History of the Writer-in-Residence program

The library's Writer-in-Residence (WiR) program started in 1985 with Sandra Birdsell for a short term. In 1986 Carol Matas followed for another short-term residency. The library then hosted Canadian authors Anne Szumigalski, Geoffrey Ursell and Merna Summers. These years received partial funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.  

During the mid 1990s, the program paused as funding was sought. The program returned in 1998 in partnership with the Manitoba Writers Guild (MWG). Marcien Ferland provided a residency in French at the St. Boniface Library. In 1999 the MWG and the library - with funding from the Manitoba Arts Council - hosted Linda Holeman.  

The library took over the financial responsibility for the program in 2000. Funders during this time included the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Advisory Council, the Friends of Winnipeg Public Library and the Winnipeg Public Library Board. With the assistance of the MWG, George Amabile offered a 6-month term beginning in the fall of 2000.  

For over a decade the program has been funded by Winnipeg Public Library, the Government of Manitoba, the Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library, and the Winnipeg Public Library Board. The program has hosted many poets (John Weier, Maurice Mierau, Di Brandt, Jennifer Still). Short fiction writers include Chandra Mayor, Melissa Steele, and Patricia Robertson. Young adult writers include Duncan Thornton and Nora Decter. Genre authors include Doug Whiteway and Susie Moloney. There have been literary novelists such as David Bergen, Miriam Toews and Terry Jordan. Multidisciplinary writers in fiction, poetry and non-fiction include Anna Leventhal, Carolyn Gray and Lauren Carter. In 2008 the program chose its first playwright, Bruce McManus followed by 2022’s Frances Koncan. The program saw its first writer/publisher duo in 2016 - Christine Fellows and John K. Samson.  

The WiR program is funded by the City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Public Library, the Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library and Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism.  

 

Former Writers-in-Residence:  

1985 - Sandra Birdsell 
1986 - Carol Matas 
1987 - Anne Szumigalski 
1989 - Geoffry Ursell 
1990 - Merner Summers 
1991 - Kate Bitney  
1993 - Fraser Sutherland  
1993 - Larry Krotz 
1998 - Marcien Ferland  
1999 - Linda Holeman 
2000 - George Amabile 
2001 - Margaret Sweatman 
2002 - David Bergen 
2003 - Miriam Toews 
2004 - Duncan Thornton 
2005 - John Weier 
2006 - Chandra Mayor 
2007 - Doug Whiteway 
2008 - Bruce McManus 
2009 - Maurice Mierau 
2010 - Melissa Steele 
2011 - Terry Jordan 
2012 - Joan Thomas 
2013 - Méira Cook 
2014 - Di Brandt 
2015 - Patricia Robertson 
2016 - Christine Fellows and John K. Samson 
2017 - Jennifer Still 
2018 - Jordan Wheeler 
2019 - Carolyn Gray 
2020 - Lauren Carter 
2021 - Anna Leventhal 
2022 - Frances Koncan 
2023 - Susie Moloney 
2024 - Nora Decter

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