The SWG Annual Conference and AGM will be held October 24-25, 2025 in Saskatoon SK at the Park Town Hotel (924 Spadina Cres E). 

 

The 2025 theme is Seeding. From planting seeds to harvesting, the act of nurturing new life has much in common with the creative act of writing. This conference explores writing through the early life cycles of plants: saving seeds or knowledge for the future, seeding new ideas and encouraging early growth. Join us as we prepare for new possibilities. No soil required.

 

Our conference is designed for both emerging and established Saskatchewan writers, as well as brand-new and long-standing SWG members: please join us to learn more about the craft of writing, meet new writers and catch up with old friends! We welcome all members to attend our Annual General Meeting to help the Guild conduct important business.

 

Book Table:

We will be operating a book table during our conference, which will sell books by presenters and SWG members. Any attending SWG member is welcome to bring books to sell. Read our FAQs here for more information and when to drop off books.

 

Registration Options:

All conference events require registration, which is now open. Options include:

• Full Conference pass for all in-person events
  •  Member $215 / Non-member $250 / Student $100 
  • SWG Members enjoy an early bird registration rate of $200 before September 15.
• Free livestreamed virtual events:
  • 2025 Hicks Long Manuscript Award in Fiction Ceremony – Friday at 7:00 pm
  • Annual Caroline Heath Memorial Lecture by Lawrence Hill – Saturday at 1:00 pm
  • Grain’s 200^th Issue launch – Saturday at 7:00 pm

 

The 2025 Hicks Awards, Heath Lecture and Grain’s 200^th issue launch are the conference’s only livestreamed and recorded events. Videos will be available on the SWG Youtube channel post-conference for 30 days.

If you are interested in attending a single event, please contact info@skwriter.com or 306-791-7740 for more information.

 

Hotel Options:

If you are interested in staying at the Park Town Hotel during the conference, the SWG has a block of guest rooms available for a special conference rate ($159/king plus taxes). Please book your room directly with the Park Town Hotel by calling 1-306-244-5564 by September 24, 2025. Availability is not guaranteed after this date.

 

AGM Member mileage reimbursement:

Did you know that SWG members get a partial mileage reimbursement for attending the annual AGM? Members who attend the AGM can claim their return mileage at $.22/km: please speak to SWG staff about submitting a claim forms after the AGM.

 

Accessibility:

All SWG 2025 Conference events will be held at the Park Town Hotel. The conference rooms are fully wheelchair accessible with nearby washrooms and elevator access. All presenters will use a microphone and rooms will be set up with moveable tables and chairs. Full information about accessibility measures is available our FAQs page.  If you have any accessibility needs, please let SWG staff know so we can help you enjoy our conference.

We hope you enjoy our conference this year!

Schedule

Friday, October 24	Event	Location
6:00 pm	Registration table opens Book table drop-off Sales open at 7:00 pm	Park Town Hotel - Oak Room
7:00 pm	John V. Hicks Long Manuscript Award in Fiction Ceremony	Oak Room Live-streamed/ recorded
8:00 pm	Fast Friends: Building Connections & Reception	Oak Room

Saturday, October 25	Event	Location
8:00 am	Registration Table opens Book Table opens	Park Town Hotel - Oak Room
8:00 - 9:00 am	Breakfast Included in Conference Pass	Oak Room
9:00 - 10:00 am	Annual General Meeting	Oak Room
10:00 - 10:30 am	Break
10:30 am - 12:00 pm	Concurrent Workshop: "Writing From the Seed" Short Fiction Workshop with Dwayne Brenna	Oak Room
10:30 am - 12:00 pm	Concurrent Workshop: "The Best Kind of Tetris: Assembling Your Poetry Collection" Workshop with Leah Horlick	Maple Room
12:00 - 12:15 pm	Break
12:15 - 1:00 pm	Lunch Included in Conference Pass	Oak Room
1:00 - 2:00 pm	Annual Caroline Heath Memorial Lecture "Seeding the Creative Spark" with Lawrence Hill	Oak Room Live-streamed/ recorded
2:00 - 2:30 pm	Break
2:30 - 3:45 pm	Concurrent Panel "Saplings: A Debut Author Panel" with Victoria Koops, Theressa Slind, Betty Ternier Daniels and host Jeanette Lynes	Oak Room
2:30 - 3:45 pm	Concurrent Panel "Seed Savers: Keeping Knowledge for the Writing Community" with Rita Bouvier, Tenille Campbell, Verna St. Denis and host Mika Lafond	Maple Room
4:00 - 5:15 pm	Concurrent Panel "Companion Planting: Mentorship and Growing Community" with Maria Campbell, Dave Carpenter, Lawrence Hill and host Bev Brenna	Oak Room
4:00 - 5:15 pm	Concurrent Panel "On the Same Page: Writing While Neurodivergent" with Delane Just, Alice Kuipers, Tonia Laird and host John Loeppky	Maple Room
5:30 - 7:00 pm	Break  Supper on your own Door opens at 6:30 pm
7:00 - 8:00 pm	Seeding the Next 200: Grain's 200th Issue Celebration and Launch Reception to follow Book Table closes by 8:00 pm	Oak Room
8:15 pm	Community Stage Open Mic  with host Dash Reimer	Oak Room

 

Schedule     Registration     Events     Presenter Bios

Annual General Meeting     FAQs     Payment