Who We Are

History and Mandate

Based in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada, on the shores of beautiful Shuswap Lake, the Shuswap Association of Writers (SAOW) was founded in 2004 as a vehicle for organizing the Shuswap Writers' Festival (formerly the Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival). Since then, our role has broadened, and we offer other events throughout the year to inspire and support writers and readers in the BC interior.

SAOW’s mandate is to organize events to enrich cultural life in the BC Interior, especially the written and spoken arts.  Specifically, the Shuswap Association of Writers has the following goals:

• To provide public access to some of the best Canadian literature and its creators.
• To provide authors and other writers the opportunity to showcase their work in a quality festival setting.
• To promote literature and literacy among all age groups.
• To encourage excellence in Canadian writing.
• To create a supportive and responsive "mecca" for writers and writing in the Interior of British Columbia.
• To provide educational opportunities for aspiring writers and the exciting element of learning from well- known authors.
• To provide assessment and marketing opportunities for writers.
• To encourage the public to support and enjoy an enriched cultural community.
• To create an awareness of the Shuswap as a cultural tourism destination.

What We Do

Some of our regular events include:

• The Shuswap Writers' Festival which brings together writers, readers, published authors, editors and publishers in an exciting and stimulating two to three day festival.
• Other short workshops and events for writers in the BC interior during the September to May period each year.  In the past few years SAOW has organized events to celebrate National Poetry Month, readings with visiting authors, workshops on different genres, and writing practice workshops.
• An annual writing contest for young authors (with awards presented at the Writers' Festival)

2011 Board members

Judith Benson
Karen Bissenden 
Lynda Hooper
Kay Johnston
Deanna Kawatski
Theresa Pederson
Mary Nyland
Debbie Turner
Sarah Weaver