The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC), founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book.
The union addresses government and industry about public lending rights, tax reform, copyright legislation, freedom of expression and other industry issues.
The union also provides publications, professional development programs, contract advice, grievance assistance, manuscript evaluation service, group health benefits, funding for public and school readings and numerous opportunities for communication and networking within the industry.
The union administers the
Danuta Gleed Literary Award
The Danuta Gleed Literary Award is a Canadian national literary prize, awarded since 1998. It recognizes the best debut short fiction collection by a Canadian author in English language. The annual prize was founded by John Gleed in honour of his ...
for the best first collection of short stories in English published in Canada. The union also administers the Writing for Children Competition, Postcard Story Contest, and Short Prose Competition.
Each year the union awards the Freedom to Read Award. Recipients have included authors Derek Finkle and Charles Montpetit as well as former MP
Wendy Lill
Wendy Lill (born November 2, 1950) is a Canadian playwright, screenwriter and radio dramatist who served as an NDP Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2004. Her stage plays have been performed extensively in theatres across Canada as well as inter ...
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, nin ...
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Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC, O.Ont. (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a Canadian writer, journalist and broadcaster. Berton wrote 50 best-selling books, mainly about Canadiana, Canadian history and popular culture. He also wr ...
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June Callwood
June Rose Callwood, (June 2, 1924 – April 14, 2007) was a Canadian journalist, author and social activist. She was known as "Canada's Conscience".
Callwood achieved acclaim and a loyal following for her articles and columns written for na ...
Graeme Gibson
Thomas Graeme Cameron Gibson (9 August 1934 – 18 September 2019) was a Canadian novelist.Susan Musgrave
Susan Musgrave (born March 12, 1951) is a Canadian poet and children's writer. She was born in Santa Cruz, California, to Canadian parents, and currently lives in British Columbia, dividing her time between Sidney and Haida Gwaii. She has been n ...
,
Paul Quarrington
Paul Lewis Quarrington (July 22, 1953 – January 21, 2010) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, musician and educator.
Background
Born in Toronto as the middle of three sons in the family of four of Bruce Quarrington,
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Maggie Siggins
Marjorie May "Maggie" Siggins (born 28 May 1942) is a Canadian journalist and writer. She was a recipient of the 1992 Governor General's Award for Literary Merit for her non-fiction work ''Revenge of the Land: A Century of Greed, Tragedy and Murd ...
,
Susan McCaslin
Susan Elizabeth McCaslin (born June 3, 1947) is a Canadian poet and writer.
Biography
McCaslin lives in Fort Langley, British Columbia. She received an M.A. in English (thesis: Edgar Allan Poe) at Simon Fraser University, 1973; and a Ph.D. in E ...
and
Susan Swan
Susan Swan (born 9 June 1945) is a Canadian author, journalist, and professor. Susan Swan writes classic Canadian novels. Her fiction has been published in 20 countries and translated into 10 languages.
Born in Midland, Ontario, she studied at ...
.
TWUC is based in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...