From conference coordinator Kathy
Hello!
Happy 2026! We're gearing up for our 33rd conference and we couldn't be happier about it.
As many of you know, we were forced to cancel SiWC 2025 because of a strike at our conference hotel. It was the first year since we began in 1993 that there wasn't an SiWC. We're delighted to report that the strike has been resolved, the hotel is back to regular operations, and we're set to return to our home of more than 30 years this October.
SiWC 2026
Mark your calendars for this year's conference, which will once again be a hybrid event with in-person and online options. SiWC 2026 will run October 23-25, 2024, with pre-conference virtual master classes on the 21st and in-person and virtual master classes on the 22nd.
Many of the presenters who had planned to join us for SiWC 2025 will be coming this year instead. As ever, our roster will be posted in the spring.
Registration for this year's conference opens Wednesday, June 3, at noon Pacific.
Already Registered?
If you are one of the people who elected to move your 2025 registration to 2026 when we had to cancel, you are already registered for this year's conference. You DO NOT need to register again.
Kim will reach out to you directly within two weeks of the full workshop schedule being posted on the website to update any appointments or master classes that have changed since last year. Also, your registration is now covered by the 2026 cancellation policy.
Hotel Booking Link
The Sheraton Guildford, our conference hotel, has already set up our group booking link for this year, which you'll find on our website here: https://www.siwc.ca/conference/venue/hotel-room-booking/. If you're planning to attend this year's conference, we recommend booking your hotel room as soon as possible, as the hotel often sells out before conference registration opens in June.
Writing Contest
Because we were unable to run our 2025 writing contest, we simply extended the submission deadline to this year. That means our 2026 writing contest is already open to entries. Check out the rules here: https://www.siwc.ca/writing-contest/. First prize - the Jack Whyte Storyteller's Award - is $1000CAD and submission for publication, subject to editorial review, to Pulp Literature. Honourable mention - $150 and submission for publication, subject to editorial review, to Pulp Literature.
SiWC Year at a Glance
| Now | SiWC's scholarships are open to entries. If you're eligible, please apply! |
| Now | Hotel room booking link is available. Book early to ensure you get a room. |
| Now | SiWC's short story contest is open to entries. |
| Soon | Registration rates for this year will be posted. As a not-for-profit event, our prices are set to just cover the cost of running the conference. |
| By early May |
SiWC's 2026 presenter roster will be posted. |
| Mid-late May |
SiWC's master classes and conference workshop schedule will be posted. Kim will contact existing 2026 conference registrants to update appointments and/or master classes. |
| June 3 |
REGISTRATION OPENS at noon Pacific time. |
| September 15 | SiWC's writing contest and scholarships for writers from underrepresented groups close to entries. |
| September 30 | SiWC's scholarship for young writers closes to entries. |
| October 21 |
Virtual master classes. |
| October 22 | In-person and virtual master classes. |
| October 23-25 | SiWC 2026! |
A note for SiWC alumni from any year: If you've ever attended SiWC in person or online, you are eligible to join one of our alumni communities to connect with fellow SiWC alumni year-round. If you are an SiWC alumnus and don't already belong to one of our groups, you can join the Facebook alumni group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1795612307346377. We also have a year-round SiWC Alumni Discord server. To join, please email me (replying to this newsletter is fine) with the year(s) you attended and the name you used to register for the conference, and I'll send you an invite to join.
If you haven't attended SiWC yet, consider attending in 2026 and then you'll be welcome to join the alumni groups. Having a community of writers is a great way to help keep your writing going throughout the year.
Fundraising Update
Our fundraising committee has been working hard behind the scenes. Cancelling our 2025 conference was expensive, so we're fundraising to protect our not-for-profit conference for the future by bolstering our contingency fund. Last year, our amazing volunteers hosted two pub nights and a Purdys holiday fundraiser, and we have an ongoing GoFundMe campaign. Keep an eye on our social media - Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky - for announcements of fun fundraising events in the coming year.
That's it from us for now.
We'll be in touch a handful of times this year with news and updates, but promise not to clutter your inboxes.
More soon!
Kathy
Kathy Chung, SiWC Conference Coordinator
www.siwc.ca
View this email online | Unsubscribe
Surrey International Writers' Conference Society
Suite #544 | 151-10090 152nd St | Surrey BC V3R 8X8 | Canada