Review of the Copyright Act
Nov 30, 2023
The Book Industry Requests an Urgent Meeting with Honourable Ministers St-Onge and Champagne The Canadian book industry is pleased that a new report from the House of Commons, released last week, supports its claim that the Government of Canada should… Read More
Memo Suggests Shadow-Banning of LGBTQIA2S+ Books in Some Ontario Schools
Nov 9, 2023
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is deeply concerned about the apparent shadow-banning of a subset of books shortlisted for this year’s Forest of Reading Awards. According to a memo and related emails leaked on social media, at least four Children’s and Young… Read More
Jury Announced and Call for Submissions Issued for the 27th Annual Danuta Gleed Literary Award
Nov 8, 2023
The Writers’ Union of Canada and the Gleed family are pleased to announce the jury for the $10,000 Danuta Gleed Literary Award, Canada’s pre-eminent award for the best first Canadian collection of short fiction in the English language, now celebrating its 27th year. This… Read More
In Memoriam — Thomas McCavour (1930–2022)
Oct 25, 2023
Thomas McCavour passed away peacefully on July 5, a day before his 92nd birthday. When he was in his teens, Tom met the love of his life, Shirley Hedch. They were married for 71 years, and theirs was indeed an inspirational love story. Tom was a renaissance man. He was an… Read More
In Memoriam — Teresa Healy (1962–2022)
Oct 25, 2023
Born in England, Teresa Healy was an Irish and Canadian citizen who spent most of her life in Ontario. She died peacefully at age 60 in her home in Brattleboro, Vermont, after five years of living with cancer. Teresa had called Vermont home since 2016. She was an immigrant three… Read More
In Memoriam — Madeline Coopsammy (1939–2023)
Oct 25, 2023
Madeline Coopsammy was born in Trinidad. Her joie-de-vivre and curiosity would hold her in good stead throughout her life as a teacher, writer, volunteer, and parent. People were always drawn to her. She won a scholarship to study at Delhi University, India, where she would… Read More
In Memoriam — Rana Bose (1950–2023)
Oct 25, 2023
Rana Bose was a novelist, playwright, poet, dramaturge, professional engineer, and founding editor of Montréal Serai — a nonprofit arts and culture online magazine, which began as a local theatre and arts collective. (It now offers an annual Rana Bose Memorial Grant for writers… Read More
In Memoriam — Jen Powley (1977–2023)
Oct 25, 2023
Jen Powley served as Regional Representative for TWUC’s Atlantic Region with dedication and focus for both her region and for all writers living with disabilities. This remembrance of Jen was written by Suzanne Rent; a longer version was first published in the Halifax… Read More
Searchable Database Containing Book Titles Used to Train Artificial Intelligence
Sep 28, 2023
This week, the US publication The Atlantic published a searchable database containing the titles of books used to train a number of US-based artificial intelligence projects. Many of those titles are by Canadian authors. You can see this database, and search for your… Read More
Canada’s School Libraries Require Serious Investment
Sep 28, 2023
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) notes with growing concern the trend in Canada of challenges to specific books in schools and libraries across the country. Very often those with a focus on LGBTQIA2s+ perspectives and stories are the target of coordinated… Read More
