News

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 at our Awards Gala Dinner on June 5, 2026 and you can get your tickets here. All finalists will receive two tickets for themselves and

With membership growing each year, the WGA is looking for some final-stretch sponsors to help us host our annual Conference and Gala. We are seeking: Depending on your contribution level, sponsors can receive: And our gratitude for your support! Variations of our sponsor arrangements can be made. Contact [email protected] to connect with our sponsorship team.

April 21, 2026 The WGA stands with the Coalition of Alberta’s Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) in condemning Bill 28, an act that seeks to amend Alberta’s Libraries Act in order to restrict Albertans’ access to library materials and services the government deems “inappropriate.” As did the ministerial order regarding school libraries, this unnecessary piece of legislation has the potential to have far-reaching impacts that represent an unjustified restriction on every Albertan’s constitutional right to intellectual freedom and freedom of expression.

2026 WGA Board nominations are now open! Deadline for Advanced Nominations: May 20, 2026Elections at AGM: June 22, 2026 (online) Are you or someone you know interested in playing a strategic role in shaping the future of the WGA or looking for a volunteer opportunity to contribute to Alberta’s writing community? Please consider joining or nominating a colleague to the WGA Board of Directors. The WGA Board of Directors sets the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the WGA and

WGA Pub Night PowerPoint Presentation Pitches Due: May 1, 2026 5 minute presentations on: May 20, 20267:00 PM – 9:00 PM MT Rooster Kitchen & BarEdmonton This is a Free event Do you have a hot take or a presentation with visual aids that you’re dying to share with an audience? Do you have a hidden talent, secret hobby, or a topic that needs to be unpacked with the use of a projector and 100 inch screen? Then May’s WGA

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 the ministerial order. The Writers’ Guild of Alberta condemns this historic attack on freedom of expression and freedom to read. As noted in our statement

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 stories, poems, or whatever form their writing might take. The Scholarship is partially facilitated by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.  Three cash scholarships are given

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 casino, the WGA provides staffing over this two-day period through members and volunteers in exchange for receiving a share of the casino profits. Our casinos

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 the WGA and the TWUC shortly afterwards. Stepping in, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society was able to secure a new venue at the cSpace Marda

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 featuring local writers reading from banned books and discussing a recent North American rise in censorship was scheduled to take place at Legion #264 in

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 let us know of the issue and please continue to send alert of us of any suspicious emails.

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 deadline is February 13th for publication in the Spring 2026 issue. 

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 here! Our IdeaWe are looking to raise funds to host a year-long writing program for Spanish writers, including one virtual craft talk with an established

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 artist, Sara Campos-Silvius. As always, an open mic will follow. Remember to grab a chapbook of the featured works as well. The Olive Reading Series