In 1976, literary giants Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Graeme Gibson, Margaret Laurence, and David Young founded the Writers' Trust of Canada. At that time, making a living as a writer was fraught with challenges, and Canadian literature struggled to distinguish itself from other English-language works. Laurence was embroiled in a censorship battle over her novel The Diviners. Five decades later, the Trust continues its mission to support Canadian writers, now hosting a series titled Conversations in Trust: Canadian Authors Make Sense of Our World. An event in Calgary on Wednesday features authors Guy Vanderhaeghe, Jenny Heijun Wills, and Calgary's Marcello di Cintio at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
Enduring Challenges and Evolving Landscape
The literary landscape has transformed significantly, yet fundamental issues persist. David Leonard, executive director of the Writers' Trust, notes that the founders aimed to make Canada the best place for writers, a goal still relevant today. He emphasizes that writers are often undervalued in navigating societal challenges, despite their profound contributions to culture and identity. Challenges remain: earning a living as an author is still difficult, Canadian literature can be overshadowed by American works, and censorship continues to surface globally and within Alberta.
Writers as Navigators of Complex Times
On its 50th anniversary, the Trust recognized that writers are uniquely equipped to address questions in an increasingly polarized world. Leonard observes that society faces multifaceted political, social, existential, and identity-based questions, making the landscape for discourse hard to navigate. Writers, through deep and sustained thought, offer nuanced perspectives. He asserts that this kind of thinking is what society urgently needs, and the Conversations in Trust series aims to bring writers back to the forefront of public dialogue.
The Calgary event is part of a broader initiative to highlight how Canadian authors make sense of our world, fostering conversations that bridge divides and illuminate complex issues.
