Located in Vancouver
Balancing the demands of caregiving with the focus required for sustained creative work can make dedicated writing time feel out of reach for parents. This residency is designed to ease those pressures by offering time, space, and financial support for parent-writers to immerse themselves in their craft.
Parenthood can be one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of a lifetime. Yet for writers, creative processes often compete with the invisible labour and daily responsibilities of caregiving, leaving little room for the sustained focus that literary work requires.
Through this residency, we aim to provide material support for parent-writers, not only through financial resources, but by offering a quiet space where their creative vision is prioritized. Our goal is to support the development of a work of fiction or non-fiction that pushes boundaries in form or content, and to provide the time and resources necessary for the writer to complete a polished draft ready for publication or submission.
Time Period:
Early March 2026
Remuneration:
- A $4,000 grant, delivered in two installments (half upon commencement, half upon completion).
- An additional $1,000 to support childcare needs or other caregiving costs.
- One month of personal access to our writing studio during opening hours — a quiet, work-only, semi-private space in our upstairs loft on Granville Island.
Application fee: Unspecified
Requirements:
This residency is intended for mid-career and established writers who are also parents or primary caregivers, with a demonstrated body of work and experience in their field.
Mid-career writers are those who have at least one published work of fiction or non-fiction (book, essay, or substantial piece in a reputable journal, magazine, or anthology). The successful candidate must be in the process of developing a significant literary presence.
Established writers are those with at least one published full-length book of fiction or nonfiction with an established publisher, or an equivalent body of work across respected magazines, journals, or anthologies. They must have a well-developed professional presence through readings, residencies, awards, or other literary recognitions.
We recognize that systemic barriers can shape the pathways through which writers gain recognition or build traditional literary credentials. We remain committed to maintaining a low barrier to access and will make exceptions to this criteria for candidates whose work demonstrates exceptional talent and originality, even if their formal record of publication is not extensive. Outstanding applications from such emerging writers will be given full consideration.
Additional eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be parents or primary caregivers of children or dependents.
- Applicants must currently reside in Canada, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Persons.
- While applicants are not required to reside in the Vancouver area, this residency prioritizes writers who are able to make full use of the studio space in person. The selected resident will be expected to work from our Granville Island studio regularly throughout the residency, as in-person engagement is a central component of the program. Exceptions will be made for applicants experiencing physical limitations to attend in person, though we ask that you specify this in your application.
- Writers must be actively working on a significant fiction or nonfiction project that displays a strong voice, a clear creative vision, and innovative potential.
Deadline:
Unspecified