“I came here to the Young Writers writing program as a kid and it changed my life.”Molly Thomason, musician
You are a creative writer between the ages of 13 – 18. You would like to write, play and create with other inspiring writers … if this in some small way describes you, then spend a long weekend with us! You’ll get to work with experienced writers, explore a variety of forms of writing – spoken word, poetry, fiction – create pieces of your own, and collaborate to complete a ‘zine.
Writers at all levels will be challenged and supported in a friendly, creative atmosphere. Everyone will be encouraged to offer respectful feedback, celebrate differences and to write, write, write!
Program Cost: $670 (tuition, meals & accommodation)
Local Price: $550 (without overnight)
We strive to make our programs as accessible as possible.
Please contact our Registrar to inquire about a bursary or payment plan.
Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your place in this program.
Leadership
Shauntay Grant
Shauntay Grant, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator, is a writer, spoken word performer, and musician. She has shared her blend of words and music internationally at festivals and events, and she was named a Poet of Honour at the 2010 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Ottawa. As Halifax’s third Poet Laureate (2009-2011) Shauntay organized Canada’s first national gathering of Canadian Poets Laureate in 2010.
Her first children’s picture book Up Home (Nimbus 2008) won a 2009 Best Atlantic Published Book Award, and her words and music have been featured nationally on radio, television, and in several anthologies. Shauntay conducts arts workshops and performances for youth and adults at festivals, schools and community centres around the country. A recipient of a 2011 INSPIRE Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters, she serves on the board of Youth Voices of Nova Scotia, and she is founder and curator of the Halifax-based arts-for-social-change performance series CommUNITY. Visit www.shauntaygrant.com
Ken Ward
Ken Ward‘s love of and practice in writing goes back forty years. The development of language, narrative and character, along with finding a voice are all aspects of his ongoing interest in the creative process and how to use it to develop a good working relationship with the many students he has taught over the years. Ken has taught at all educational levels from elementary to university and beyond. Ken’s first two books were published by Annick Press, at a time when Annick had been named Canada’s Publisher of the Year.
Ken has been President of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia and has sat on the board of the Writers’ Union of Canada. Some of Ken’s most rewarding teaching and writing experiences have come while at Tatamagouche Centre, where his interest in the creative process, coupled with the centre’s interest in community building, have led to the transformation of both young and adults writers into committed writers. For Ken, writing stories is about combining the magic of imagination and the love of words and expressions to produce a literary event. It’s about hard work and fun.
Brian Braganza
Brian Braganza is a Courage & Renewal® Facilitator and member of Tatamagouche Centre’s Program Resource Group. He works as an experiential educator specializing in personal development, youth engagement, community resiliency and sustainability. Brian led a Men’s Canoe retreat for 12 years and works with boys and men exploring positive masculinity. Brian’s own personal transformations and desire for uncovering his best self-led him to the work of Parker Palmer and the Centre for Courage and Renewal. Brian also leads wilderness experiences, grows organic vegetables and is a writer and musician.