Canada Council to support Berton House writers

Ottawa, 26 April 2001 - The Canada Council for the Arts and the Berton House Writer's Retreat Society announced today a new partnership to fund four writers' residencies a year at the Berton House Writer's Retreat in Dawson City, Yukon. This retreat, in the boyhood home of Canadian literary legend Pierre Berton, will host four Canadian or international writers a year for three months each, and provide them with a monthly fellowship of $2,000 plus travel expenses to and around the north. The Canada Council's contribution to this initiative will total $100,000 over the next three years.

This is the most northernmost writer's retreat in the world, and will give professional Canadian and international writers a unique Yukon and Northern experience to concentrate on their works of fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, poetry or journalism.

The writer's retreat has already been active for the past three years, but as a result of the Canada Council's support, writers will now receive, starting in November 2001, a monthly fellowship of $2,000 plus air travel to the Yukon. The writers live at the retreat, and give public readings or lectures in both Whitehorse and Dawson City. Writers who have already participated include Russell Smith, Andrew Pyper, and Audrey Thomas. Another former participant, Vancouver writer Luanne Armstrong, said " . . . for years, I've had three jobs, raising a family, writing and working at whatever part-time job I was using to hold my life together. Now a kindly Providence provided me with three months of peace, quiet and security." Writers scheduled for 2001 include Kingston, Ontario writer Steven Heighton, Governor General's Literary Award winner Rachel Manley, Toronto playwright Benj Gallander, and the first francophone resident, Montreal novelist Suzanne Harnois.

The funding will be officially announced by Canada Council Board member Nalini Stewart at a gala dinner hosted by Vicky Gabereau in Toronto this evening celebrating Pierre Berton's 50 years of writing. "This residency provides the finest writing talent in the country with a real northern Canadian experience, that will enrich their knowledge of the country and the north," Stewart said. "Pierre has won the Canada Council's Governor General's Literary Award three times, and we are thrilled to work with him on providing an on-going place for writers to create."

Added Pierre Berton: "The Berton House Retreat provides professional writers with the most precious of assets: uninterrupted time in which to work or contemplate their work. It also provides a unique opportunity to live with history and experience life in a remote northern community".

The selection of writers and the residency is co-ordinated by the Berton House Writer's Retreat Society, based in Whitehorse, and in partnership with the Klondike Visitors Association and the Dawson Community Library Board in Dawson City. "The Yukon is a very special place to write from," said Berton House President Max Fraser. "Dawson is a city built on dreams; its spirit infects writers who experience this special place. The three-year agreement with Canada Council recognizes how uniquely the Berton House program contributes to our country's literary landscape. It also guarantees a home of inspiration for more great literature in the years ahead."