Writers Guild of Alberta

Canadian non-profit organization for writers

The Writers' Guild of Alberta (WGA) was founded in 1980 as a non-profit organization for writers based in Alberta, Canada.[1] It claims to be the largest provincial writers' organization in Canada, representing approximately 1,000 writers throughout the province.[2]

## Location and leadership

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Its main office is based in Edmonton, with a southern office located in Calgary. The founding president was Rudy Wiebe.[3] Past presidents include E. D. Blodgett, Joan Clark, Candas Jane Dorsey, Myrna Kostash, Alice Major, Suzette Mayr, George Melnyk, Darlene Quaife, Gloria Sawai, Fred Stenson (writer), Vern Thiessen and Aritha van Herk.[4] A new president is nominated and elected at each year's AGM event. The president for the 2019–2021 year is Leslie Chivers.[5]

## Programs

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The WGA provides professional services and development to established and emerging writers through its annual conference, mentorship program, writing retreats and youth programs. Its quarterly publication is WestWord magazine.[6]

## Awards

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Created in 1982, the Alberta Literary Awards[7] are awarded annually by the WGA to recognize and celebrate outstanding Alberta writing. They include the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize and The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize, as well as awards for children's literature, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, published short fiction and short nonfiction, and unpublished essays.[8][9] The Golden Pen Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges an outstanding Alberta writer. The 2019 recipient is Bob Stallworthy.[10][11][12]

## References

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1. ^ "The Writer's Life: For 20 years the Writers Guild of Alberta has encouraged and enabled writers to pursue the Writers Life". Alberta Views website. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
2. ^ "WGA Annual Report 2017/2018" (PDF). WGA website. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
3. ^ The Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Fiction, Volume 2. John Wiley & Sons. Dec 8, 2010. pp. 1391–1392.
4. ^ "WGA Board of Directors Archive". WGA website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
5. ^ "WGA Board of Directors". WGA website. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
6. ^ "WGA What We Do". WGA website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
7. ^ "WGA Alberta Literary Awards". WGA website. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
8. ^ "Deborah Willis, Suzette Mayr, Chris Turner among finalists for Alberta Literary Awards". Calgary Herald website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
9. ^ "Gisèle Villeneuve, Richard Harrison among 2017 Alberta Literary Award winners". Quill & Quire website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
10. ^ "2018 Alberta Literary Awards Winners". Alberta Magazine Publishers Association website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
11. ^ "Writer's Block – Episode July 17, 2018". CJSW-FM website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
12. ^ "WGA Golden Pen Award Past Recipients". WGA website. Retrieved 21 January 2019.

## External links

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* The Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Official website

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