May 11, 2012 
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May 9, 2012 Jury members Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Robin McGrath, and Hal Niedzviecki have selected the following books for the 2011 prize short list:
Andrew J. Borkowski, Copernicus Avenue, Cormorant Books
Daniel Griffin, Stopping for Strangers, Véhicule Press
Johanna Skibsrud, This Will Be Difficult to Explain, Hamish Hamilton Canada
Jessica Westhead, And Also Sharks, Cormorant Books
Ian Williams, Not Anyone's Anything, Freehand Books (an imprint of Broadview Press)
READ MORE

May 7, 2012 The Writers' Union of Canada is dismayed by government cuts to the funding of the CBC. This is our national forum, not only for news and information but for dialogue, in which the voices of writers are heard. CBC support for books and for Canadian authors has long been a benefit to all Canadians. TWUC encourages members to express their opposition to the cuts and to voice their support for the CBC by visiting the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting at www.friends.ca and/or Reimagine CBC at cwww.reimaginecbc.ca.

April 5, 2012 The Electronic Rights Defence Committee was back in Court on April 3, 2012 and received final approval from the Superior Court of Quebec for the settlement with Hollinger Canadian Publishing Holdings. A settlement with Cederom-SNI was also presented to the Court: May 18, 2012 was set as the date to hear objections to this settlement. These two settlements are the last ones in our 15 year old fight for compensation for unauthorized electronic use of stories originally printed in The Gazette of Montreal.

Please note, however, that at this point those who plan to make claims do not have to do anything. The claim procedure begins only after approval of the distribution plan, which is the next step in the process and which we hope will take place in the next few months. We will keep you informed, never fear.

Mary Soderstrom
President
ERDC

READ THE NOTICE TO MEMBERS

March 26, 2012 Managing Craft, Career, and Change in the 21ST Century
May 24 - 27, 2012 Holiday Inn Downtown Vancouver, 1110 Howe Street
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March 26, 2012 3-hour webcast in two modules - $29
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March 26, 2012 TWUC is seeking a part-time Production and Design Coordinator. READ MORE

March 16, 2012 Vancouver, at Carey Centre, UBC, May 23-24, 2012. www.creativenonfictioncollective.com/conference/
(click on JOIN TODAY for all the details)

March 7, 2012 On Monday, March 5, 2012 Chair Greg Hollingshead and legal counsel Marian Hebb presented to the legislative committee on C-11. C-11 is An Act to Amend the Copyright Act. Read Greg's presentation and TWUC's submission and watch them at this link: http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Parlvu/ContentEntityDetailView.aspx?ContentEntityId=8592
READ Chair Greg Hollinghead's presentation to the C-11 committee
READ TWUC's submission to the C-11 committee
READ What others are saying

February 22, 2012 Toronto – The Writers’ Union of Canada has just announced that the recipient of its 2012 Freedom to Read Award is the Canadian author Lawrence Hill.
“We are delighted that Lawrence Hill will be this year’s recipient,” said Greg Hollingshead, Chair of the Union. “We felt that he deserved this honour on the basis of his reasoned and eloquent response to the threat to burn his novel The Book of Negroes.”
PRESS RELEASE
READ MORE ABOUT THE FREEDOM TO READ AWARD

February 15, 2012 Writers are invited to submit a piece for children up to 1,500 words in the English language that has not previously been published in any format. A $1,500 prize will be awarded to an unpublished Canadian writer, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted for consideration to three publishers of children's books. The deadline for entries is April 24, 2012.
READ MORE
PRESS RELEASE

February 8, 2012 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce that Amy Stuart has won the $2,500 cash prize for its nineteenth annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers, for the best story under 2,500 words, with her piece "The Roundness." The Union will submit the winning story and the eleven other shortlisted stories to three Canadian magazine publishers for their consideration. READ MORE

February 2, 2012 Take notice that the class action has been settled with the defendant Hollinger Canadian Publishing Holdings inc. and that a motion will the presented to discontinue the class action against CEDROM-SNI. Read the notice in ENGLISH or FRENCH

December 21, 2011 Fred Wah, Past Chair of The Writers union of Canada fo 2001-2002 has been named Canada’s fifth Parliamentary Poet Laureate. In this position he will “encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language within Canadian society by drawing the public’s attention to poetry.”
To learn more see the website for the Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada or read about Fred Wah’s appointment here

December 15, 2011 Whether you are an aspiring writer wanting to develop your audience before publication; an emerging writer who needs to stay visible; or long-published and looking for new tips and techniques, this full-day workshop is for you. READ MORE

December 6, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to launch its 13th annual Postcard Story Competition, which invites writers to create a dramatic, short, snappy piece in 250 words or fewer. A $750 prize will be awarded to a writer, and the winning entry will be published in postcard format and distributed in Write, the magazine of The Writers’ Union of Canada.
The deadline for entries is February 14, 2012.
READ MORE

November 29, 2011 The Danuta Gleed Literary Award was created as a celebration of the life of Danuta Gleed, a writer whose short fiction won several awards before her death in 1996. Danuta Gleed’s first collection of short fiction, One of the Chosen, was posthumously published by BuschekBooks. The Award is made possible through a generous donation from John Gleed in memory of his late wife, and is administered by The Writers’ Union of Canada.
PRESS RELEASE .
download the SUBMISSION FORM

November 24, 2011 Toronto — Today PEN Canada and the Writers’ Union of Canada voiced concerns that the government has interfered with a Canadian artist’s freedom of expression by defunding an art exhibition in Europe and advising the show's producer to withdraw support from the artist, Franke James. James’ artworks were viewed by officials within the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) as critical of government policy. READ MORE

October 6 , 2011 The HathiTrust is a group of U.S. American universities headed by the University of Michigan that have pooled approximately seven million copyright books that they and Google have digitized without permission. They are working on an initiative to identify and release "orphaned" ones in their entirety for free viewing, downloading, and printing by students and faculty in university libraries in the United States. READ MORE

September 22, 2011 What do we, as book writers, want for ourselves in the digital age?

Having asked this question of dozens of book authors and other writers,

The Writers' Union of Canada presents the following twelve rights for Canadian authors. They are not written in stone. The publishing and digital landscapes are changing too quickly for that. Our goal is to encourage thought and discussion and to encourage action that respects writers' rights. Next year our statement may look different. For now the question is, What are our core demands and principles with respect to our rights in the digital age? Here is what we propose.

READ MORE
DOWNLOAD the Bill of Rights in pdf
Press Release

August 26, 2011 TWUC is pleased to announce that we have contracted Phillip Djwa and his team at Agentic to build the new TWUC website. After a long evaluation process in which a series of excellent developers were taken into consideration Agentic was chosen for their thorough track record, outstanding portfolio, and extensive experience with non-profit organizations. The new TWUC site will bring writersunion.ca in step with current technological trends, improve on the functions and online services available to members and non-members, and enable us to communicate with you better.

We're very excited to get the ball rolling with Agentic. Take a look at some of their previous work in their online portfolio.

Thank you to all of our members who generously took the time to fill out our recent web survey. Your feedback will be an important part of the redesign process.

August 22, 2011 Three recent news stories have suggested that, for political reasons, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not only backed away from providing support for a series of exhibits in Europe by the author and artist Franke James but discouraged a private sponsor in another country from supporting her.

The Writers' Union of Canada has an interest in ensuring the rights and freedoms of all writers, and Franke James is one of our members. READ MORE

August 16, 2011 This live simulcast of a Writers' Coalition event will speak to the new health insurance benefits which are now available to over 28,000 self-employed Canadians in the arts. The benefits are currently being offered not just to writers but to musicians, recording artists, visual arts and backstage performers. Susan Swan will be interviewing Susan Crean about why she signed up. She will interview the artist Izabela Ciesinska (Izzi) and invite her to draw Izzy girl, the poster child for the new benefits program, using iDoLVine’s Live Sign technology. idolvine.com

August 2011 The Writers’ Union of Canada we would like to express our appreciation to the Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, for the recent announcement that funding for the BC Arts Council will be maintained. This was an important campaign promise, and we are pleased to see its expeditious fulfillment. READ MORE

UPDATE: Read the Reply from the Honourable Ida Chong

July 26, 2011 "Skink on the Brink' has a wonderful blend of a well-written story and cleverly-worded poetry. The twin themes of species extinction and accepting and loving yourself work surprisingly well together. The prose is easy to read and Ms.Dalrymple's turn of phrase had all of us visualizing Stew the Skink easily, keeping us well entertained. This is a clever story and all of the jurors felt that it would make an outstanding picture book." READ MORE

June 22, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is decrying the proposal by an organization of Dutch-Surinamese to burn the best-selling Canadian novel The Book of Negroes, by award-winning author, Lawrence Hill.

" The burning of books represents censorship at its worst," says Greg Hollingshead, Chair of The Writers' Union of Canada. "While we recognize the sensitivity over the use of the word 'Negro' in the book's title, the Book of
Negroes is a real document and Mr. Hill uses it deliberately to underscore the plight of African Americans being shipped from New York to Nova Scotia in 1783." READ MORE

June 16, 2011 On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of PLR in Canada, Andreas Schroeder, Founding Chair of the Public Lending Right Commission, delivered the keynote lecture of the 2011 AGM and OnWords Conference "The Untold Story of PLR." To commemorate this anniversary, members of The Writers' Union of Canada contributed testimonials on the importance of PLR to their writing lives over the last 25 years. Those testimonials were collected and are proudly presented here

June 10, 2011 This notice is addressed to people who may be class members in this class action and provides information about the court-approved settlement of this action, how class members may make a claim for compensation under the settlement or, alternatively, how they may opt-out of the settlement.
The Notice of Approval is available in ENGLISH and FRENCH

June 9, 2011 On the eve of Parliament’s return, a group representing more than 100,000 professional creators has laid out key principles and suggestions to guide the government as it prepares new copyright legislation. The practical ideas being offered will help unleash the full creative and economic potential of Canadian artists, writers, photographers, visual artists, directors, composers, musicians and performers. READ MORE
and read A COPYRIGHT BILL FOR THE CREATIVE DIGITAL ECONOMY.

June 6, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce that Heather Roske has won the twelfth annual Postcard Story Competition, for the best story under 250 words, with her piece “Death’s Door.” She previously won the competition in 2009 with her story “A.M. Care.” The author will receive a $500 cash prize. In addition, the story will be published in Write: The Magazine of The Writers' Union of Canada. READ MORE

May 30, 2011 In Toronto this weekend, at our Annual General Meeting, members of The Writers' Union of Canada agreed to study the Union's relationship with the collective licensing agency Access Copyright, with the goal of enhancing creators' control of their own copyright interests. "But let me make it clear," said incoming Chair Greg Hollingshead, "that The Writers' Union and Access Copyright continue to stand together in support of collective licensing, copyright, and the protection of intellectual property." READ MORE

May 30, 2011 Author Heather Robertson was presented with the Graeme Gibson Award by The Writers' Union of Canada at its Annual General Meeting on May 28, 2011. Established by the Union in 1991 for "varied and remarkable contributions to improve the circumstances of writers in Canada," the award has been given to Graeme Gibson and, in 1992, Pierre Berton. Ms. Robertson is its third recipient. READ MORE

May 28, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada and John Gleed are pleased to announce that Billie Livingston is the recipient of the $10,000 DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD for Greedy Little Eyes (Vintage Canada), judged the best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2010.

Runners up for the Award are Darcie Friesen Hossack for Mennonites Don't Dance (Thistledown Press), and Union member Alexander MacLeod for Light Lifting (Biblioasis). READ MORE

May 25, 2011 In time for the 2011 AGM and OnWords Conference The Writers Union of Canada has launced accounts on Facebook and Twitter! To connect to the Union through social media You can "Like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/thewritersunionofcanada and Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/twuc. During the AGM Tweeting members can join in the conversation with the hashtag #TWUCAGM2011.

May 20, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is deeply concerned about the on-going erosion of support for librarians, and for libraries themselves, within the Ontario school system, as outlined in several recent reports.

News stories published in two national newspapers this week show that some Ontario school boards have opted to invest in digital records in their school libraries instead of librarians and books. In particular, on May 16, The Toronto Star reported the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) had already laid off all but four library staff and had plans for the " dismantling of all its libraries." READ MORE

May 18, 2011 Further to last month’s communiqué regarding ISNI, Access Copyright has now drafted fuller background on ISNI and succeeded in having the deadline for responses (set by the international agency overseeing this project) extended until June 15, 2011 from the original April 15.

May 13, 2011 The Writers’ Trust of Canada has announced a rich new prize for Canadian non-fiction book authors. With the generous sponsorship of Hilary Weston, the Writers’ Trust Hilary Weston Prize will award $60,000 to one first place author and $5,000 to as many as four finalists. The prize will be presented in Toronto in an autumn event celebrating the work of the winning authors.READ MORE

May 2, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce the short list of nominees for the fourteenth annual DANUTA GLEED LITERARY AWARD. The Award recognizes the best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2010. The Award consists of cash prizes for the three best first collections, with a first prize of $10,000 and two additional prizes of $500. READ MORE

April 4, 2011 On May 2nd Canadian voters will cast their ballots once again and determine which party will lead our country in the coming years. A variety of issues facing Canadian writers will be at stake in this election and the Writers' Union would like to encourage you to get involved and make sure our voices are heard. For more information, to read our letters to the party leaders and their replies, see our current campaigns page.

February 15, 2011 Canada’s controversial new copyright bill has driven five prominent authors, including two-time Governor General’s Award winner Nino Ricci, to make a new YouTube video. “Without strong copyright protections, professional writing in this country will be irreparably harmed,” says novelist Alan Cumyn, the author of the video and Chair of The Writers’ Union of Canada. “Thousands of authors and artists across the country have been writing their MPs, protesting parts of this bill. The video puts faces and voices to our concerns.” Also featuring Erna Paris, Sandra Campbell and Susan Swan.READ MORE

February 21, 2011 Toronto - The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to announce that the recipient of the Union’s Freedom to Read Award for 2011 is John Ralston Saul, the current president of PEN International. The presentation will take place during Freedom to Read Week at the Gladstone Hotel on the evening of Wednesday, February 23. The evening will also feature a panel discussion on “Who Decides What Our Children Will Read.” READ MORE

February 15, 2011 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce that Heather Tucker has won the $2,500 cash prize for its eighteenth annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers, for the best story under 2,500 words, with her piece "With All The Trouble Jesus Went Through He Should At Least Get a Jelly Bean." READ MORE

January 27, 2011 A hearing will take place before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on April 11, 2011 to request approval of a tentaive settlement of the Robertson vs. Pro Quest class action. This case has been a turning point in the legal battle over the rights of authors and the elctronic dissemination of their work. A notice is being communicated through newspapers and websites in ENGLISH and FRENCH to bring this information to the community of Canadian writers. Heather Robertson has also written a summary of the class action and tentative settlement that can be read HERE.

January 20, 2011 The Canadian Children's Book Centre has announced a new award for children's mystery books. Beginning in November 2011 the John Spray Mystery Award, with a cash prize of $5000, will be awarded annually to books in English for readers from eight to sixteen years of age. READ MORE

December 17, 2010 The Writers' Union of Canada is offering SECURE FOOTING IN A CHANGING LITERARY LANDSCAPE, a Professional Development Symposium for writers in all phases of their careers in eight Canadian cities, in February and March. Even if you have attended a Writers' Union of Canada workshop in the past, you won't want to miss this exciting new day-long exploration of the changing literary landscape. Authors Betsy Warland and Ross Laird will illuminate the new landscape of digital literature and publishing and discuss its impact on traditional modes of creation. Kelly Duffin, the Union's executive director, will discuss authors' contracts in the digital age. READ MORE

December 6 , 2010 Proposed reforms to Canada’s copyright law will turn core principles of copyright on their head and gut protections that for decades helped ensure the economic survival of Canadian artists, writers, photographers, visual artists, directors, composers, musicians and performers, a group representing more than 100,000 professional creators said in a paper released today. READ MORE

November 15 , 2010 A coalition of English-language national writers' organizations has come together to make our views known about the Copyright Modernization Act currently before Parliament. READ MORE

October 13, 2010 The Writers Union of Canada wishes to express solidarity with authors in the United Kingdom, who have mounted a vigorous protest to stop the British government from reducing funds available to the national Public Lending Right. The Union, which represents nearly 2,000 Canadian authors, strongly supports the petition – signed by 4,700 British writers – to maintain the PLR funding at its current level. READ MORE

September 7, 2010 The Writers' Union of Canada is pleased to announce that Victoria Jones has won the fourteenth annual Writing for Children Competition, for the best story under 1,500 words, with her piece "Family." The author will receive a $1,500 cash prize. In addition, the story will be submitted to three Canadian publishers for their consideration. READ MORE