About Us
Our History
The Fraser Valley Writers Festival began as the Mission Writers & Readers Festival in 2008. Founded by the Lifetime Learning Centre Society, the MWRF ran for a decade before they passed operation of the festival to the University of the Fraser Valley’s English Department. The Festival now runs every fall at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus. ​
​
Unique in Canada, the FVWF commissions new writing from both established and up-and-coming authors. Past participants include Jordan Abel, Gurjinder Basran, Shashi Bhat, Lorna Crozier, Alicia Elliott, Marsha Lederman, Fiona Tinwei Lam, Jen Sookfong Lee, Harrison Mooney, Danny Ramadan, Waubgeshig Rice, David A Robertson and Michael V Smith.
​
Our Team
Rob Taylor
Artistic Director
Rob Taylor is the author of five poetry collections, including Weather and The News, which was a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Rob is also the editor of What the Poets Are Doing: Canadian Poets in Conversation and Best Canadian Poetry 2019. He teaches creative writing at the University of the Fraser Valley, and lives with his family in Port Moody, BC, on the unceded territories of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. roblucastaylor.com
Kiara Okonkwo
Event Manager
Kiara is a fourth year creative writing and media and communications student. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for The Cascade, UFV’s student newspaper and a Print Editor for SAD Magazine, a volunteer-run literary magazine based in Vancouver. In her spare time, Kiara enjoys watching reality TV with her mom.
Carly Fleming
Marketing Manager
Carly is a fourth year English Bachelor of Arts student with a concentration in creative writing. She has previously worked on the student-run board for UFV’s literary magazine Louden Singletree where one of her humble poems has been published. In her free time, Carly enjoys hiking and rock climbing with friends.