Illustrative graphic showing two pencils lying on a bright piece of paper

Calgary Distinguished Writers Program

A black background with a white pencil

Apply to be the Canadian Writer-in-Residence

For 30 years, the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program (CDWP) has fostered promising Canadian writers. Our Canadian Writers-in-Residence have gone on to great success, including alumni such as Eden Robinson, Larissa Lai, Suzette Mayr, Sina Queyras, Deborah Willis, and Governor-General’s Literary Award winners Oana Avasilichioaei and Richard Harrison. Do you have what it takes to be the next CDWP Canadian Writer-in-Residence?

Applications will close in January 2024. 

Apply for Writer-in-Residence Position

My time as the Canadian Writer-in-Residence was extremely fruitful. The residency provided luxurious time to advance several poetry and translation projects, and served as a catalyst for expanding my art practice into sound and performance. I was able to engage and develop projects with various art communities, for which I remain very grateful.

Oana Avasilichoaei at In Conversation: Oana Avasilichioaei and Richard Harrison, 2018

Oana Avasilichioaei

2010–11 CDWP Writer-in-Residence, 2017 Governor General's Literary Award Winner

Featured events


Featured news

2023 Faculty of Arts Killam Award winners

Congratulations to the Killam Award winners from the Faculty of Arts

Call for submissions: First Annual Faculty of Arts holiday card

All undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit their artwork by Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, 11:59 p.m.

Harvard professor Jamaica Kincaid to speak at UCalgary as Distinguished Visiting Writer

Join Kincaid as she reflects on life and literature at MacEwan Ballroom on Feb. 9 with the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program

In the News Suzette Mayr, English, CDWP, Ian Williams, CDWP, in Calgary Herald

Calgary and the Giller Prize: A short history of the shortlist

In the News Leah Horlick, Writer-in-Residence, Calgary Distinguished Writers Program

Renowned poet Leah Horlick works on debut novel as U of C's writer-in-residence

Calgary Distinguished Writers Program welcomes poet Leah Horlick

Winner of Dayne Ogilvie Prize for Canada’s top emerging LGBTQ2S+ writers to appear at annual Hello/Goodbye event Oct. 17