The giddy, compact treat of having many writers, books and events to enjoy during Wordfest’s Imaginarium each October is sweet, but Calgary is blessed with year-round literary events by Wordfest and the four-decade-old Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society (AWCS), as well as many local independent booksellers who host readings by authors.
When Wordfest CEO and creative ringleader Shelley Youngblut joined Wordfest in 2015, she noticed that other literary festivals spotlighting a week each year were struggling. “I started thinking, if publishers are publishing books all year round, why are we only presenting them for one weekend?” She also wondered how to keep Wordfest in the minds of Calgarians year-round when the authors’ fest only occurred once annually.
In expanding Wordfest’s offerings throughout the year, Youngblut helped more authors and readers connect. “One of the reasons most literary festivals are struggling is they are going after exactly one kind of reader. We aren’t – we’re going after every person who is curious. And who am I to say what you should be curious about? All I want to do is give you many options.”
To this end, last month Wordfest presented longtime Calgary writer Jeremy Klaszus, who wrote The Hollowing of the Calgary Herald, which captures a currently universal theme of established media outlets becoming less relevant as less credible news sources run rampant online. On September 25th, Wordfest presented Alex Sarian, the president and CEO of Arts Commons and his new book, The Audacity of Relevance. Before Wordfest starts this month, on October 2, spy genre star Ben Macintyre brings his wisdom on creating gripping stories to the downtown Central Library.
While Wordfest typically focuses on the curiosity of readers, the AWCS creates programming for local writers.
Precious de Leon, AWCS Program Director of Community Engagement, explains the AWCS programming. “We have a staff of four working to provide classes and events to almost 700 adult and youth members. Because we offer online and in-person programs, we can tap into the literary community across Canada. Our courses are taught by established authors and literary professionals in Calgary and Edmonton, as well as in places like BC and Nova Scotia.”
AWCS presents several key events throughout the year. When Words Collide, a festival for writers, readers, artists, and publishers of fiction across genres, reaches over 800 participants yearly. The next festival will be August 15 to 17, 2025.
The Annual Writers Retreat takes place at the URSA Retreat Centre north of Cochrane during the summer.
Programming also includes workshops like Chapter by Chapter, a 10-month writing project that includes weekly sessions focused on discussions, skill-building, and workshopping.
If you’re looking for a lower level of commitment, try Lit Lunch and Lit Nights sessions covering constructive critiques and finding your literary voice, held in person at cSPACE Marda Loop. Edmonton’s Daisy Chain Books also collaborates by offering in-person sessions. Online sessions with folks from places like Cochrane and Lethbridge add to the mix.
“At AWCS, we strive to foster that sense of community in the arts, welcoming anyone who is open to learn and grow with our writers,” de Leon says.
For information on the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, visit alexandrawriters.org. Find more about Wordfest at wordfest.com.
