Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 1975 Broad Street, Regina
Swift Current Room
Did you know that the SWG has over 650 members in Saskatchewan and beyond? That our staff of 8 run programs all year round that reach ~9400 people? That our volunteer board of directors plays a vital role in the governance of the Guild? Attend our Annual General Meeting to learn more about Guild operations and programs for 2023-24 and help us set directions for the new year. Your participation is important!
SWG Members who attend the AGM can claim their return mileage at $.22/km: please speak to SWG staff about submitting a claims form after the AGM.
Join us for breakfast at 8:00 am!
Nominees for Board
For President:
Miguel Fenrich
Miguel Fenrich (he/him) is an award-winning Sudanese-Canadian journalist, author, and multidisciplinary storyteller living on Treaty 6 Territory west of Saskatchewan. His professional experience includes as the former Owner & Publisher of Supernova Press, the former Staff Reporter and Editor of the Battlefords Regional News-Optimist, and the author of Blue: A Novel and What Lies in the Valley. Fenrich currently works as a Communications Coordinator at the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan.
He has served on several Boards of Directors for provincial and community non-profits, including Saskbooks, Concern for Youth, Battlefords Trade and Education Centre, the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, and the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Foundation. Fenrich is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. In 2024 he was recognized as an Emerging Artist by SKArts at their inaugural Arts of Celebration event.
Fenrich has served on the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild’s Board of Directors since 2022 and as Vice-President since early 2024. As President would continue to bring a robust knowledge of the Carver Governance Model, a keen eye for strategic long-term decision-making that aligns with the organization's mission, and a dedication to good team-led governance to the organization’s Board of Directors. Alongside the rest of the board, and with his diverse perspective as a BIPOC rural artist, he looks forward to continuing to advocate for Saskatchewan writers through the SWG’s mission and vision, working towards a more vibrant and diverse writing community in Saskatchewan, and helping to elevate voices across the province.
For Board position:
Joy Brown
I’m a 77-year-old retired educator. I emigrated to Canada in 1969, and have been involved in every level of education from early childhood to university here in Canada. Both my post graduate degrees are in writing. I had published in educational journals before retiring but after retirement, I focused on my passion, poetry. I have 3 self-published collections, one of which was a finalist in the John V. Hicks Award, and runner-up for the High Plains Book Award. I’ve been involved in the Saskatchewan Poetry Society for 7 years, and a member of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild for about 10 years. Just an aside, I’m a competitive powerlifter holding Saskatchewan’s M4 records.
Chinedu Ezeala
My name is Chinedu Ezeala, a resident of Regina in Saskatchewan. I have been writing for over two decades, with two published books and seven in the works. Excerpts of my writings can be seen in my blog https://neduisaac.blogspot.com/ . Since coming to Canada, I have identified with the writing community in various ways. During the Writers’ Festival hosted by RPL’s writer in residence earlier in the year, I participated in the open mic session where I read from my book. I am also a member of SWG in good standing.
I am interested in serving on the SWG’s Board in order to bring my diversity as I contribute to make SWG more efficient and far-reaching. I have strong organizational, administrative skills, in addition to attention to details and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and innovatively take initiatives according to policies and required protocols.
I worked as an Administrative Secretary and Chief Editor for over seven years where I oversaw the publishing of more than 50 books.
Berry Holtslander
Barry has been writing most of his life. He wrote poetry as a form of journaling when he was younger before turning to writing for other people. It was in writing a novel he finally understood what it meant to let his characters have their own voice and he enjoys watching them take over what he thought was his writing. He lives in Regina with his partner of more than thirty years. They have three children, three grandchildren, and one dog.
Daryl Sexsmith
Daryl is retired from the City of Saskatoon where he worked in the City Planning Branch as Housing Analyst. His responsibilities included developing the City’s Ten-Year Housing Business Plan as well advising City Council on homelessness and housing policy issues.
He was previously an executive director with Habitat for Humanity and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), as well as an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada.
In his retirement, Daryl has worked part time as a Peer Reviewer for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and completed other short-term contracts in the affordable housing sector.
Daryl’s board experience includes serving on the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild Board, the National Board for the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, Saskatoon’s Community Advisory Board on Homelessness and executive positions with the Saskatoon Canoe Club and the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club.
In 2023, Daryl’s memoir was published. Always Another River, is the story of Daryl’s life as told through the lens of his passion for wilderness canoe trips.
