National Writers Organizations

The Canadian Authors Association is Canada's national writing association. "Writers Helping Writers" is more than a motto -- it expresses our commitment to beginning and established writers alike.

The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is a national organization which brings writers together for the advancement of their collective interests. It is an organization which aims not only at embracing but also fostering diversity and inclusiveness in all their forms.

The Canadian Poetry Association's main aims are: To promote the reading, writing, publishing and preservation of poetry in Canada through the individual efforts of members; To promote communication among poets, publishers and the general public; To encourage leadership and participation from members and to encourage the formation and development of autonomous local chapters.

The League of Canadian Poets, a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and performing poets in Canada.

The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP) is a group of professionals in the field of children's
culture with members from all parts of Canada.

The Canadian Writers' Foundation is a registered charity authorized to collect and disburse funds to notable Canadian writers who, due to advancing years or infirmity, require financial assistance to meet their everyday needs.

The Editors' Association of Canada promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communications. Its 1,600-plus members, salaried and freelance, work with individuals and in the corporate, technical, government, non-profit, and publishing sectors.

The Association of Canadian Publishers represents over 140 Canadian-owned book publishers.

The Book and Periodical Council is the umbrella organization for associations involved in the writing and editing, publishing and manufacturing, distribution, and selling and lending of books and periodicals in Canada.

The Canadian Publishers' Council, as Canada's main English language book publishing trade association was founded in 1910 and represents the interests of publishing companies that publish books and other media for elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and reference markets, the retail and library sectors.

The Canadian Conference of the Arts represents 200,000 cultural workers, and provides valuable tax advice. Founded in 1945, CCA is Canada's oldest and largest arts advocacy group.

The Canadian Association of Journalists promotes excellence in journalism, encouraging investigative journalism.

The Canadian Media Guild is a democratic trade union, duly recognized and certified under federal and provincial labour legislation.

The Canadian Science Writers' Association (CSWA) is a national association with more than 450 members including media professionals, communications officers in science and technology institutions, technical writers and educators - all of whom are involved in communicating science and technology to non-specialist audiences.

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) is the national voice for education in Canada. It is the mechanism through which ministers consult and act on matters of mutual interest, and the instrument through which they consult and cooperate with national education organizations and the federal government. CMEC also represents the education interests of the provinces and territories internationally.

The Crime Writers of Canada is a national organization for Canadian crime writers, associated professionals, and anyone else with a serious interest in Canadian crime writing. Its mission is to promote Canadian crime writing and to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers from coast to coast.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people who are committed to bringing books and children together.

The Literary Translators' Association of Canada (LTAC/ATTLC) seeks to promote literary translation and to protect the interests of its members throughout the country. The Association's activities focus primarily on serving its members and on raising public awareness of quality in translation.

Library and Archives Canada is an innovative knowledge institution that combines the collections, services and staff expertise of the former National Library of Canada and National Archives of Canada. Our objective is to provide all Canadians with easy, one-stop access to the texts, photographs and other documents that reflect their cultural, social and political development.

The Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC)serves over 500 freelance writers across Canada with goals to develop and maintain professional standards in editor-writer relationships and to encourage higher industry standards and fees for all types of freelance writing.

Playwrights Guild of Canada (formerly Playwrights Union of Canada) is a national association of professional and emerging playwrights. It serves to publish and distribute scripts to encourage more productions of Canadian plays, and to provide programs and services that support, promote, and advocate for over 500 members.

The Writer's Studio is a creative writing program based at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC. Writers receive high-quality training in craft, critical thinking and professional skills while remaining inside the demands of their lives.

A charitable organization, the Writers’ Trust of Canada provides financial support to writers. Through its various initiatives, the Writers’ Trust celebrates and rewards the talents and achievements of Canada’s novelists, short story writers, poets, biographers, and other non-fiction writers.