The Vancouver Writers Fest is a non-profit organization that produces a variety of literary events in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its main event is the Vancouver Writers Fest, which is an annual week-long literary festival held on Granville Island, Vancouver in the third week of October. Writers from Canada and abroad attend the festival to perform readings, interviews and panel discussions. The organization also runs the Books & Ideas literary and social series on Granville Island, Incite reading series with VPL, and the Writers in the Classroom program year-round.
The Festival was introduced in 1988 by founding Artistic Director Alma Lee. In 2010, the Festival was named the "Best Large Literary Festival in Canada" by the Canadian Tourism Commission. The Vancouver Writers Fest adopted its current name in 2012.
Past authors have included Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Maeve Binchy, Peter Carey, Roddy Doyle, Timothy Findley, John Irving, P. D. James, Thomas Keneally, Andrea Levy, Frank McCourt, Rohinton Mistry, David Mitchell, Alice Munro, Michael Ondaatje, J. K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie and Carol Shields.
Programming The programming of the Vancouver Writers Fest aims to promote literacy on both a local and international level; to support and encourage British Columbia and Canadian writers in their vocation; to showcase a variety of international works of literature; and to educate a wide range of communities and age groups in literacy and the written arts.
The main regular events produced by the Vancouver Writers Fest include: Books & Ideas on Granville Island, the Incite Reading Series, the Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island and the Youth Education Programs.
Books & Ideas Books & Ideas was launched in January 2025. With an intimate theatre venue on Granville Island and a pop-up bar for socializing, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community—and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage—in a modern space for exchanging ideas.
Incite
Incite is a free, public series that runs year-round. Incite is put on in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library and features discussions, panels and interviews with multiple authors. Past authors who have participated include Yann Martel, Bernard Schlink, Joyce Carol Oates and William Gibson. The Incite reading series takes place in Downtown Vancouver at the Alice McKay room of the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch.
Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island Festival events include interviews, panel discussions, performances and readings as well as a four days event for kindergarten to grade 12 students. Recurring events include Grand Openings, The Literary Cabaret, the Sunday Brunch and the Afternoon Tea.
Youth Education Programs The Vancouver Writers Fest’s youth education programs are an integral part of the programming of the organization.
Some of the education events include: 36 sessions aimed at children and youth during the October Festival Writers in the Classroom: free author visits to schools in Metro Vancouver Two Youth Writing Contests
Literary Prize Winners who have appeared at the Vancouver Writers Fest
Canadian Awards
Scotiabank Giller Prize AuthorsYearWill Ferguson
Esi Edugyan
Johanna Skibsrud
Linden MacIntyre
Joseph Boyden
Elizabeth Hay
Vincent Lam
David Bergen
Alice Munro
M.G. Vassanji
Austin Clarke
Richard B. Wright
Michael Ondaatje
David Adams Richards
Bonne Burnard
Mordecai Richler
Margaret Atwood
Rohinton Mistry2012 2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004, 1998
2003, 1994
2002
2001
2000
2000
1999
1997
1996
1995
Governor General's Literary Award for English Fiction AuthorsYearThomas King
Linda Spalding
Patrick De Witt
Dianne Warren
Kate Pullinger
Nino Ricci
Michael Ondaatje
Peter Behrens
David Gilmour
Miriam Toews
Richard B. Wright
Matt Cohen
Jane Urquhart
Guy Vanderhaeghe
Greg Hollingshead
Rudy Wiebe
Carol Shields
Rohinton Mistry
Paul Quarrington
David Adams Richards
M.T. Kelly
Alice Munro
Margaret Atwood
Josef Skvorecky
Leon Rooke
Mavis Gallant
George Bowering
Jack Hodgins
Timothy Findley2014 2012
2011
2010
2009
2008,1990
2007, 2000, 1992
2006
2005
2004
2001
1999
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1991
1989
1988
1987
1986, 1978
1985
1984
1983
1981
1980, 1969
1979
1977
Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction AuthorsYearThomas King
Andrew Westoll
Charles Foran
Richard Gwyn
Rudy Wiebe
J.B. MacKinnon
Charles Montgomery
Isabel Huggan
Carol Shields
Wayne Johnston2014 2012
2011
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2000
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize AuthorsYearMiriam Toews
Patrick deWitt
Emma Donoghue
Annabel Lyon
Lawrence Hill
Kenneth J. Harvey
Joseph Boyden
Alice Munro
Kevin Patterson
Paulette Jiles
Helen Humphreys
Greg Hollingshead
Austin Clarke2014, 2008 2011
2010
2009
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2000
1998
1997
International Awards
Man Booker Prize AuthorsYearMarlon James 2015 Julian Barnes 2011
Howard Jacobson 2010
Kiran Desai 2006
Alan Hollinghurst 2004
Yann Martel 2002
Peter Carey 2001, 1988
Margaret Atwood 2000
Ian McEwan 1998
Roddy Doyle 1993
Michael Ondaatje 1992
A S Byatt 1990
Thomas Keneally 1982
Salman Rushdie 19812015 2011
2010
2006
2004
2002
2001, 1988
2000
1998
1993
1992
1990
1982
1981
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction AuthorsYearPaul Harding Elizabeth Strout
Junot Díaz
Michael Chabon
Richard Ford
Carol Shields
Jane Smiley2010 2009
2008
2001
1996
1995
1992
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award AuthorsYearJon McGregor Colum McCann
Rawi Hage
Colm Toibin
Alistair MacLeod
Andrew Miller
David Malouf2012 2011
2008
2006
2001
1999
1996
Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction (Orange Prize) AuthorsYearEimear McBride Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Andrea Levy
Kate Grenville
Linda Grant
Carol Shields
Anne Michaels2014 2007
2004
2001
2000
1998
1997
Granville Island The Vancouver Writers Fest is based in Granville Island, a venue that adds to the overall experience of the October festival.
Some of the venues of the October Festival in Granville Island include: Performance Works Granville Island Stage Waterfront Theatre Improv Centre Studio 1398 Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Some of the off site venues include: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church The Vancouver Playhouse The Beaumont Studio Artist Society
References
External links
National Post: Vancouver Writers Fest Had A lot To Offer