(PEN Canada/IFEX) – The following is a 28 June 2005 PEN Canada media release: Expansion of Writers in Exile Network the Focus at PEN Canada Annual Meeting Toronto, June 28, 2005 – The newest program of PEN Canada’s free expression work is also its most active, as announced at the 2005 PEN Canada Annual General […]
(PEN Canada/IFEX) – The following is a 28 June 2005 PEN Canada media release:
Expansion of Writers in Exile Network the Focus at PEN Canada Annual Meeting
Toronto, June 28, 2005 – The newest program of PEN Canada’s free expression work is also its most active, as announced at the 2005 PEN Canada Annual General Meeting.
Several advances in the Writers in Exile Network were presented to a capacity crowd of PEN Canada members, exiled writers and special invited guests at Massey College, University of Toronto. A particular highlight was the rapid growth of placements of exiled writers in academic institutions and other places.
“This is a special moment for PEN Canada and its efforts to give a voice to this country’s talented crop of exiled writers, academics and journalists,” out-going PEN Canada president Haroon Siddiqui noted. “From the watershed conference in Ottawa in March 2004, we have made incredible strides in developing a network in partnership with Canadian universities and colleges, and in non-academic settings.”
Canada Council for the Arts director John Hobday was on hand to announce a Council-funded PEN Canada placement for Albanian journalist and academic Genc Tirana, who will begin an eight-month teaching and writing residency at the School of Journalism at King’s College, Halifax. Hobday also mentioned that another PEN Canada placement would soon be confirmed for another university, to be funded by the Canada Council.
This news complemented the announcement that Siddiqui made of current and upcoming PEN Canada-initiated residencies at Acadia University, the Banff Centre for the Arts, George Brown College, Laurentian University, Ryerson University, Sheridan College, Trent University, University of Toronto and York University. Beyond the academic setting, the City of Owen Sound has agreed to host an exiled writer this fall, while Sheila Copps & Associates in Hamilton has offered writing space at its office to another, local writer.
The Annual Meeting also served as the launch of Speaking in Tongues: PEN Canada Writers in Exile. Published by Banff Centre Press and introduced by His Excellency John Ralston Saul – who is also the Honorary Patron of PEN Canada – the anthology consists of stories and essays about a range of topics, all falling under the theme of exile.
About PEN Canada:
PEN Canada is a centre of International PEN that campaigns on behalf of writers around the world persecuted for the expression of their thoughts. In Canada, it supports the right to free expression as enshrined in Section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
