After a strike forced the cancellation of its 2025 event, the Surrey International Writers’ Conference is raising $300,000 to secure its future.
Strike Forces Sudden Cancellation
The Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) — a cornerstone for Canadian writers for more than three decades — was forced to cancel its 2025 event after an ongoing labour dispute shut down its host venue, the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey, B.C. Organizers announced the cancellation in August, calling it the first in the event’s 33-year history and “entirely beyond our control.”
Major Fundraising Campaign Launched
On Monday, October 20, the SiWC Society launched an online appeal to raise $300,000. The campaign aims to replenish the conference’s depleted contingency fund and recover revenue lost due to the cancellation. The goal, said long-time coordinator Kathy Chung, is to “restore our contingency fund to pre-pandemic levels and ensure SiWC continues for years to come.”
Escalating Costs Hit Contingency Fund
According to Chung, the cost of running the annual conference has nearly doubled since 2019. The unplanned cancellation, she said, dealt a “huge hit” to financial reserves. “It’s October — and normally we’d be gathering right now to share stories, pitch books, and recharge our creative energy,” she wrote on SiWC’s website. “We’re asking our community to help us protect the future of this beloved event.”
Limited Progress Toward $300K Goal
Within three days of launch, the “Support the Surrey International Writers’ Conference” GoFundMe campaign had raised just over $5,000, a small fraction of its target. The appeal urges donors and writing supporters across Canada to share the fundraiser widely to help secure the conference’s 2026 return.
Labour Dispute Shuts Down Venue
The strike at the Sheraton Guildford began on July 5, when more than 140 hotel workers — represented by Unifor Local 3000 — walked off the job after rejecting a tentative agreement. Union members, including room attendants, front-desk staff, and banquet servers, have been without a contract since April 2024. With the hotel unable to host, SiWC organizers concluded there was “no viable alternative venue” at such short notice.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
Despite the setback, SiWC organizers remain committed to returning in October 2026. Plans are underway to rebuild financial stability and continue offering professional development to writers from across Canada and beyond. The society is calling on alumni, publishing professionals, and readers to help safeguard what has long been one of the country’s premier literary gatherings.
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