Sophie Demers

LJI Reporter

Gatineau invites authors to apply for the Gatineau library 2024 residency. The residency program allows a local wordsmith to dedicate themselves to a writing project for one month and to connect to the community. This program also aims to promote local literature to citizens of the region.

Since 2009, Gatineau has had 15 resident writers, many of whom had successful writing careers, collecting various literary prizes and awards. Last year’s resident writer was cartoonist and novelist Sylvain Lemay. Lemay, with co-author André St-Georges, is the author of many novels, some of them graphic novels. The first resident of this program was Andrée Poulin in 2009 who went on to win the TD Prize for Canadian literature and the Prix des libraires du Québec. The 2021 resident writer, Mishka Lavigne, was awarded two Governor General’s Literary Awards in the theater category.

The writer-in-residence program allows the chosen resident to devote a month to a writing project from October 7 to November 1 of this year. The writer participates in the library’s organized activities and a cultural mediation project in collaboration with a local organization. The chosen writer will receive $3,500 for their residency.

Candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, be fluent in French, and live in the Outaouais. Applicants must also have published at least one work with a recognized publishing house and be a member of a professional authors’ association.

Those interested in submitting an application must do so by June 14 at 8 pm. The online form is available on the City of Gatineau website, gatineau.ca/bibliothèque. Applicants must also provide the Guy-Sanche library with three paper copies of one of their works by June 14 at 6 pm.

The resident will be selected by a jury composed of three people, two writers and a librarian, who will evaluate each application based on quality and originality of the writing and project, contribution to regional literature, and enthusiasm for participating in media opportunities as well as an interest in public contact and exchange activities.

More details about eligibility criteria and selection process are available on the City of Gatineau website.
Photo caption: Guy-Sanche library, located at 855 boulevard de la Gappe, one of Gatineau’s ten libraries. It was previously called Bowater library.

Photo credit: City of Gatineau