The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is the national organization of professionally published writers. TWUC was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers. TWUC advocates on behalf of writers’ collective interests, and delivers value to members through advocacy, community, and information. TWUC believes in a thriving, diverse Canadian culture that values and supports writers. As of 2024, the Union is over 2,800 members strong.
The Union administers the
Danuta Gleed Literary Award for the best first collection of short stories in English published in Canada. TWUC also administers the Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers, which aims to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of short prose in order to provide opportunity and exposure to developing writers.
Each year the Union awards the Freedom to Read Award as part of the celebration of Freedom to Read Week across Canada in February of each year. The award recognizes work in support of freedom of expression. Recipients have included authors Derek Finkle and Charles Montpetit as well as former MP
Wendy Lill, Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby, and
Janine Fuller, owner of Vancouver's embattled Little Sisters bookstore.
Danny Ramadan is the Chair of The Writers' Union of Canada. John Degen is its Chief Executive Officer. Past chairs have included noted authors
Marian Engel,
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic, and an inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of nonfiction, nine collections of short fiction, eight chi ...
,
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC, O.Ont. (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a Canadian historian, writer, journalist and broadcaster. Berton wrote 50 best-selling books, mainly about Canadiana, Canadian history and popular cultur ...
,
June Callwood,
Timothy Findley,
Graeme Gibson,
Susan Musgrave,
Paul Quarrington,
Maggie Siggins,
Susan McCaslin and
Susan Swan.
TWUC headquarters are based in
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
.
References
The Canadian Encyclopedia: Writers' Union of Canada
*[http://www.capprt-tcrpap.gc.ca/epic/internet/incapprt-tcrpap.nsf/en/tn00128e.html The Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal - Certification Order - The Writers' Union of Canada (November 17, 1998)]
CBC Arts: Writers' Union 'aghast' at library cuts
External links
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Records of Vancouver Industrial Writers Union are held by Simon Fraser University's Special Collections and Rare Books
List of members, 2017
(choice)
{{Authority control
Non-profit organizations based in Toronto
Arts organizations established in 1973
Canadian writers' organizations