Youth Programming
Youth Education Programming
We reach more than 12,000 students across the province each year.
Vancouver Writers Fest offers students in Vancouver and across British Columbia the opportunity to interact with celebrated writers through a variety of programs. Discover how your students can engage with world-renowned writers or keep up to date on the latest, recommended releases by exploring our offerings.
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Festival Youth Events
Students from kindergarten to grade 12 can join us to hear from inspiring authors at the 2026 Festival, from October 18–25!
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Youth Writing Contest
Every spring: an Elementary School Writing Contest for grades 5–7, and a High School Writing Contest for grades 8–12.
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Writers in the Classroom
Free author visits to schools — 14 in-person visits across Metro Vancouver, October to December 2026.
Subscribe here to our Education Outreach mailing list for updates about all our youth programming.
Every spring
Youth Writing Contest
Every spring, the Vancouver Writers Fest launches a writing contest for short stories and personal essays. We’re thrilled to once again be organizing two writing contests for students in British Columbia: an Elementary School Writing Contest for grades 5–7, and a High School Writing Contest for grades 8–12.
Learn more about the Youth Writing Contest
Free author visits
Writers in the Classroom
Our popular Writers in the Classroom program returns for Fall 2026! Designed to connect children and youth to inspiring authors through live, interactive events, Writers in the Classroom provides free author visits to schools.
During each Writers in the Classroom event, authors typically read from their work, discuss their writing process and answer student questions. Author visits last approximately 60-75 minutes.
The deadline to apply for the Fall 2026 season has passed. If you applied, keep an eye on your inbox!
Writers in the Classroom is offered FREE of cost to schools, thanks to the support of the Government of British Columbia, Modo, Hamber Foundation, and Bonnie Mah.
Fall 2026 Writers in the Classroom Lineup
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Tanya Boteju
Book(s): Lake Life (Gr. 8–12)
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Joanna Cheek
Book(s): It’s Not You, It’s the World: A Mental Health Survival Guide for Us All (Gr. 11–12)
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Emily Chou
Book(s): On Your Way (Gr. 8–12)
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Faith Erin Hicks
Book(s): Inbetweens (Gr. 4–7)
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fanny kearse
Book(s): Writing and/or spoken word workshop for Gr. 5–12
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Sophie Li
Book(s): Last Night I Dreamed of Home (Gr. 8–12)
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Hayley Lowe
Book(s): Juni and the Anything Tree (Gr. 1–3)
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Willie Poll
Book(s): Minnow and A Salmon Story (Gr. 4–7)
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Danny Ramadan
Book(s): Salma Keeps Her Word (Gr. 3-4)
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Alex Ritany
Book(s): Maybe Tomorrow I’ll Know and All the Way Home (Gr. 8–12)
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Erika Rodriquez Medina
Book(s): Paulina and the Picadillo (Gr. 2–4)
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Coltrane Seesequasis
Book(s): The Crucible of Pain (Gr. 8–12)
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Kim Spencer
Book(s): Springtime in Kitkala (Gr. K–2)
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Robin Stevenson
Book(s): The Book of Jupiter (Gr. 5–9)
From the classroom
What teachers say
Thank you to the Vancouver Writers Fest for the virtual ‘Writers in the Classroom’ event with Indigenous author Michelle Good. Having an experienced author from a marginalized voice was very empowering for our students.
Our author visit was phenomenal! Students learned a lot about the writing process, but also about what makes a good story.
It is wonderful to see reluctant writers become unstoppable authors.
Teachers
Bring your class to the Festival
Find more information and apply for a subsidy for your school group on our Information for Teachers page.