Nicholas Donaldson
Wendi Stewart has been selected for one of Canada’s greatest writing opportunities.
The Berton House Residency is Canada’s most sought-after writers’ retreat, and takes place in the historic home of Canadian writer Pierre Berton in Dawson City, Yukon.
It is open to professional writers who have published at least one book and have established themselves in a creative literary discipline.
Four writers are chosen at a time to take turns for a three-month stay to enjoy the local culture and work on upcoming professional projects.
Stewart’s stay will take place this October-December.
“This is a huge honour on so many levels,” said Stewart, who was born in 1955 and grew up in Alberton Township but now lives in Wolfville, N.S.
“I have been walking around my house with a giant grin on my face.”
Stewart remembered watching Berton as a panelist on “Front Page Challenge” and also reading his works.
She said she feels like the house is a “holy space” for her.
The Berton House is owned and operated by the Writers’ Trust of Canada, a charitable organization based in Toronto that supports Canadian writers and writing.
Since its beginnings as a writers’ residency in 1996, more than 70 Canadian writers have stayed in the house.
The purpose of the retreat is to give time and a remote location for writers to work.
“It is a modest home but should be quite comfortable; all the appliances should work,” Stewart joked.
This year, the program received 85 applications from writers across the country.
Stewart said being selected gives legitimacy to her writing.
“Only real writers get this opportunity,” she explained.
Taking up residence at the house after Stewart will be Lawrence Hill, author of “The Book of Negroes” and “The Illegal,” both past winners of the annual “Canada Reads” competition.
Stewart is excited to know that she’s getting the same opportunity and honour as such an important Canadian writer.
While at the Berton House, Stewart will be working on her new novel “War Paint,” a story about a white teacher at a First Nations’ school.
She said the story is inspired by her daughter, who taught at a First Nations’ school and was not accepted by the community because she was white.
“They asked, ‘What does a white teacher have to teach us,'” Stewart recalled.
“My daughter asked herself, ‘What do I have to offer?’
“She embraced that challenge and worked to reach out to those First Nations’ students,” added Stewart.
The story also is influenced by Stewart’s “distant Métis background” and some research her cousin has done into the family’s ancestry.
Stewart, whose first novel, “Meadowlark,” was published in 2015, said she is very excited to explore the Yukon and talk to people there as she works on her new novel.
“The book is very early in its first draft, with only about 10,000 words so far,” she noted.
Travel costs to and from Dawson City are covered, and the writer also receives a monthly stipend to cover food costs and other living expenses.
On her way there, Stewart first will stop in Whitehorse to give a reading and meet with writers to help them with their craft.
During their stay in Dawson City, the writers also are encouraged to meet with the public and engage with the local literary community, as well as hold writing workshops for the community.
