Past Writers-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House
Use the links below to navigate to a year or simply scroll down. Click on a writer’s portrait to learn more about their work and ways to connect with them.
Writers-in-Residence 2022:
Gail Nyoka, Melanie Little, Peter Norman, Jack Wang, Ed Pien, Johannes Zits, Carmen Rodríguez
Writers-in-Residence 2021:
José Teodoro, Isabella Mori, Maria Saba, Alexis Leona, Makram Ayache, Em Dial, Christian Vistan, Su-Ying Lee, Marcus Youssef, Greg Tatchell
Writers-in-Residence 2020:
C.E. Gatchalian, Derrick Chang , Sally Ito, Jude Neale, Kate Metten, Anita Miettunen, Liz Marshall, Michelle Jacques
Writers-in-Residence 2019:
Kevin Spenst, Chris Urquhart, Victoria Kuttainen, Nadia Hohn, Doretta Lau, Michael Mirolla
Writers-in-Residence 2018:
Janet Marie Rogers, Monia Mazigh, Joseph Maviglia, Nejime Shōichi, William Tham Wai Liang
Writers-in-Residence 2017:
Mary-Lou Zeitoun, Jacqueline Pearce, Carole Glasser Langille, Carmen Rodriguez, Dianne Jacob, Susan Aihoshi, June Hutton, Mizuki Misumi
Writers-in-Residence 2016:
Tom Cho, Jackie Wykes, Alexandra Bischoff, Jane Eaton Hamilton, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Takiya Kuwahara, Christine Lowther
Writers-in-Residence 2015:
Tom Cho and Jackie Wykes
Writers-in-Residence 2014:
Kagan Goh
Writers-in-Residence 2013:
Ava Homa, Dave Deveau (Playwrights Theatre Centre)
Writers-in-Residence 2012:
Deborah Willis
Writers-in-Residence 2011:
Susan Crean
Writers-in-Residence 2010:
Nancy Lee and John Vigna
Writers-in-Residence 2009:
John Asfour, Akerke Mussabekova, Jasprit Singh
Writer-in-Residence 2008:
Sharon Butala
Writers-in-Residence 2022
Gail Nyoka
Gail Nyoka is a playwright and storyteller for adult and young audiences. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in January and February 2022.
Melanie Little
Melanie Little is an award-winning author and editor of fiction and non-fiction. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June and July 2022.
Peter Norman
Peter Norman is the author of four poetry collections and a novel. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June and July 2022.
Jack Wang
Jack Wang is the author of the story collection We Two Alone and winner of the 2020 Danuta Gleed Literary Award. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from July 1 to August 15, 2022.
Ed Pien
Ed Pien is a Canadian artist based in Toronto. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from August 15 to September 30, 2022.
Johannes Zits
Johannes Zits is a multi-disciplinary artist. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from August 15 to September 30, 2022.
Carmen Rodríguez
Carmen Rodríguez is an award-winning author, educator and journalist, including work in adult literacy and popular education. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in October, November, and December 2022.
Writers-in-Residence 2021
José Teodoro
José Teodoro is a playwright, writer, and editor. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in January and February 2021.
Isabella Mori
Isabella Mori is a writer, poet, and mental health blogger. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in March and April 2021.
Maria Saba
Maria Saba is a writer, storyteller, and arts educator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in May and June 2021.
Alexis Leona
Alexis Leona is a writer and photographer with a passion for animals. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in July 2021.
Makram Ayache
Makram Ayache is a community-engaged writer, actor, and director. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in August 2021.
Em Dial
Em Dial is a queer, triracial, chronically ill poet and educator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in September 2021.
Christian Vistan
Christian Vistan is an artist, writer, and curator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in October 2021.
Su-Ying Lee
Su-Ying Lee is an independent curator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in November 2021.
Marcus Youssef
Marcus Youssef is an artistic director, plawyright, and author. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House during the first two weeks of December 2021.
Gregory Tatchell
Greg Tatchel is an author and a Professed life vowed Benedictine. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in December 2021.
Writers-in-Residence 2020
C.E. Gatchalian
Author, theatre artist and producer. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House February 2020.
Derrick Chang
A curator, writer, and facilitator. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House March 2020.
Sally Ito
Sally Ito is a poet and novelist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House April – May 2020.
Jude Neale
Poet, vocalist, and mentor. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House June 1 to June 15, 2020.
Kate Metten
An interdisciplinary artist working with ceramic sculpture and oil painting. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in Summer 2020.
Anita Miettunen
Liz Marshall
Michelle Jacques
Writers-in-Residence 2019
Kevin Spenst
Writer and Editor. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House January – February 2019.
Chris Urquhart
Chris makes stories that are true. Author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House March – April 2019.
Victoria Kuttainen
Professor at James Cook University and Author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House June 2019.
Nadia Hohn
Educator and children’s book author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House July – August 2019.
Doretta Lau
Journalist and Writer. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House September – October 2019.
Michael Mirolla
Author, poet, and playwright. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House November 2019 – January 2020.
Writers-in-Residence 2018
Janet Marie Rogers
Writer, poet, and producer of indigenous radio programs. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House April – May 2018.
Monia Mazigh
Academic, novelist, essayist, and a human rights advocate. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House June – August 2018.
Joseph Maviglia
Singer-songwriter, Poet, Writer, Educator. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House October – November 2018.
Nejime Shōichi
Japanese Poet hosted at Historic Joy Kogawa House with Tasai Artists’ Collective November 2018.
William Tham Wai Liang
Writer and Editor. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House September – December 2018.
Writers-in-Residence 2017
Mary-Lou Zeitoun
An arts and activism journalist, publisher and writer. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House January 2017.
Jacqueline Pearce
Poet and writer. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House February, August and September 2017.
Carole Glasser Langille
Poet, author, and educator. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House March 2017.
Carmen Rodriguez
Writer, educator, and journalist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House April – June 2017.
Dianne Jacob
Writer, educator, and journalist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House April – June 2017.
Susan Aihoshi
A third-generation Japanese Canadian writer and editor. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House September 2017.
June Hutton
A novelist and author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House early October 2017.
Mizuki Misumi
Poet and performer. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House late October 2017.
Writers-in-Residence 2016
Tom Cho
Writer and performance artist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from August 2015 to March 2016.
Jackie Wykes
Writer, editor, and accessibility advocate. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from August 2015 to March 2016.
Alexandra Bischoff
Writer and performance artist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in April and May 2016.
Jane Eaton Hamilton
Creative non-fiction, fiction, and poetry author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June 2016.
Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall
Creative non-fiction and memoir author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in July and September 2016.
Takiya Kuwahara
“Make all the time and space into poetry.” Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from October 1 to 15, 2016.
Christine Lowther
Poet and memoir author. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from October 15, 2016, to January 30, 2017.
Writers-in-Residence 2014
Kagan Goh
A spoken word poet, playwright, actor, mental health advocate, and activist. Writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House November 2014 to February 2015.
Writers-in-Residence 2011
Susan Crean
A cultural critic, author, and activist. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from September 15 to December 15, 2011.
Writers-in-Residence 2009
John Asfour
A Lebanese Canadian poet, writer, and teacher. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in March to May 2009.
Writers-in-Residence 2008
Sharon Butala
An author of fiction and nonfiction. Writer-in-Residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in February 2008.