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 2025
Writers-in-Residence 2025:
Matt Taylor, Trevor Copp, Magpie Ulysses, Beau Sia, Rice Against the Machine, New Harlem Productions, Blue Jay Walker, Victoria Koops, Maza Arts Collective, Elio Zarrillo
Writers-in-Residence 2024
Writers-in-Residence 2024:
Shawne Yukimi MacIntyre, Johnny D Trinh, Lisa Bird-Wilson, Eliza Robertson, Bernadette Plazola, Vinh Nguyen, Alvin Pang, Renite Manisha Gosal, Eden Robinson, André Préfontaine, Gordon Portman, Holly Timpener, Adonis Critter King, C.R. Avery, Matt Taylor
Writers-in-Residence 2023
Writers-in-Residence 2023:
Victor Yipp, Peter Mallett, Effie Pow, David Mura, Johnny D Trinh, Tom Gammarino, Tāriq Malik, Wayne Ng, Karen Parrish, Emi Sasagawa, Wiley Wei-Cheun Ho
Writers-in-Residence 2022
Writers-in-Residence 2022:
Gail Nyoka, Melanie Little, Peter Norman, Jack Wang, Ed Pien, Johannes Zits, Carmen Rodríguez
Writers-in-Residence 2021
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
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
Writers-in-Residence 2019:
Kevin Spenst, Chris Urquhart, Victoria Kuttainen, Nadia Hohn, Doretta Lau, Michael Mirolla
Writers-in-Residence 2018
Writers-in-Residence 2018:
Janet Marie Rogers, Monia Mazigh, Joseph Maviglia, Nejime Shōichi, William Tham Wai Liang
Writers-in-Residence 2017
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
Writers-in-Residence 2016:
Tom Cho, Jackie Wykes, Alexandra Bischoff, Jane Eaton Hamilton, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Takiya Kuwahara, Christine Lowther
Writers-in-Residence 2015
Writers-in-Residence 2015:
Tom Cho and Jackie Wykes
Writers-in-Residence 2014
Writers-in-Residence 2014:
Kagan Goh
Writers-in-Residence 2013
Writers-in-Residence 2013:
Ava Homa, Dave Deveau (Playwrights Theatre Centre)
Writers-in-Residence 2012
Writers-in-Residence 2012:
Deborah Willis
Writers-in-Residence 2011
Writers-in-Residence 2011:
Susan Crean
Writers-in-Residence 2010
Writers-in-Residence 2010:
Nancy Lee and John Vigna
Writers-in-Residence 2009
Writers-in-Residence 2009:
John Asfour, Akerke Mussabekova, Jasprit Singh
Writers-in-Residence 2008
Writer-in-Residence 2008:
Sharon Butala
Writers-in-Residence 2025
Matt Taylor
Matt Taylor is a jazz guitarist and adedicated educator, teaching music and directing at School of Rock. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in December 2024 and January 2025.
Trevor Copp
Trevor Copp is a Canadian actor, dancer, director, playwright, and mime. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in January 2025.
Magpie Ulysses
Writer, Rabble Rouser, fancy talker; Magpie Ulysses is a performance poet and storyteller In residence at Joy Kogawa House in February and March 2025.
Beau Sia
Beau Sia is a Tony Award-winning poet and world-renowned performer. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in April 2025.
Rice Against the Machine
Rice Against the Machine Collective is made up of poets, facilitators, and friends Anto Chan, Patrick de Belen, and Christopher Tse. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in May 2025.
New Harlem Productions
Kern Albert and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard are the creative forces behind a Toronto-based theatre company known for socially conscious, innovative work. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in June 2025.
Blue Jay Walker
Blue Jay Walker is a modern bard and the founder of Paper Rag. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in June 2025.
Victoria Koops
Victoria Koops is an award-winning YA author and practicing counsellor. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in July 2025.
Maza Arts Collective
Maza Arts Collective is a group of South Asian women and non-binary artists. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in August 2025.
Elio Zarrillo
Elio Zarrillo is a prairie-born queer playwright, poet, and performer. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in October 2025.
Writers-in-Residence 2024
Shawne Yukimi MacIntyre
Shawne Yukimi MacIntyre is a writer of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in January 2024.
Johnny D Trinh
Johnny D Trinh is an interdisciplinary and spoken-word artist based in Vancouver. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in February 2024.
Lisa Bird-Wilson
Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Métis and nêhiyaw author and poet from Saskatchewan. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in March 2024.
Eliza Robertson
Eliza Robertson is the author of the award-winning short story collection Wallflowers and the novel DemiGods. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in April 2024.
Bernadette Plazola
Bernadette Plazola is a music teacher and educator from El Centro, California. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in late May 2024.
Vinh Nguyen
Vinh Nguyen is an educator and writer living in Toronto. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June 2024.
Alvin Pang
Alvin Pang is a poet, writer, editor, anthologist, and translator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in July 2024.
Renite Manisha Gosal
Renite Manisha Gosal is a writer and spoken-word poet based in Vancouver. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in August 2024.
Eden Robinson
Eden Robinson is an award-winning author of five novels and a short story collection. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in September 2024.
André Préfontaine
André Préfontaine is an award-winning spoken word artist and poetry slam coach. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in October 2024.
Gordon Portman
Gordon Portman is a writer and performer experienced in theatres, classrooms, and rehearsal halls. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in October 2024.
Holly Timpener
Holly Timpener is a non-binary performance artist working in-depth with themes of Queer trauma and Queer resistance. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in November 2024.
Adonis Critter King
Adonis Critter King is a Black, non-binary, multi-disciplinary artist, director, producer, and activist. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in December 2024.
C.R. Avery
C.R. Avery is Canadian multi-instrumentalist and a beatboxing, spoken word author/performer. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in December 2024.
Matt Taylor
Matt Taylor is a jazz guitarist and adedicated educator, teaching music and directing at School of Rock. In residence at Joy Kogawa House in December 2024 and January 2025.
Writers-in-Residence 2023
Victor Yipp
Victor Yipp is an emerging writer who completed a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in 2007 after many years working in IT. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in January 2023.
Peter Mallett
Peter Mallett is a university professor and writer based in Kobe, Japan. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in February and March 2023.
Effie Pow
Effie Pow (she/they) is a writer/editor and cultural connector who lives and works in Vancouver. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in April 2023.
David Mura
David Mura is an Asian American poet, novelist, playwright, critic, and performance artist.In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in May 2023.
Johnny D Trinh
Johnny D Trinh is a community-engaged, interdisciplinary artist. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in late May and early June 2023.
Tom Gammarino
Tom Gammarino is an author, editor, and educator. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in June 2023.
Tāriq Malik
Tāriq Malik is a Vancouver-based author working across poetry, fiction, and visual arts. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House in July 2023.
Wayne Ng
Wayne Ng works as a social worker in Ottawa but lives to write, travel, eat and play, preferably all at the same time. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from August to September 30, 2023.
Karen Parrish
Karen Parrish is a poet and grief group facilitator with the Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House from October 1 to November 30, 2023.
Emi Sasagawa
Emi Sasagawa is an award-winning Brazilian-Japanese journalist living in Vancouver. Her work has been published by a range of publications, from The Washington Post to Room. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House during the first week of December, 2023.
Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho is the award-winning author of short stories and personal essays that have been published in anthologies and magazines. In residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House during the second week of December, 2023.
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.