Literature

Suzette Mayr accepts her award as the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner in Toronto, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Suzette Mayr wins $100K Scotiabank Giller Prize for ‘The Sleeping Car Porter’

Author says her book shines a spotlight on an under-represented part of Canadian history

 

FILE - Salman Rushdie attends the 68th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner on Nov. 15, 2017, in New York. Rushdie’s agent says the author has lost sight in one eye and the use of a hand as he recovers from an attack by a man who rushed the stage at an August literary event in western New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Report: Salman Rushdie lives, but loses use of eye and hand

Author suffered three serious wounds to his neck and 15 more wounds to his chest and torso

 

Harrison Firefighter Fred Webber smiles as he holds copies of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that contain his story. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Harrison firefighter publishes story in 2 ‘Chicken Soup’ books

Fred Webber fulfilled his firefighting dream in his mid 50s

Harrison Firefighter Fred Webber smiles as he holds copies of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that contain his story. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Vancouver-raised author Pik-Shuen Fung, shown in a handout photo, has won this year's Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Fung was awarded the $60,000 prize for "Ghost Forest" at a ceremony in Toronto on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

B.C. author’s ‘Ghost Forest’ wins Amazon Canada First Novel Award

Pik-Shuen Fung awarded the $60,000 prize for story of woman grappling with the death of her father

Vancouver-raised author Pik-Shuen Fung, shown in a handout photo, has won this year's Amazon Canada First Novel Award. Fung was awarded the $60,000 prize for "Ghost Forest" at a ceremony in Toronto on Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Tofino’s new Poet Laureate Heather Hendry puts pen to paper inside the Wickaninnish Community School library. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Tofino’s new Poet Laureate hopes to inspire youth

Heather Hendry has officially kicked off her two-year tenure as the town’s third literary leader

Tofino’s new Poet Laureate Heather Hendry puts pen to paper inside the Wickaninnish Community School library. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Award-winning CBC journalist Angela Sterritt (left) will be a mentor for the 2022 Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle program. Samantha Krilow (right) was a participant in the 2021 program. (Submitted photos)

Applications open for Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle mentorship program

21 participants will be matched with one of seven mentors in the six-month program

Award-winning CBC journalist Angela Sterritt (left) will be a mentor for the 2022 Audible Indigenous Writers’ Circle program. Samantha Krilow (right) was a participant in the 2021 program. (Submitted photos)
A new anthology is set to be launched at a public reading in Tofino on April 30 at 1 p.m and the event will also serve to introduce the town’s new Poet Laureate.

Anthology featuring love letters to trees set for launch in Tofino

Worth More Standing was edited and curated by Tofino’s Poet Laureate Christine Lowther

A new anthology is set to be launched at a public reading in Tofino on April 30 at 1 p.m and the event will also serve to introduce the town’s new Poet Laureate.
There is a wide variety of reading material available, although efforts have been made to challenge, suppress or ban certain works. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about the freedom to read?

The week of Feb. 20 to 26 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada

There is a wide variety of reading material available, although efforts have been made to challenge, suppress or ban certain works. (Black Press file photo)
Westerly file photo

POLL: Have you borrowed a book from your local library this year?

Have you been spending time reading around Tofino and Ucluelet?

  • Oct 24, 2021
Westerly file photo
Gabriola Island-based writer Libby Gunn has been long-listed for the CBC Non-fiction Prize for her short story ‘Whitefish.’ (Photo courtesy Diane Simpson)

Gabriola Island writer long-listed for CBC Non-fiction Prize for second time

Libby Gunn ponders connection to land and family in short story ‘Whitefish’

Gabriola Island-based writer Libby Gunn has been long-listed for the CBC Non-fiction Prize for her short story ‘Whitefish.’ (Photo courtesy Diane Simpson)
WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino author Christine Lowther calling for poetry about trees

“I’m thrilled to be of service to trees through poetry.”

WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Tofino’s library is currently located in the basement of the Tofino Legion building but talks are underway to build a brand new facility. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Tofino ready for next chapter of new library pursuit

“There is no spike in taxes.”

Tofino’s library is currently located in the basement of the Tofino Legion building but talks are underway to build a brand new facility. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Former park warden George Mercer has turned to writing fiction since his retirement and move to Vancouver Island. Photograph by Lia Crowe

Into The Wild With Writer George Mercer

A passion for parks sets the backdrop for novel series

  • Jan 6, 2021
Former park warden George Mercer has turned to writing fiction since his retirement and move to Vancouver Island. Photograph by Lia Crowe
At Home with Writers Esi Edugyan and Steven Price

At Home with Writers Esi Edugyan and Steven Price

Award winning Canadian authors enjoy Vancouver Island lifestyle

  • Sep 6, 2018
At Home with Writers Esi Edugyan and Steven Price