Incite on now!
January – June 2023

2023 Season

Youth
Programming

Youth Education Programming

Vancouver Writers Fest offers students in Vancouver and across British Columbia the opportunity to interact with celebrated writers through a variety of programs. We reach more than 12,000 students across the province each year. Discover how your students can engage with world-renowned writers or keep up to date on the latest, recommended releases by exploring our offerings.

Logo British Columbia
Our Youth Education Programming is presented thanks to the support of the Government of British Columbia, Bonnie Mah, Robin Pascoe, and Rodney Briggs.

 

My Roots
Writing Workshop for Immigrant Youth

For the first time in 2023, the Vancouver Writers Fest will offer our signature My Roots Writing Workshop to upper high-school students, thanks to the generous support of Robin Pascoe and Rodney Briggs.

Our annual one-day FREE writing workshop for immigrants will, thanks to our generous donors, feature a new session for youth aged 16–19. Led by acclaimed author Tanya Boteju, this in-person workshop will provide young writers with an opportunity to deepen and enrich their writing.

Click here to learn more and apply. 

Writers in the Classroom

Our popular Writers in the Classroom program returns for Spring 2023! Designed to connect children and youth to authors through live, interactive events, Writers in the Classroom brings authors to schools for inspiring in-person visits. Invite an author from our stellar lineup to discuss their most recent title (and share secrets of the writing craft) with your class between March to June.

These visits—offered FREE to schools—will enliven and enrich classroom discussion in the lead-up to the author’s appearance, and leave you much to unpack with your students afterwards. All author visits are in person and last 60–75 minutes.

Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023

Writers in the Classroom has allowed and impelled my students to believe that anyone can become a writer and to stay passionate in writing. Authors have given students personal tips and advice that worked for them and ignited young minds to be open to new possibilities!

I would highly recommend becoming involved in the VWF for entertainment but also to impress upon students that they can write about anything and with practice, their writing will improve. It is wonderful to see reluctant writers become unstoppable authors.

Thank you to the Vancouver Writers Fest for the virtual ‘Writers in the Classroom’ event with Indigenous author Michelle Good. Having an experienced author from a marginalized voice was very empowering for our students. Good’s presence allowed my students to engage in the process of literary analysis from the back end; how does authorship work, what are intentions and imperatives set, the experience of being intentional with their message.

Kevin and Basil Sylvester’s virtual Writers in the Classroom event led us to some important conversations about identity and I love that the authors told my students that the message of their book is to love and accept yourself. It is so important for them to hear that.

Festival
Youth Events

Students from kindergarten to grade 12 joined us from schools across the Lower Mainland to hear from authors at our 2022 Festival. After two years of online youth programming, it was a joy to see students on Granville Island again, and to witness how excited they were to engage with authors and ideas.

With thanks to support from TELUS, we were also thrilled to make youth events at our 2022 Festival available for free livestreaming and on-demand viewing during Festival Week. Stay tuned for details on our October 2023 Festival events!