The Whistler Writers Festival, October 17 to 20, 2024, celebrates creativity, music, ideas and books in a welcoming, intimate and cozy setting. It’s the perfect excuse to curl up indoors with an enthralling story while connecting with authors and book lovers. Don’t miss your chance to hear from the best Canadian and local authors writing today.
Here are nine reasons not to miss this year’s Whistler Writers Festival.
1. Sharing Stories Together
Everyone has a story to tell – of course, authors put their ideas into books for readers, but all of us as humans carry the story of who we are inside. The festival is a chance to hear some of the stories people hold closest to their hearts: their stories of resilience, overcoming the odds, finding the place they belong, fighting their way through grief, creating their truest identity and what they hope for in the future. At this year’s festival, there are plenty of stories to give you all the feels and get you thinking.
2. It’s Not Just About Books
Books are always the star, but they never hog the spotlight at the Whistler Writers Festival. This year’s event features The Sound of Story, an oral storytelling and spoken word event with Lil’wat oral storyteller Holly Bikadi and Squamish storyteller Tsawaysia Spukwus Dominique Nahanee, alongside slam poetry champ Nisha Patel and award-winning poet Bradley Peters.
The Literary Cabaret features author readings to live music from West Coast Front. There’s even a launch party for the second edition of the Lupine Review, a Sea to Sky literary magazine showcasing local writers and artists.
Take a look at the program highlights on Whistler.com and the full schedule on the Whistler Writers Festival site.
3. Wade Davis is Back
A festival favourite, adventurer Wade Davis is back to talk about his newest work, Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays. This collection will be featured on Saturday evening as Davis sits down with moderator Leslie Anthony for a deep dive and riveting discussion about Wade’s previous books, the evolving nature of anthropology and the effects of history, culture and politics on modern existence. Tickets to this event include a performance from the Sea to Sky String Orchestra and a glass of wine or beer.
4. Breakfast. Who Doesn’t Love Breakfast?
The Sunday BookTalk and Breakfast is on the menu again this year and features three unique authors: Conor Kerr, Bob McDonald (of CBC’s Quirks & Quarks) and Leanne Toshiko Simpson. These three authors, moderated by Caroline Adderson, tackle pressing contemporary concerns like decolonization, loss of culture, mental health, privacy and security, fake news and more. But first, breakfast. Book talk sounds even better on a full stomach.
5. There’s Plenty for Kids and Teens
Julie Wilkins, a Squamish author, is reading from her brand new picture book, We’re Happy You’re Here at a free event for families at the Whistler Public Library. Gather around to learn about the different journeys families take to welcome kids into their lives. Later in the weekend, Marty Chan teaches Cheat Code for Conflict: A Creative Writing Workshop for Youth, free for the under-18 crowd.
There’s also Firebrands, Runaways & Time Warps, the children and YA author event where the authors talk about weaving modern-day issues and themes into writing for all ages. This event is also free for those under 18, but tickets are available for everyone.
Be sure to RSVP to free events.
6. There’s Always a Murder
All murders are confined to the Chilling Tales: Thrilling Fiction event with Amber Cowie, S.C. Lalli and Hannah Mary McKinnon, who all put their own special (and unexpected) twists on the genre. This year, Heaven Bent podcast creator and host Tara Jean Stevens has plenty of questions about exactly what is in these writers’ internet search history. Don’t wait to get tickets – this session is killer.
7. Build Writing Skills and Learn More About Publishing
One of the things that makes the Whistler Writers Festival unique is workshops for writers of any level. There are eight workshops this year, including an ever-popular session with industry experts talking about the latest and greatest in Canadian publishing trends (check out Insights from Insiders: Riding the Waves of Canada’s Traditional Publishing Landscape).
Learn more about self-publishing with the Publish Like A Pro series, or try something new like Outside the Docx: Visual Design in Poetry with Nisha Patel to learn how to use the visual design of a poem to deepen its meaning. With eight workshops on offer, you can take home plenty of skills to tell your story.
8. Bulk Out Your “To Be Read” List
If you love books, literary festivals are the best place on earth because books are abundant. Armchair Books will be back to provide a very full table of books for sale. Find a new favourite read and get it signed by a festival guest author.
Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, go on a Blind Date with a book. The festival has wrapped dozens of past titles and you can take one home for you, sight unseen, with a $10 donation to support the fest. The festival won’t judge your expanding to-be-read list.
9. Poetry Packs a Punch
This year, there are eight poets at reading events throughout the festival, and this year’s poetry event, The One Thing, is going deep. It may be that the poet can only write the one thing that demands to be written. Poets Conor Kerr, Ali Blythe, and Rhea Tregebov each bring their unique ‘one thing’ to the poetry reading and discussion event.
Take a look at the full schedule and book your tickets on the Whistler Writers Festival site.
Stay 3+ Nights and Receive a Free $100 Whistler Dining Voucher
The 23rd annual Whistler Writers Festival runs October 17-20. Tickets are available online, and if you’re decisive and quick, you can get 15 percent off until September 15 and 10 percent off until Oct 1. There are also a limited number of reading passes (catch 11 reading events for one low price) and workshop passes (excluding Time to Pitch!) available.
Secure your lodging for the Whistler Writers Festival with rooms starting at $143 CAD per night*. Extend your stay to 3+ nights and receive a free $100 Dining Voucher.