Book fair highlights Quebec’s thriving English writing culture [Video]

The room was packed earlier this week when The Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) held its annual gala under the theme “Reflecting on the Future.” Despite English being a linguistic minority in the province, the consensus among the crowd was that English writing is still a vibrant part of Quebec culture.

“I think there was a time when people thought the industry was going to die away, but from our evidence, it’s clear that’s not happening,” says Lori Schubert, the QWF’s executive director.

According to Schubert, QWF membership has never been higher, with 935 members and counting. The organization supports the province’s English writers through its many workshops, mentorship programs and awards.

“We have a fantastic community of English language writers in Quebec,” she says. “People aren’t always aware of that, especially in the rest of the country. They think of Quebec as being a hotbed of French literature, which it …