It’s time for book aficionados unite and celebrate their love of the written word at this year’s University of the Fraser Valley’s (UFV) Literary Festival.
Having accepted the invitation from the Mission Lifetime Learning Centre to take over their Writers and Readers Festival, which had run for a decade, UFV’s English department has invited three of UFV’s writers-in-residence—Billeh Nickerson, Jen Sookfung Lee, and Anosh Irani—to return for the two-day event.
Taking place in the UFV Student Union Building, the Festival begins on Friday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., when the keynote address will be made by Billeh Nickerson, Renee Saklikar, and Carleigh Baker.
“A couple of years ago, the Mission Lifetime Learners contacted the English department about taking over the Mission Writers and Readers Festival,” said Andrea MacPherson, who’s helping chair the Festival.
“Our creative writing committee took on the project and saw it as a perfect opportunity to re-imagine and re-brand the festival,” continued the published novelist and associate English professor at UFV. “We wanted to provide a bigger festival for UFV students and community, one that involved panels and readings (rather than the previous workshop-based format).”
The Festival, which is funded by the College of Arts with additional funding from UFV International and sponsorship from Savittar Productions, will feature a mix of writers that will make the experience elective and exciting, MacPherson added.
“We are very excited to host a wide variety of writers this year — we have award-winning authors, debut authors, and everything in between. We have writers from every genre, from poetry to children’s literature. It will be a dynamic festival.”
With every aspect of the Festival having been carefully planned, MacPherson says there should be plenty of enthusiastic discussions around reading and writing, especially with precisely-crafted panel discussions designed to do just that.
Below is a schedule of events, for more information, please visit the Festival’s website at UFV.ca/english/fraser-valley-literary-festival.
Fraser Valley Literary Festival schedule
Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 – 6 to 8 p.m.
Evening reception and keynote address with speakers Billeh Nickerson, Carleigh Baker, Renee Saklikar
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018
Registration – 9 to 9:30 a.m.
Welcome – 9:30 to 9:45 a.m.
Panel 1: Local Character – 9:45 to 11:15 a.m.
Moderator: Carleigh Baker
Jessica Johns
Aaron Chapman
Jen Sookfong Lee
Jane Silcott
Panel 2: Time and Place – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Moderator: Billeh Nickerson
Wayde Compton
Kim Fu
Dina del Bucchia
Anosh Irani
Lunch – 1 to 2 p.m.
Panel 3: (In)Formed – 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Moderator: Renee Saklikar
Nicola Campbell
Chelene Knight
Kevin Spenst
Jen Currin
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