How can I participate in this year’s conference?
Our 2025 conference includes in-person events and limited live-streamed events. In-person attendees can register for the full conference pass online or individual events by calling the SWG Office at 306-791-7740.
Three events will be live-streamed to an online audience for free – you can register for the Zoom links on our live-streamed Events webpage. All in-person and online attendees will receive links to the event videos after the conference.
How much are registration fees and what is included?
A full conference pass includes all in-person events for the price of: $215 SWG members, $250 non-members, $100 students (post-secondary/high school/elementary).
SWG Members enjoy an early bird registration rate of $200 before September 15.
Full Conference Pass
Your pass includes:
- Your choice of concurrent workshop and panels listed below
- Friday John V Hicks Long Manuscript Award in Fiction ceremony + Fast Friends: Building Connections
- Saturday Breakfast
- AGM
- Lunch & Caroline Heath Memorial Lecture with Lawrence Hill
- Grain 200th Issue Launch
- Community Stage Open Mic & Social
As well as your choice of the following concurrent event options:
Saturday 10:30 am – 12:00 pm workshops:
- “Writing From the Seed” Short Fiction with Dwayne Brenna
- “The Best Kind of Tetris: Assembling Your Poetry Collection” with Leah Horlick
Saturday 2:30-3:45 pm panels:
- “Saplings: A Debut Author Panel” with Victoria Koops, Theressa Slind, Betty Ternier Daniels and host Jeanette Lynes
- “Seed Savers: Keeping Knowledge for the Writing Community” with Rita Bouvier, Tenille Campbell, Verna St. Denis and host Mika Lafond
Saturday 4:00-5:15 pm panels:
- “Companion Planting: Mentorship and Growing Community” with Dave Carpenter, Lawrence Hill and host Bev Brenna
- “On the Same Page: Writing While Neurodivergent” with Delane Just, Alice Kuipers, Tonia Laird and host John Loeppky
How do I get to the Park Town Hotel? Where do I park?
The Park Town Hotel is located at 924 Spadina Cres E. Conference goers who have a full conference pass will receive free parking in the hotel’s ground parking lot or parkade for both Friday and Saturday. Please register your vehicle licence plate with the front desk upon entry.
The Park Town Hotel is located on Saskatoon transit routes 4, 16, 43, 44, 45, 46. Bicycle storage may be available for cyclists (please inquire).
Can I watch any conference events?
Free live-streamed events will include (click on the link for Zoom Registration):
Friday Events:
Saturday Events:
- 1:00 pm – Caroline Heath Memorial Lecture “Seeding the Creative Spark” with Lawrence Hill
- 7:00 pm - Seeding the Next 200: Grain Magazine's 200th Issue Celebration and Launch
Videos of the Heath Lecture and Grain 200th Issue Launch will be available on the SWG’s Youtube channel for 30 days after the conference and the Friday Hicks Award video links will be emailed to all registered Conference participants or available upon request.
Do I have to be a SWG member to attend the conference?
No. Our conference is open to anyone interested, although our members enjoy a discounted rate.
Are there any free events?
The following events are free and open to the public:
Friday Events:
- 7:00 pm - John V Hicks Long Manuscript Award in Fiction ceremony
- 8:00 pm – Fast Friends: Building Connections and Reception
Saturday Events:
- 9:00 am Annual General Meeting
- 7:00 pm Grain 200th Issue Launch
- 8:15 pm Community Stage Open Mic & Social
Can I sell and/or buy books at your conference?
The SWG will operate a book table during the conference, where you can browse and purchase books written by our presenters and members.
If you are a SWG member attending the conference, you are welcome to drop off your authored books for the Guild to sell on consignment. All genres are welcome. Authors receive 90% of book price. Payment is made after the conference ends.
Book drop offs can be made Friday October 24 starting at 6:00 pm or by making prior arrangements with Guild staff. Unsold books must be picked up by Saturday Oct 25 between 6:30-8:00 pm.
If I would like to stay at the Park Town Hotel, how do I book a hotel room?
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.
Do I get mileage reimbursement?
SWG members who attend the AGM on Saturday, October 25, get a partial mileage reimbursement for attending the annual AGM at the rate of $.22/km. Please speak to SWG staff about submitting a claim form after the AGM.
Accessibility at the SWG Conference
The ParkTown Hotel venue is wheelchair accessible. The front entry of the hotel is accessible by ramp and automated doors. Our events will take place on the lower level which is accessible via elevator or by stairs. The rooms will be set up with moveable chairs and tables spaced 3 feet apart to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids. Nearby washrooms are fully wheelchair accessible. All presenters will use a microphone and may have AV props (like powerpoints). Read-along materials will be available in some sessions. Our presenters and hosts are also encouraged to give self-descriptions.
The ParkTown Hotel (924 Spadina Cres East) is on numerous City of Saskatoon bus routes, including #1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17. Free parking is available to all conference guests in the ParkTown's surface lot or parkade: please register your vehicle licence plate with the front desk upon entry. If you are biking to the ParkTown, please speak to the Catering Manager upon arrival about a secure indoor space to store your bicycle.
Free coffee/tea will be offered all weekend, and a free non-alcoholic option will be available during the evening receptions. If you have any dietary allergies or sensitivities and are attending the Saturday breakfast and lunch, please discuss with SWG staff.
Live-streamed and recorded events will include auto captions.
To ensure that the SWG conference is financially accessible to our members and the public, we are offering 5 free events (see list above in “Are there any free events?”) as well as offering SWG members who attend the AGM a partial reimbursement for mileage if a claim form is submitted after the AGM. SWG members and students (high school or postsecondary) also get a reduced rate for both the full conference pass.
