Coffee Shop Winter 2024

January-April 2024

We are delighted to be back at the Bloor-Gladstone Library! Coffee Shop welcomed 12 participants who read, wrote, and shared for two hours each Friday. A supportive network of women dedicated to making time simply to write, Coffee Shop was informal and encouraging, based on creating, sharing and listening.  For more information, please visit our join page.

Fall 2023 Coffee Shop

September-December 2023

Returning to Bloor-Gladstone Library, Sister Writes launched Coffee Shop, a casual writing gathering inspired by the creative sparks often found in the ambient buzz of a coffee shop setting. These sessions aimed to foster and inspire writing practice by providing dedicated time to simply write. Coffee Shop is facilitated by seasoned participants from Sister Writes. For more information, please visit our join page.

Spring 2023 Writing Workshop

May-July 2023

Returning to Bloor-Gladstone Library, Sister Writes presented The Writing Workshop, our flagship program. Dedicated to reading texts closely, intepreting stories and discussing literary forms, The Writing Workshop is dedicated to helping participants polish their craft, finish, and edit stories.  For more information, please visit our join page.

Winter 2023 Writing Workshop

January-April 2023

The Writing Workshop, our premier program, focused on sharpening fiction and memoir craft. Participants read texts closely and refined their skills, completing and editing their stories. For more information, please visit our join page.

Zoom Workshops

January 2021 – March 2022

Sister Writes has re-convened on Zoom for three seasons, offering our flagship Writing Workshop. For more information, please visit our join page.

Winter 2022 Workshops

January – March 2022

Sister Writes winter Writing Workshop ran for 10 weeks on Zoom. For more information, please visit our join page.

Fall 2021 Workshops

September – December 2021

Sister Writes’ Fall Writing Workshop ran for 8 weeks on Zoom. Want to register? Here is more information on joining.

Spring 2021 Workshops

April – May 2021

Sister Writes’ Spring Writing Workshop ran for 8 weeks on Zoom. Find more information on joining here.

Winter 2021 Workshops

January – March 2021

Sister Writes’ Winter Writing Workshop ran for 8 weeks on Zoom. Find more information on joining here.

Guest Workshop with Poet Ruth Panofsky

Oct. 30, 2020

Poet and scholar Ruth Panofsky visits Sister Writes to discuss her new collection, Radiant Shards: Hoda’s North End Poems, a startlingly fresh and moving cycle of lyric poems in the voice of Hoda, a sex worker in Winnipeg’s North End and the title character in Adele Wiseman’s novel Crackpot.

Fall 2020 Zoom Sessions

Sept.-Dec. 2020

Our first series of Zoom sessions involved 15 women in collaborative writing workshops on Zoom.

Summer 2020 Zoom Sessions

May-July 2020

Our first series of Zoom sessions involved 12 women in collaborative writing classes led by peer facilitators.

Winter 2020 Session

January – March 2020

Our acclaimed writing workshop brought together 20 women for hands-on workshops at the Gladstone library.

The Work Issue Launch

Tuesday November 19, 2019

Women work longer hours for less pay in the jobs that make our city function. But where are the stories about women’s work? This issue is all about the unsung experiences (and ongoing inequalities) of women’s work. The magazine, which launched at Burdock to a standing-room only crowd, was a memorable evening of readings and celebration.

Workshop with Amber Dawn

Tuesday October 15, 2019

A guest workshop from the acclaimed novelist, poet, and non-fiction writer Amber Dawn covered fiction and memoir writing.

Workshop with Alexandra Kimball

Tuesday October 8, 2019

Sister Writes welcomed award-winning journalist Alexandra Kimball for a one-off workshop on writing memoir.

Sister Writes 3.1 Launch

January 21, 2019

Sister Writes 3.1 — stories about motherhood — is the culmination of our creative writing workshop program with an extraordinary group of young women who attend Jessie’s, The June Callwood Centre for Young Mothers. You can read more in this CBC.com coverage.

Sister Writes Wins Arts Bridges Award

January 2019

Sister Writes wins a 2018 Arts Bridges Award for Remarkable Achievement in Community Arts.

Winter 2019 Session

January – April 2019

The Writing Workshop, a 12-week program, runs at the Gladstone Library with 20 participants.

Fall 2018 Session

January – April 2018

The Writing Workshop, a 10-week program, runs at the Gladstone Library with 18 participants.

Sister Writes at Jessie’s

September – December 2018

Sister Writes brings its acclaimed workshops to Jessie’s, The June Callwood Centre for Young Mothers, for an eight week session facilitated by writer-mentors Kate Cayley, Lauren Kirshner, Hoa Nguyen, Souvankham Thammavongsa, and Andrea Thompson.

Summer 2018 Session

May – July 2018

The spring session of the Writing Workshop, a special 6-week program, runs at the Gladstone Library.

Winter 2018 Session

January – April 2018

The winter session of the Writing Workshop, a 10-week program, runs at the Gladstone Library.

Workshop at Maggie’s: The Sex Worker’s Outreach Project

March 30, 2018

Sister Writes presents a workshop at Maggie’s, Toronto’s Sex Worker Action Committee.

International Women’s Day Event

March 8, 2018

Sister Writes presents a celebration of women’s writings and achievements to mark International Women’s Day at the Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Issue 2.5 launch

December 17, 2017

Sister Writes launches issue 2.5 with live readings from 12 writers featured in the current magazine.

Fall 2017 session

September – December 2017

Sister Writes’ Writing Workshop continues with a 10-week session at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Workshop with Lynn Crosbie

August 27, 2017

Sister Writes’ welcomes acclaimed author Lynn Crosbie for a special one-off workshop.

Sister Writes in the Community Workshops

February – June 2017

Sister Writes in the Community Program delivers one-off workshops at seven agencies serving women: Street Haven, Times Change, YMCA Women’s Residence, East Mississauga Community Health Centre, YWCA Mother’s Residence, and Jessie’s, The June Callwood Centre.

Issues 2.3 and 2.4 launch

January 14, 2017

A double-header magazine launch featuring issues 2.3 and 2.4 and live readings from participants from two Sister Writes programs. With stories about love, sex, identity, and coming-of-age, this was an afternoon of readings, revelry, and unforgettable stories.

Sister Writes at the 519

September – December 2016

A Sister Writes in the Community workshop for trans women in association with The Sherbourne Community Health Centre at the 519.

Spring 2016 session

April  – July 2016

Ten weeks of workshops at Bloor-Gladstone Library with special writer guests.

Sister Writes: Mandarin Edition

April 7 and 14, 2016

Sister Writes presents two workshops in Mandarin for Sistering’s Mandarin language group.

Workshops with Mature Trans Sisters Program

April 5 and 12, 2016

Sister Writes presents two workshops at The Sherbourne Community Health Centre for the Mature Trans Women program.

Winter 2016 Program

January – April, 2016

Sister Writes presents 12 weeks of hands-on workshops at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Workshop with Farzana Doctor

January 8, 2016

Sister Writes presents a hands-on workshop with acclaimed author Farzana Doctor at Black Cat Gallery.

The Art of Writing Exhibition

January 2-10, 2016

A piece of writing is a work of art, but so is the process that brings it into being. The Art of Writing celebrates both the verb and the noun: the writers process of writing as well as the writing they produce. The exhibit began with the questions: Where do you write? What inspires you? Kate Schneider then took a walk around Toronto with each Sister Writes participant, and their portraits reveals their answers. The Art of Writing, which ran from January 2-9, 2016, took place at the storefront art space, The Black Cat.

Sister Writes 2.2 Launch

January 6, 2016

Equal parts exhibition and magazine launch, The Art of Writing was a tremendous finale to a productive year and celebration of the hard work, skill, and imagination of the women of Sister Writes.

Fall 2015 session

September – December 2015

Twelve weeks of hands-on workshops at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

OUT LOUD! Conference

October 27, 2015

Our two day conference for LGBTQ+ youth at Glad Day Bookstore with special guest workshops by Kate Cayley, Vivek Shraya, Zoe Whittall, and a photography presentation by Callan Field.

Community Workshops

Spring 2015

Sister Writes in the Community presents six workshops for women’s agencies across the GTA including Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, St. Felix House, Maggie’s, and more.

Summer 2015 session

Summer 2015

Sister Writes’ flagship program, The Writing Workshop, runs for ten weeks at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Launch of Issue 2.1

June 5, 2015

Sister Writes launches issue 2.1 at a community event at Bloor-Gladstone Library. Filled with fifteen stories, with cover art by participant Marsha Matheson, this issue is our biggest one yet.

Winter 2015 session

January – April 2015

Our acclaimed Writing Workshop engages 20 participants in a 12-week writing program, with special guest workshops by acclaimed poets, novelists, and fiction writers.

Fall 2014 session

September – December 2015

Our acclaimed Writing Workshop unrolls another 12-week session at Bloor-Gladstone Library with special guest workshops from acclaimed journalists, novelists, and poets.

Spring 2014 session

May – June 2014

Our acclaimed Writing Workshop focuses on memoir writing for this ten week session. Participants read acclaimed memoir by women writers from around the world and write their own narratives with support of our Editor-in-Residence.

Launch of Sister Writes 1.5

June 4, 2014

Our acclaimed Writing Workshop launches issue 1.5 at a celebration with live readings at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Visioning Session

March 25, 2014

Sister Writes participants gather for an afternoon-long meeting where we envision the future of Sister Writes. As a co-creative program that is participatory and collaborative, participants play an active role in directing the program and imagining its future.

Mandarin Workshop

March 22, 2014

Sister Writes’ Mandarin edition facilitated by experienced participants offers a three-hour writing workshop for 12 of Sistering’s Mandarin speaking clients.

Winter 2014 Session

January – April 2014

The Writing Workshop makes room for 15 new participants at this 12 week long writing workshop at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Fall 2013 Session

September – December 2014

The Writing Workshop reprises for 12 weeks of hands-on creative writing practice with guest workshops by acclaimed women writers.

Spring 2013 Session

April – June 2013

Our summer workshop runs for ten weeks with a focus on fiction and creative non-fiction writing and hands-on workshops where participants give and receive feedback on their work.

Launch of Sister Writes 1.4

May 4, 2013

We kick off the spring with the launch of Sister Writes 1.4, our flagship magazine published every spring by participants in the Sister Writes program.

Winter 2013 session

January – April 2013

Our winter workshop runs for ten weeks with appearances by guest writers including acclaimed poets, spoken word artists, and novelists.

Fall 2012 Session

September – December 2012

The Writing Workshop offers ten weeks of hands-on creative writing workshops facilitated by professional women writers.

Spring 2012 session

April – June 2012

Our third year of winter workshops kicks off with  12 weeks of writing workshops at Bloor-Gladstone Library.

Sister Writes 1.3 Launch

May 15, 2012

The launch of our third issue celebrates the talent, tenacity, and experiences of twelve women participants who contributed stories to this issue. With stories about motherhood, addiction, homelessness, and resilience, this issue traverses experiences that change women’s lives.

Winter 2012 session

December – April 2012

This winter’s workshops focus on memoir writing. Participants read memoir by a variety of diverse women authors and write short memoir pieces for publication in the magazine.

Fall 2011 Session

September  – December 2011

The Writing Workshop offers ten weeks of hands-on creative writing workshops facilitated by professional women writers.

Sister Writes 1.2 Launch

December 10, 2011

A celebration to launch Sister Writes 1.2, our second issue of the program magazine written and illustrated by Sister Writes participants.

Spring 2011 Session

April – June 2011

The Writing Workshop offers ten weeks of hands-on creative writing workshops facilitated by professional women writers.

Winter 2011 Session

December – April 2011

The Writing Workshop launches its winter session with twelve weeks of exciting hands-on workshops and writing classes for women who love to write.

Fall 2010 Session

September – December 2010

The Writing Workshop launches its winter session with twelve weeks of exciting hands-on workshops and writing classes for women who love to write.

Spring 2010 Session

April – June 2010

The Writing Workshop offers ten weeks of creative writing workshop at Sistering, a United Way organization empowering women since 1981.

Launch of Sister Writes 1.1

April 8, 2010

Sister Writes, the magazine of the Sister Writes program, launches at a packed event at Bloor-Gladstone Library with live readings. Our first issue is filled with stories by resilient and talented women writers who participated in the pilot program.

Winter 2010 Session (Pilot)

January – April 2010

Sister Writes, a creative writing program for women affected by marginalization, offers its first eight week session of workshops. Facilitated by professional women writers, this session was filled to capacity and ushered in the many years of workshops to come.