Jinwoo Park’s “Oxford Soju Club” will be published by Dundurn Press in September 2025

ACWW is excited that Jinwoo Park’s “Oxford Soju Club” will be published by Dundurn Press in September 2025.

Jinwoo Park is a Korean Canadian writer based in Montreal. He completed his Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. As a Korean-English translator, Jinwoo has received the LTI Korea Translation Award for Aspiring Translators.

In 2020 he won the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers’ Award for his first manuscript, Oxford Soju Club, which will debut in September 2025.

https://www.rcwlitagency.com/authors/jinwoo-park/

Thank you to Marlene Enns, Edwin Lee, and Dr. Trevor Carolan for all your hard work as jurors of this awards committee.

C.E. Gatchalian: Falling in Time, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 7:00pm, VPL Central Library

 

A major critical and commercial success when it premiered in Vancouver in 2011 C. E. Gatchalian’s Falling in Time is an epic exploration of armed conflict, masculinity, sexuality, love, and forgiveness. Originally published in 2012, C.E. is currently rewriting the work in a 2024 context. Come join us for a reading of this updated classic as well as a conversation about the creative process, what makes an artist revisit a completed work, and writing in multiple languages.

C.E. will be in conversation with his collaborator, playwright and actress Maki Yi to discuss the work they did together on Falling In Time. They will be joined by singer, actor and playwright Argel Monte de Ramos for what is sure to be an illuminating and inspiring conversation about the artistic process.

C.E. Gatchalian’s appearance is made possible by the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 7:00pm, VPL Central Library

Registration

Filipino Canadian Book Festival 2024

Join us in celebration of the inaugural Filipino-Canadian Book Festival July 12-14th 2024 in partnership with Massy Books, Filipix Pages and Sampaguita Press and guest Keynote Catherine Hernandez. All workshops, performances, outdoor programming, and the market are free of charge! Tickets are available for panels online or in person.

*This event was made possible with the support of Collingwood Neighbourhood House and Collingwood Days Festival 2024

If payment to attend any one of the panels is a barrier, or if you’d like to purchase an all day pass, please email info@massyarts.com.

*Please note this Festival will be held at TWO Locations Collingwood Neighbourhood House (access via the courtyard at 5518 Ormidale St.) & Massy Arts Gallery, please see details below:

FRIDAY July 12th (4:00-8:00pm) @ Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex, Multipurpose Room 3690 Vanness Ave, Vancouver

SATURDAY July 13th (9:00am-7:30pm) held at Collingwood Neighbourhood House Annex, Multipurpose Room 3690 Vanness Ave, Vancouver

SUNDAY July 14th (10:00am-3:30pm) held at Massy Arts Gallery, 23 East Pender Vancouver BC. In the MING WO building in Chinatown.

FRIDAY, JULY 12th SCHEDULE 4:00pm-8:00pm
Collingwood Neighborhood House Annex
Multipurpose Room, 3690 Vanness Ave, Vancouver (access via the courtyard at 5518 Ormidale St.)

4:00 Welcome & Opening Ceremony: with Knowledge Keeper Audrey Siegl

4:30 Youth-Led Event: Join us for an inspiring evening at the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival’s Youth-Led Event: Voices of the Future. This event is dedicated to showcasing the incredible work and creativity of Filipinx youth, providing them with a platform to share their wisdom, collective power, and their talents.

6:10-8:15 Magdaragat Open Mic: Author Meet & Greet / Book Signing Come join us for a reading night featuring authors from “Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing.” and celebrate the authors that appear in this landmark anthology!

8:00-8:15 Informal Closing for the Day
//SATURDAY, JULY 13th SCHEDULE 9:00am-7:30pm//
Collingwood Neighborhood House Annex,
Multipurpose Room, 3690 Vanness Ave, Vancouver (access via the courtyard at 5518 Ormidale St.)

11:30-12:40 World-building and Cultural Research for Storytelling: Join us for this insightful author panel on creating immersive worlds, grounding them in reality, and ensuring cultural sensitivity while introducing innovative elements. Key topics of discussion will include the process of building intricate and believable worlds; balancing imaginative elements with real-world influences; approaching cultural research with sensitivity and respect; and introducing novel concepts and ideas in storytelling. Tessa Barbosa Samantha Garner Roselle Lim K.S. Villoso Moderator: Nathalie De Los Santos

12:45-1:55 Writing Between the Lines: Join us for an enlightening conversation exploring the intricacies of cross-genre writing, how cultural identity influences storytelling, and the challenges and rewards of blending different literary forms. Our esteemed panellists will discuss the creative process behind their multifaceted narratives; the ways in which cultural heritage shapes their stories; and the balancing of multiple genres to create unique and compelling works. Christine Añonuevo Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio C.E. Gatchalian Vincent Ternida

2:00-3:10 The Poetry Prism: Shaping Realities Join our panel of poets as we try to hold poetry to the light and see what colours it makes. We’ll discuss how language shapes and sustains our attention to outer and inner worlds; the necessary failure of translation; and the ways poetry allows us to reckon with the depths of humanity and give music to the mess of living. Hari Alluri Sol Diana Therese Estacion Phebe M. Ferrer Marc Perez

3:15-4:25 Makibaka! Maging alamat! On Writing Revolution: What, if anything, is a writer’s obligation to the world? What does it take to stay brave and human in the face of the simultaneous wars currently waged on the Global South, the Third World, and Black and Brown peoples who share histories of colonization? What are the ways we can activate our art towards liberation? What uplifts a piece of writing to be revolutionary? Join our panel of writers across diverse genres and interests as we discuss these questions in relation to the struggles of our times—water is life, land back, ceasefire, and end to all genocide! Jim Agapito Hari Alluri Rina Garcia Chua Kawika Guillermo / Chris Patterson Catherine Hernandez

4:30-5:40 Playwriting and Publishing Are you a writer interested in playwriting or writing for stage? Have a question how certain plays are published and some aren’t? Join a panel of playwrights and theatre artists who are creating new BC Fil-Can works right now, and are willing to share with you the world of professional play and performance development. Davey Calderon Karla Comanda Kamila Sediego Carmela Sison Moderator: Lissa Neptuno + Author Book Signings with all panelists

4:30-5:55 Keynote: Catherine Hernandez Join us for a special evening at the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival as we welcome acclaimed author Catherine Hernandez for an inspiring keynote address. This event will be a highlight of the festival, celebrating the incredible contributions of Catherine Hernandez to literature and the arts. In recognition of her outstanding achievements and impact on the literary community, we are honored to present Catherine Hernandez with the prestigious CanDila Award. This award celebrates excellence in storytelling and acknowledges her dedication to amplifying diverse voices through her work. This event is an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable talent and to be inspired by Catherine Hernandez’s insights and experiences. Join us for an unforgettable evening of recognition and inspiration.
//SUNDAY, JULY 14th SCHEDULE 10:00am-3:30pm//
Massy Arts Gallery 23 East Pender Street, Vancouver (MING WO BUILDING)

Venue & Accesibility:

The event will be hosted at the Massy Arts Gallery, at 23 East Pender Street in Chinatown, Vancouver. We are located in the former MING WO building.

The gallery is wheelchair accessible and a gender-neutral washroom is on-site.

Please refrain from wearing scents or heavy perfumes.

For more on accessibility including parking, seating, venue measurements and floor plan, and how to request ASL interpretation please visit: massyarts.com/accessibility

Covid Protocols: Masks keep our community safe and are mandatory (N95 masks are recommended as they offer the best protection). We ask if you are showing symptoms, that you stay home. Thank you kindly.

10:30-12:10 Festival Last Day Opening and Hybrid Panel: Salaysay and FCBF Cross-Coast Talk Join us for an exciting and unique collaboration between Salaysay, the esteemed East Coast literary festival, and the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival (FCBF). This special panel, Salaysay and FCBF Cross-Coast Talk, brings together talented authors from both coasts for an engaging discussion on their literary journeys, cultural experiences, and the art of storytelling.

12:15-1:10 Interactive Workshop: Map of Wholeness Join us for the Map of Wholeness workshop at the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival, an enriching session that links discussions between the Canadian diaspora and the Philippines. This workshop is a unique opportunity to explore the concept of home across different parts of the world, featuring insightful contributions from featured guests.

1:15-3:00 Community Open Mic and Post Open-Mic Meet & Greet

3:00-3:30 Festival Closing Ceremony with Knowledge Keeper Audrey Siegl

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Purchase Tickets here

2024 Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Recognition Award winner Allan Cho

Congratulations to Allan Cho who received the 2024 Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Recognition Award.  VAHMS honoured individuals who make significant contributions to fostering, promoting, and celebrating the arts and cultural diversity that Asian Canadian communities bring to Canadian society.   A distinguished community leader and cultural advocate, renowned for his dedication to promoting Asian heritage and culture in Vancouver, Allan is the Executive Director of the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop (ACWW), an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Asian Canadian literature and writers. Cho also serves as the Festival Director of the LiterASIAN Festival, North America's first Asian literary festival, and is the Editor of Ricepaper Magazine, a long-running publication focused on Asian Canadian arts and culture.  In addition to his roles in ACWW, Cho is an academic librarian at the University of British Columbia's Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. His responsibilities include community engagement, particularly with historically underrepresented groups, and he leads initiatives on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

Japanese Canadian Place & Memory: Call for Submissions

In Terrain of Memory, Kirsten Emiko McAllister addresses the challenges of moving a post-redress, Japanese Canadian community forward and toward a transformative reimagining: “A new purpose as well as affinities and relations of interdependence are needed if a group is going to sustain itself as a collective…a community can reproduce itself over generations.” After the positive impact of writing-based intergenerational gatherings such as Mata Ashita, we hope to support a continued tradition of community storytelling to honour the histories we hold close to and find new ways of co-authoring collective futures.

In addition to the print anthology published by Véhicule Press, contributors’ work will be published online as part of a digital mapping project that will not only serve as a space for contributors to reflect on and further contextualize their work, but also a way to highlight the connections between their poems, stories, and creative nonfiction.

This collection will be co-edited by Michael Prior (poetry), Kerri Sakamoto (fiction), and Leanne Toshiko Simpson (creative non-fiction), with overarching curatorial guidance from Kyle Yakashiro and artist Mia Ohki, who will be providing visuals for the book. The anthology is untitled; its name will take shape alongside the editorial process.

Closes January 1, 2025

For more information: https://www.jcplaceandmemory.com/submit

 

 

LiterASIAN Writers Festival 2024 in Toronto

 

Join us for the LiterASIAN Writers Festival in Toronto!

We invite you to the LiterASIAN Toronto 2024 event, hosted at the Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library in collaboration with The Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW). This year’s theme is Recovery, where writers engage in a literary dialogue towards fostering cultural understanding, promoting diversity, and amplifying Asian Canadian voices. Through exploration, the panellists collectively navigate pathways toward recovery.

• This event is free, and all are welcome to attend.
• Space is limited, registration is required in advance by MAY 15th.

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (EDT)

Location: The Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, 8th Floor, Robarts Library, 130 St. George Street, Toronto

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/VqdWHF5a38DrrBTy9

LiterASIAN is a proud celebration of Canadian writers and artists of Asian heritage and their valuable contributions to Canada’s amazing literary and artistic scenes.

 

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Panelists

Marjorie Chan was born in Toronto. She is a writer, director and dramaturge in opera and theatre. Her published works include her plays China Doll, and Lady Sunrise, both nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Other produced plays include A Nanking Winter, The Madness of the Square, Tails from the City, and most recently The Year of the Cello, co-created with composer Njo Kong Kie. Her writing for opera includes Sanctuary Song, The Lesson of Da Ji, M’dea Undone, The Monkiest King, and The Nightingale of A Thousand Songs. Nominated for ten Dora Awards variously as a writer, actor, director, and the recipient of four. Marjorie has also received the K.M. Hunter Artists Award, Entertainment World Award (Best New Work), Harold Award, Bra D’Or Award, as well as the George Luscombe Award for Mentorship. Currently, she is adapting the novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien into an opera with composer Tim Brady. Marjorie is also the Artistic Director of Theatre Passe Muraille, with a focus on innovative new Canadian works in Toronto.



Denise Chong is the author of prize-winning books that portray the lives of ordinary people caught in the eye of history. She is best known for her family memoir, The Concubine's Children, which is being adapted for film. Her previous books include The Girl in the Picture, about the napalm girl of the Vietnam War; Egg on Mao, a story of love and defiance in China of 1989; and Lives of the Family: Stories of Fate and Circumstance, about Chinese who immigrated to Canada in the mid-20th century. In 2013, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for "writing books that raise our social consciousness." She currently lives in Ottawa.




Janika Oza is the author of the novel A History of Burning, winner of the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a finalist for the 2023 Governor General's Award for Fiction, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice. She is the winner of a 2022 O. Henry Prize for Short Fiction and the 2020 Kenyon Review Short Fiction Award. She is an assistant editor at The Rumpus and lives in Toronto.



Linda Rui Feng is Associate Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Toronto. Her research in Chinese cultural history often takes her to long-forgotten books from the ninth century and, more recently, the history of scent and aromatics. She is the author of the novel Swimming Back to Trout River, which was longlisted for the 2021 Scotia Giller Prize, and a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and the 2022 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Her fiction has been supported by residencies at MacDowell and by the Toronto Arts Council, and her prose and poetry have appeared in journals such as The Fiddlehead, Kenyon Review Online, and Washington Square Review.

Moderator

Larissa Lai is the author of nine books, including, The Lost Century, The Tiger Flu, Salt Fish Girl, and Iron Goddess of Mercy. She is the recipient of the Jim Duggins Novelist's Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, the Astraea Award, and the Otherwise Honor Book. She has also been a finalist for the Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Governor General's Award. She has held a Canada Research Chair in Creative Writing at the University of Calgary and a Maria Zambrano Fellowship at the University of Huelva. She holds the Richard Charles Lee Chair of Chinese Canadian Studies at the University of Toronto.