We are pleased to announce our Banff Retreat will take place February 14 – 23, 2020, and registrations are now open. Our annual Banff Retreat is a self-guided retreat and a great opportunity to connect with fellow writers and enjoy uninterrupted writing time among amazing scenery at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Participants will have accommodation in the Hotel at Professional Development Centre (PDC), in a private room with a desk. Writers attending the retreat will have access to the public lounge space in the lobby on the main floor, as well as the artist lounge on the third floor (PDC 301), which is available 24 hours a day. The artist lounge has a television, books, games, a small printer (ideal for 20 pages or less), a fridge, a toaster, coffee maker, kettle, and comfortable seating. The main floor lobby lounge features a fireplace and a computer.
The retreat also includes a meal plan (equivalent to lunch and dinner at Vistas dining room), use of Banff Centre amenities including complimentary access to the Sally Borden Recreation Centre and Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, welcome and farewell receptions, evening readings, and access to the Writers in Residence. Please note this year the welcome reception for the first half of the retreat will take place the morning of Saturday, February 15.
We are in the process of hiring two Writers in Residence, one from an open call of Alberta authors and one invited from out of province. Thank you to everyone who applied to the open call! The Writers in Residence will be announced by late October or early November.
Prices
Full Retreat (February 14 – 23, 2020): $1350 WGA members, $1430 non-members (non-member rate includes one-year membership)
Half Retreat (February 14 – 18 or February 19 – 23, 2020): $680 WGA members, $760 non-members (non-member rate includes one-year membership)
| Cancellation Policy | |
| If you cancel: | You will receive: |
| On or before January 14, 2020 | 100% of the registration fees refunded minus a nonrefundable $50 administration fee |
| January 15 – 31, 2020 | 50% of the registrations fees refunded minus a nonrefundable $50 administration fee |
| After January 31, 2020 | No refund |
Bursary availability is contingent on donations. If you wish to apply for a bursary, please email us at mail@writersguild.ca and we will be in touch if we have funds available. Retreat costs may be eligible for funding from arts granting agencies such as Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Edmonton Arts Council.
How to Register
Please fill out the registration form below to register. After submitting the form, you will be redirected to a payment page, where you have the choice of paying online in full or paying a 50% deposit. You may also choose to pay offline and mail a cheque to our main office or call 780.422.8174 (1.800.665.5354 toll free Alberta only) to give your credit card payment.
If your registration form has been submitted successfully, you should receive an automatic email confirmation, which indicates your registration has been received safely. If you do not receive a confirmation email or receipt, please let us know at mail@writersguild.ca.
You may save the form in progress and continue later, but please note your spot is not secured until the form is completed and submitted.
If you are unable to submit the registration form online, please contact the WGA office at mail@writersguild.ca or 780.422.8174 (1.800.665.5354 toll free Alberta only) and we will make other arrangements.
The deadline for registration and payment in full is Tuesday, December 17, 2019.
If you wish for a Writer in Residence to give a consultation on a piece of writing, the manuscript must be submitted in advance by the registration deadline, Tuesday, December 17, 2019. More information and reminders about manuscript submission will be sent to participants in advance of the deadline.
We have 20 spots available in each half of the retreat.