October 20, 2009
Award-winning author to be Writer in Residence in Prince Rupert
(October 20, 2009) The Vancouver International Writers Festival and BC Transmission Corporation are bringing award winning author Rukhsana Khan to Prince Rupert next week to set up shop at Charles Hays Secondary School as Writer-in-Residence. The residence is part of the Vancouver International Writers Festival’s Spreading the Word program for BC schools.
“This is such a tremendous opportunity for us. My principal and I were discussing ways to raise the library's profile and ways to improve student reading and writing. Many students just need a little encouragement and mentoring. I know we have many who will benefit from this generous program,” says Dianne Rabel, teacher-librarian at Charles Hays Secondary School.
From October 26–30, Khan will teach a creative writing class every day, present in-class readings to other CHSS classes and give a workshop about the writing process to CHSS staff. She will also be giving readings to students at Northwest Community College and Pineridge Elementary School. On Thursday evening, October 29, Khan will be at Rainforest Books for a reading and book signing.
“As a kid, I would have been first in line to take part in this program,” says Michael Witherly, BCTC’s Communications Manager. “BCTC is proud to support the Writer-in-Residence because we believe in nurturing and supporting tomorrow's leaders.”
“I love this country. I love discovering all the little nooks and crannies of it. I have never been to Prince Rupert. We passed by on the way to Alaska when I was a kid,” says Khan. “Having grown up in a small town in a little-known corner of Canada, it is a dream come true for me to come to this small city and share my hard-won expertise with students who, I bet, are not so different from the kid I was three decades ago.”
Rukhsana Khan is an award-winning author and storyteller whose books tell tales of India, Persia and the Middle East. Her own stories include The Roses in My Carpets; Muslim Child; Silly Chicken; Many Windows: Six Kids, Five Faiths, One Community; A New Life and her most recent book Wanting Mor. She has been shortlisted for the Ruth Schwartz Award and several readers’ choice awards, and is a frequent presenter at schools and conferences around the world. Khan lives in Toronto and will participate at this year’s Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival (October 18–25).
The Vancouver International Writers Festival’s Spreading the Word Schools program offers two writer-in-residence programs each year to communities that cannot attend the festival because of geographic and/or economic limitations. The program is sponsored by BC Transmission Corporation and supported by the Michael R. Shaw Outreach Program.
BC Transmission Corporation is the Crown corporation responsible for managing the province's publicly owned electrical transmission system. It’s BCTC’s job to move the power from where it is generated to where it is needed.
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For further information, contact:
Ilona Beiks
Education Coordinator
Vancouver International Writers Festival
604.215.9726
Michael Witherly
Communications Manager
BC Transmission Corporation
604.699.7267
