Writing as a community
The Langara Writer in Residence program provides an opportunity for the College community to engage with an established writer. The program permits the Writer in Residence to pursue their own creative projects while being available to Langara students for classroom visits, manuscript consultations, and events—including a public lecture. The position runs for three months and is funded by donation to the Langara College Foundation.
About Rawi Hage, Langara’s 2023 Writer in Residence
Rawi Hage was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and lived through nine years of the Lebanese civil war during the 1970s and 1980s. He immigrated to Canada in 1992 and now lives in Montreal. His first novel, De Niro’s Game, won the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for the best English-language book published anywhere in the world in a given year, and has either won or been shortlisted for seven other major awards and prizes, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award. Cockroach was the winner of the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction and a finalist for the Governor General’s Award. It was also shortlisted for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Award and the Giller Prize. His third novel, Carnival, told from the perspective of a taxi driver, was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Award and won the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. His work has been translated into 30 languages.
“The opportunity to support and inspire students in their creative process, and in such a diverse, youthful environment, is rewarding and meaningful to me. I’m excited to be part of the Langara community.”
Writing is a lifelong skill that can help students in their careers and find job opportunities outside of the classroom. Some students are more hands-on and need someone to guide them. To cultivate interest and love for writing, our writer-in-residence program will invite professional writers to share their insights, and knowledge of the industry for a year. They will host workshops and events for the students and the wider community.
The writer will contribute to literacy initiatives by promoting writing and reading at Langara. Students will be able to get the support they need through one-on-one consultations and group workshops.
Help cultivate a love for reading and writing by contributing to bringing in a new Writer in Residence for 2024. Donate now.
