA June Pub Night (Edmonton)Wednesday, July 16, 20257-9pm MTRooster Bar & Kitchen, 10732 Whyte aveEdmontonFREE Join the WGA for our July pub night, with special guests, contributors from Edmonton literary magazine Funicular. Past and present contributors such as Mika Deneige, Jamie Boakee, Robyn Braun, and Theodora Sterling. As always, the open mic starts at 8pm. This is a free event. All are welcome!
WordsWorth 2025: OURTIME Registration Form
Week 1 (ages 11-14): July 13 – 18, 2025 [Registration closes noon on July 11th)Week 2 (ages 15-19): July 20 – 25, 2025 (Registration closes noon on July 18th) Early Bird rate: $630 (until April 30, 2025)Regular rate: $655 Location: Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), Red Deer, AB Classes and Instructors: Learn more about this year’s instructors and classes here. Please select the WordWorth program you wish to register for below. You may pre-order WordsWorth t-shirts and copies of the
Gathering of Words: Flash Fiction Improv & Live Edit — July 11, 2025 (Calgary)
Gathering of Words: Flash Fiction Improv & Live Edit (Calgary) Friday, July 11th, 20254:30 PM to 6:00 PMCentral Library800 3rd Street SEUnder the Arch (outside the front doors)FREE (Register here.) Join us for this WGA collaboration with the Calgary Public Library on their series, Gathering of Words! This special event will involve a group generated flash fiction story followed by a live edit, with the goal of showing the process from creation to publication of a piece of short fiction
Tell Us About Your 2025 Books
We would love to know what our members are publishing in 2025! If you have a book slated for publication in 2025 and would like to tell us about it, please do so via the form below. All books by WGA members that are commercially available in 2025 are welcome, including self-published and ebook or audiobook exclusives. If your book was published in a previous year, past year’s forms can be found here. Submissions to this form may be included
2025 Alberta Literary Awards Winners
2025 Alberta Literary Award Winners Announced! The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Alberta Literary Awards. This year’s award winners were announced at and in-person gala in Calgary on June 6th. The winner of the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize was announced in May as part of the Edmonton Arts Prizes. This celebration marked the 43rd anniversary of the Alberta Literary Awards and brought together writers from across Alberta. The Alberta Literary Awards