The Calgary Distinguished Writers Program at the University of Calgary strives to advance the careers of Canadian writers, invigorate the Calgary writing community, and enhance the activities of the Faculty of Arts and the Department of English. The Program achieves its objectives through two annual residency programs: one for an emerging Canadian writer, and one for a distinguished writer of international stature.
While in Calgary, these writers divide their time between writing and community activities. Community activities include individual manuscript consultations and providing advice to local writers, conducting writing workshops, giving public readings, and meeting with school groups.
History
The University of Calgary's Faculty of Arts established the Calgary Distinguished Writers Program in 1993 with a generous donation from a private donor. Since its inception in 1993, the program has brought to Calgary two Nobel Laureates, Derek Walcott and Wole Soyinka, and such literary luminaries as Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Art Spiegelman, Billy Collins, Timothy Findley, Thomas King, Ursula K. Le Guin, Alberto Manguel, and Michael Ondaatje, among others.