2026 Exhibitors

Non-Profit

Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society
The Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society is a nonprofit organization located on the Sunshine Coast of BC. We're five years-old and have over 125 members. The highlight of our year is our Art & Words Festival in August. We published a quarterly literary magazine, "Not An Island."
www.scwes.ca

Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is a national non-profit organization for Canadian mystery and crime writers, associated professionals, and others with a serious interest in Canadian crime writing. Our mission is to promote Canadian crime writing and to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers with readers, reviewers, librarians, booksellers, and media.

The CWC is committed to fostering and promoting diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and equity within its membership and the larger Canadian crime publishing community.

We define diversity to include people of different backgrounds, ages, abilities, body shapes, racialized identities, cultures, nationalities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, beliefs, religions, socio-economic statuses, and more.

We firmly believe that our strength and success is built on promoting a wide range of voices and experiences within the scope of our mandate as a professional organization.
crimewriterscanada.com

Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature
The Dhahan Prize celebrates Punjabi language and literature by awarding a yearly prize for excellence in Punjabi Fiction.

The Dhahan Prize was created to call greater attention to the wealth of literary works produced in Punjabi around the world. The Prize encourages new writing by awarding $25,000 CAD annually to one “best book of fiction” published in either of the two Punjabi scripts, Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi. Two finalist prizes of $10,000 CAD are also awarded, with the provision that both scripts are represented among the three winners. As of 2024, an additional $6,000 CAD is awarded for the transliteration of winning books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi.
dhahanprize.com

BC Chapter of Canadian Authors Association
Canadian Authors Association provides writers with a wide variety of programs, services and resources to help them develop their skills in both the craft and the business of writing, enhance their ability to earn a living as a writer, and have access to a Canada-wide network of writers and publishing industry professionals. We are a membership-based organization for writers in all areas of the profession—aspiring, emerging and professional—in every genre and across all writing-related professions. As a not-for-profit national arts service organization, much of what we do benefits all writers. We advocate for the protection of rights and equitable treatment for writers. We help members promote their work through a members’ book catalogue, online directory, advertising opportunities, book fairs and readings. We provide information on awards, contests, opportunities, calls for submissions and writing conferences and retreats.
canadianauthors.org

Sisters in Crime - Canada West
We are a Canadian chapter of the Sisters in Crime organization, an international writing community of more than 3,600 worldwide members. Our mission is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Our goal is to bring the Western Canadian community of authors, librarians, booksellers and readers together. Although our focus is on women crime writers, we welcome all writers and book lovers. We support and encourage writers at every stage of their career. Chapter members benefit from writing challenges, workshops, retreats, guest speakers and member discounts. We are working to create a vibrant presence in Western Canada.
sinc-cw.ca

Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop (ACWW)
The Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop Society (ACWW) is a not-for-profit organization and is governed by a board of directors and executive team. The purpose of the Society is: to organize, sponsor, stage and otherwise promote cultural arts activities and events including festivals, presentations, demonstrations, exhibits, workshops and seminars involving Pacific Rim Asian Canadian literary arts, themes and interests conducted in the English language; to encourage public appreciation of the above through educational activities including cultural exchange and scholarship to foster public appreciation, awareness and community development through cultural events.
asiancanadianwriters.ca

Writers Union of Canada
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is the national organization of professionally published writers. TWUC was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers. With almost 3,000 members, TWUC advocates on behalf of writers’ collective interests, and delivers value to members through advocacy, community, and information. TWUC believes in a thriving, diverse Canadian culture that values and supports writers.
writersunion.ca

Friends of the VPL
The Friends of the VPL is a registered charity whose purpose is to support the Vancouver Public Library through fundrasing, advocacy, and volunteering. We promote used books sales and operate book'mark, The Library Store where we sell unique gift and VPL merchandise.
friendsofthevpl.ca

Magazine Association of BC
The Magazine Association of BC is a member-driven, not-for-profit organization which believes in the interconnected cultural and economic value of a vital British Columbia magazine publishing industry. MagsBC works to foster an environment where new magazines are nurtured, established magazines are supported, and magazine staff are able to develop their skills. Its originating and continuing purpose is to promote the value of the sector.
magsbc.com

West Coast Cultural Lab
West Coast Cultural Lab (WCCL) is a Vancouver-based non-profit dedicated to community storytelling, intergenerational connection, and the intersection of art and technology. We create across formats: print, live events, and digital tools, because we believe different people need different ways in.

Our flagship project, Vancouver On Ink, is a free printed publication distributed across the city — from libraries and cinemas to cafes and community spots — and catalogued in Library and Archives Canada and UBC Library.

Our readers choose what to read, not fed by an algorithm. Each issue opens a community call and pairs with a live event that brings people together. We also build small digital tools and share knowledge about how technology shapes everyday life because understanding the tools around us is part of being an informed, creative community.
wcculturallab.ca

Delta Literary Arts Society
The Delta Literary Arts Society (DLAS) is a community‑driven nonprofit dedicated to supporting writers and celebrating the literary arts across Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta. Over the past five years, DLAS has become a creative hub offering six free monthly events—two Writers’ Circles, a Writers’ Workshop, Pages & Passages, Words On Fire, and the online circle So You’re Writing a Novel—all designed to nurture local talent and keep the arts accessible to everyone.

DLAS also produces major community programs, including the COMPOSED Festival of Writing and its COMPOSED Short Film Festival, the Halloween‑themed dramatized short‑story event Killer Verse. Its new umbrella initiative, Write On Stage, supports playwrights at every level, including Page To Stage, a three-session workshop to help new playwrights bring a short piece to stage, and also this year’s featured stage production of the new play, The Specials, which ran for five evenings in February and March.
dlas.ca

Editors BC
Editors BC is the British Columbia branch of Editors Canada, a professional organization with members from coast to coast to coast, which promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communication. Our members, both salaried and freelance, work with individuals in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit, and publishing sectors.

The organization sponsors professional development seminars, promotes and maintains high standards of editing and publishing in Canada, establishes guidelines to help editors secure fair pay and good working conditions, helps both in-house and freelance editors to network, and cooperates with other publishing associations in areas of common concern.

The Federation of BC Writers
Promote excellence and professionalism in the literary arts in British Columbia.

Clarity NPO
At Clarity NPO, our journey starts with an understanding that nonprofits and charities are business leaders. We know you are changing the world. We want to help. As publisher of Joanne E Betzler's memoir Nothing to Discuss, Breaking From 20 Years of Intimate Partner Violence, I will represent her book and its upcoming launch in late September.
clarity-npo.ca

Writer/Author

Eyes on Books
Eyes on Books is a member-based marketing community designed for writers and authors. Rather than focusing on writing craft, the hub focuses on the business of being an author, including marketing strategies, pitching, promotion, and brand building.
https://www.eyesonbooks.ca

Brenda McCourt
Brenda McCourt is a retired lawyer who writes humourous pieces about regular life. Her first book, How to Train the Cat to Do the Dishes and other brilliant ideas, a collection of 50 of these pieces, was published in 2026. The book is available on Amazon.
brendamccourtwrites.com

Caitlin Demaris McKenna
Caitlin Demaris McKenna is a science fiction writer whose passion for the genre stretches back to her elementary school's Scholastic book fairs. She has chronicled the faraway worlds and strange beings of her imagination ever since. When not writing, she enjoys reading, gaming, and exploring the hiking trails near her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. She grew up in the Minnesota woods, where on clear winter nights, she would look up at the stars and wonder.
caitlindemarismckenna.com

Horror Writers' Association - Seattle
Maria Giakoumatos has been interested in all things spooky since she was too small to ride the fun roller coasters in amusement parks. She probably would have become a paranormal investigator if she wasn't afraid of the dark, so she settled for just writing about spirits. Her family often took her to church as a child, so that may explain some things. She is the author/mastermind behind the YA supernatural horror series The Infernal Symphony, along with a small handful of short stories, and is an active member of the Horror Writers' Association - Seattle Chapter. When she isn't writing her wacky stories, Maria spends her free time playing piano, video games, and exploring haunted locations. She currently lives in Renton, Washington, with her partner and little parrots Rowley and Sandwich.
authormariagiakoumatos.com

R.A. Dunne
R.A. Dunne makes her fiction debut with Kingdom Keeper—a sweeping coming-of-age tale of courage, friendship, and the triumph of light over darkness. Before stepping into the world of fantasy, Dunne’s writing focused on therapeutic recreation, including the 2020 publication Moments: From Extravagant Programs to Extraordinary Moments. Now, she’s thrilled to introduce readers to Odemog, Skeeter, and a loyal band of allies whose adventures in Mazgamor celebrate the power of unity and hope in this YA crossover fantasy adventure. Dunne lives along the Fraser River in New Westminster, British Columbia, a little corner of paradise that continues to inspire reflection, imagination, and the occasional mischievous squirrel.
radunne-author.com

Susan Cormier
Susan Cormier is a beekeeper, caretaker of assorted small critters, and author of the BC Bestseller and Canadian Non-Fiction Bestseller Dead Bees Still Sting: Tales of Life at the Edge of Nature. Hailed as "gorgeously-written and surprising" and full of "humour and insight," Dead Bees Still Sting is a collection of stories about living in the urban wildland interface of South Langley. Her lyrical essay “Advice to a New Beekeeper” won the 2022 CBC Prize in Nonfiction. She has also won or been shortlisted for such awards as CBC’s Prize in Poetry, Arc Magazine’s Poem of the Year, Anvil Press/SubTerrain Magazine’s Lush Triumphant, and the Federation of B.C. Writers’ Literary Writes award. Susan produces Vancouver Story Slam, Canada’s longest-running live indie storytelling competition.
susancormier.ca

Johanne Arsenault
I have 3 children's books: Youthful Matters, Making Sense of Emotions and Old Friend Fear. My last publication is my autobiography, Even a Flower Can Grow in the Ugliest of Places. My books are meant to enlighten and empower people.
https://books.friesenpress.com

Sean Leslie
Sean Leslie is a writer and director from Vancouver, BC.

He is the author of two novels - The World of Flying (2021) and The Sous Chef (2023).

The World of Flying - Science Fiction With the invention of the flying car, the Model H Barnstormer, land-cruising vehicles have been nearly wiped off the map. The story follows Stan Beverley, the founder and CEO of AirWay, and Oliver Dwyer, a construction worker whose wife and son tragically perished in a Barnstormer crash years ago.

The Sous Chef - Drama Matthew is the sous chef of the renowned French restaurant L'Endroit. Struggling with drug and alcohol addictions, Matthew tries to balance his work and home life, continuously attempting to keep up with the stressful responsibilities of working in a kitchen.

He has also written and directed two short films - Chosen (2024) and A Safe Space to Talk (2025). He is currently working on new projects in both novels and film.
seanlesliefilms.com

Writing Across Cultures
Lesley Hebert is a retired teacher of English as a second language who is fascinated with language and culture. When she travelled to Japan as a new grandmother, eager to understand the country where her daughter-in-law grew up, her struggles with cross-cultural family relationships inspired her travel memoir The Heart of Japan, published in 2026. Her poetry and award-winning stories have appeared online and in print publications including Beyond Words, Parabola, The First Line and several anthologies.  
heart-of-japan.ca

Creative nonfiction writer Marian Dodds interweaves her life experiences from the Arctic to Africa with threads of teaching, counselling, advocacy and international development. Her 2025 book, Tizita—A Memoir of Perseverance and Enchantment explores the existential underbelly of her years working in Ethiopia. Her writing has been published in Volumes 2 and 4 of the Federation of BC Writers Literary Contests Anthology, SFU Writers’ Studio Anthology: Emerge18, Above and Beyond—Canada’s Arctic Journal, PostScript Magazine and Teacher Magazine.  
mariandodds.ca

April dela Noche Milne
April dela Noche Milne is a mixed Filipino-Canadian illustrator and writer based in Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

April studied Fine Arts at Langara College and graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Emily Carr University. She contributed to the Cloudscape comics anthology The Witching Hours, and illustrated the middle-grade graphic novel The Blue Road: A fable of migration, which was named a Quill And Quire Best Book of the Year. A graduate of The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University, she is currently an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. April’s debut picture book as author and illustrator, Nora at Night, is forthcoming September 2026 with Kids Can Press.
aprilmilne.com

L. Lois
You ARE a Poet!

Vancouver poet, L. Lois, leads twice-monthly generative poetry workshops at Barclay Manor. Stop by our volunteer-manned table to experience the instant beauty of creating something personal and enduring. We'll have prompts to get you going and free prize draws to keep your poetry habit alive at home. One-hour critique service will be offered, depending on volunteer availability. Stop by to find out how to write a poem, where to submit your poems for publication, and how to get better connected to other Vancouverites who may-or-may-not consider themselves poets! L. Lois is an Associate Member of the League of Canadian Poets and her published work is featured at https://poeting.my.canva.site.

C. P. Boyko
Hi. I am a fiction writer. My published books are Blackouts, Psychology and Other Stories, Novelists, and The Children's War.
cpboyko.com

Jeff Cottrill
Jeff Cottrill is an award-winning fiction writer, poet, journalist, and spoken-word artist based in Toronto. He has headlined literary and performance series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., Ireland, France, and Australia for more than twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with irony, dark humour, and a satirical tone. Jeff's second novel, "Performance Reviews", was recently published by Alien Buddha Press, and his story "The Madness East of St. George" was the winner of last year's MoonLit Getaway short-fiction competition. In 2021, his poem "This Is Not Real Poetry" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He is also the former Literary Editor of Burning Effigy Press. Jeff likes movies, travel, and puppies.
JeffCottrill.com

Konn Lavery
Konn Lavery is a Canadian author whose award-winning fiction has reached the bestselling charts on Amazon and in his hometown of Edmonton. He currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Within his Dark Fantasy and Horror stories, he showcases both Canadian people and real locations within Canada. He loves sharing, and respecting, these wide ranges of geography and our diverse communities with readers. Konn’s writing has been self-published and published by Canadian, United Kingdom, and American publishers. Each of his stories are housed within the expanding universe known as the Macrocosm spanning across time and space. Storytelling enthralled Konn at a young age while he was a homeschooled vegetarian. Konn’s visual communication skills have been transcribed into the formatting and artwork found within his publications, supporting his fascination with transmedia storytelling.
konnlavery.com

Thomas Mark McKinnon
A dynamic thriller author who balances life between the fierce world of professional firefighting and creating captivating, adrenaline-fuelled plots for his readers. His experience with high-pressure, life-and-death situations fuels his storytelling and produces a gritty authenticity that resonates with his audience.
thomasmarkmckinnon.com

Toby Publishing
Toby Lermer is the creator of the Ella and Mark Early Reader Series, a five-book learn-to-read collection designed for Kindergarten and Grade 1 children. The series follows Ella and Mark, a sister and brother who live in Vancouver, Canada, and experience relatable adventures that help young readers build confidence through carefully selected sight words, colourful illustrations, and engaging stories. Based in Alberta, Canada, Toby created the series to provide families and teachers with modern, accessible early literacy resources.
ellaandmark.com

RCZ Author
RCZ is an indie dark fantasy author and creator of The Verdict Cycle, an apocalyptic saga where myth, nature, and humanity collide. Inspired by anime, film, folklore, and the strange feeling that the world is bigger than we are told, RCZ writes stories where wonder and terror share the same shadow.
Theverdictcycle.com

POEM: a poetry pop-up emporium
Warren Dean Fulton has been a micro press poetry publisher, event organizer, host, poetry collector and a variety of other literary influenced things since way back in the 1990's. "POEM; a poetry pop-up emporium" is a living archives of several publishing ventures, as well as a low budget DIY bookstore-like endeavour with poetry books, chapbooks, broadsides and other ephemera.
facebook.com/groups/1000685473699350

John Ward
John Ward is a Vancouver-based writer, filmmaker, and podcaster. His comic book credits include The Memory Machine, Acausal, Scratcher, and, Offbeats, and his fiction credits include Sweet Delicious Candy, Three Tokens for Mammon, and Consumed. He’s a graduate of the UCLA professional program in screenwriting and was a past recipient of the Telefilm Canada New Voices Award. He’s the creator and host of the 49 Degrees North Writers Podcast, has made award-winning short films such as Solus, Dollhouse, and Linda, and is the founder of Virtual Creator Con. John was previously a theoretical physicist, obtaining a PhD in string theory from Queen Mary University of London. He subsequently worked at CERN, the University of Iceland, and the University of Victoria, and now uses his science background to consult on film/TV projects.
arbutusfilms.com

Faye Bayko
I am a Canadian author of the Long Beach Mysteries series living in BC. I began as a freelance writer in Lethbridge, AB, back in the 1980s and have written everything from ad copy to feature stories as well as worked the odd full-time position as a newspaper journalist. The mystery series is my first venture into fiction but I will also be adding a non-fiction companion book.
fayebayko.ca

Winona Kent
Winona Kent was born in London, England. She immigrated to Canada with her parents at age three, and grew up in Regina,Saskatchewan, where she received her BA in English from the University of Regina. After settling in Vancouver, she graduated from UBC with an MFA in Creative Writing, and a Diploma in Writing for Screen and TV from Vancouver Film School. Winona writes mysteries featuring professional musician and accidental sleuth Jason Davey. Her stories combine music, humour, and intrigue as Jason repeatedly finds himself drawn into problems he never intended to solve. Her work has appeared in several crime fiction anthologies, including the Crime Wave series published by Sisters in Crime–Canada West. Salty Dog Blues was nominated as a finalist for Best Crime Novella in the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence. A Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada, Winona lives in New Westminster, BC with her husband and a concerning number of disobedient houseplants.
winonakent.com

Bryan C Doyle
Author of You and Tarot. A book teaching how to read tarot cards. I also conduct Tarot Readings.

Pint of Knowledge
I am a poet, spoken word, artist, host and self published author of 4 poetry books.

Lori Kosteneuk
Lori Kostenuk is a Canadian author whose books explore the connection between biblical wisdom, universal energy laws, and personal transformation. Her first book, The Laws of the Universe and the Bible, explores how universal principles are reflected in biblical teachings. Her latest book, Live By Divine Design: An Interactive Workbook for Aligning with Universal Truths Through Biblical Wisdom, offers practical exercises to help readers apply these principles in everyday life. An informal student of the Bible for more than forty years, Lori shares her insights through workshops, speaking engagements, and private coaching. She is also an artist and co-owner of a people development company specializing in workforce management and team behavioral science. Lori lives on a ranch in central Alberta with her husband, Orlyn, where she enjoys a quiet life surrounded by nature. She is passionate about helping people discover their own capacity for intentional, meaningful living.
lorikostenuk.com

LA Hancock
Lee-Anne Hancock is a retired Poison Information Specialist and has written her first non-fiction in a Commit Murder Accurately for Writers series. This series starts with poisonous plants and will continue with animals, pharmaceuticals and finally street drugs. She has just completed her first cozy mystery set in Crescent Beach, featuring a senior protagonist. Grounds for Murder in Crescent Beach will be published in mid-September.

Corbin Muck
Author, debut novel of Mystery fiction, HIGH WATER HEAVY, a PNW noir.

Parky Shuffle Initiative
Ryan Oevermann is a British Columbia author, Parkinson’s advocate, martial arts instructor, and public speaker. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at a young age, Ryan writes with humour and candour about living fully despite the challenges of the disease. His Chronicles of a Parky books have reached #1 in the Parkinson’s Disease category on Amazon Canada. His newest book, Parky Travels: Down Unda, follows his journey through New Zealand and Australia, blending travel, family, humour, mishaps, and the realities of exploring the world with Parkinson’s. Through his writing and advocacy, Ryan encourages others not to let a diagnosis make their world smaller.

Iona Monk, MA, RCC. Author of Happy for the Long Haul
Iona Monk MA, holds a master's degree in counselling psychology from the University of British Columbia and has been working with couples in private practice for over 25 years. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast, Relationship Dish, where she shares her own marital struggles to reduce the stigma about having issues in our romantic relationships and reduce the confusion about how to fix them. She has also attended couples counselling herself over the years as she has been working on her own 30 year marriage. Because Monk has sat on both sides of the therapy couch, her insights and strategies are invaluable. Her style is highly relatable and user friendly.

Donald Valeri
I am a retired lawyer and college professor, and now a writer. My first book, "The Origins of Servant Leadership" (2011) was also my doctoral thesis. In 2025, I wrote and published "Leaders of the Light in the Age of Great Awakening: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead."It is about spirituality based leadership and is more relevant today with what is unfolding on the planet than ever before. Here is a short synopsis from the book's cover: Many seers, mystics, astrologers, philosophers, even theologians have foreseen a new age that is birthing on planet Earth. Some call it the Age of Great Awakening, which is the term used in this book. It will be an age in which spirituality will prevail, and not religion, politics, finance, and material gain that now predominate human thinking. It will encompass and affect every facet of our lives, especially those who currently ‘rule’ over humanity. This book is about a new breed of leaders who are slowly emerging and will lead us differently

Retail

Enabling Arts
Enabling Arts is a multidisciplinary arts space focused on wellness through the arts. We host community events and workshops for sustainable creative practices in addition to selling books, local/ curated art, natural products, and more. Our goal is to create a community art hub by curating a unique selection of artistic offerings and events. Our space is open to rent for community art events, creative projects and book launches. We’re dedicated to providing a cozy atmosphere and quality products while working with marginalized and emerging artists to showcase their work.
enablingarts.com

Institution

Capilano University
As the only degree in B.C. integrating the study of literature and creative writing in one standalone program, the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Writing & Literature at Capilano University is the place for blossoming writers.

In the program, students apply their love of writing and literature to a range of creative and academic contexts, learn in small, engaging seminar classes from experienced faculty and gain the writing and research skills for various exciting careers. This four-year bachelor's degree offers two concentrations: Critical and Creative Writing and Literature and Culture. Both share a foundation of high-impact, immersive coursework and applied, experiential elements, including work-integrated learning opportunities. We also publish an annual literary journal, THE LIAR, as well as a bi-annual anthology with our campus imprint, CUE Books (Capilano University Editions.)
capilanou.ca

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Creative Writing Dept.
KPU Creative Writing is a home for those who love community, creativity and imagination. Our program offers award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and a rigorous approach to the discipline of writing.
kpu.ca/arts/creative-writing

SFU Continuing Studies--The Writers Studio and Editing Certificate
Want to hone your writing and editing skills? SFU Continuing Studies offers programs and courses focused on getting words on a page, and making them sing. Our online courses cover: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, editing and more. Join us to enhance your skills and grow your writing community.
sfu.ca/write

Artist/Artisan

bocchi projects
bocchi projects is a Canada-based self-publishing project that encourages and endorses small run book projects by independent artists, especially for those that take an experimental approach. Our mission is to promote a wide range of book works and inspire others to create their own. We collaborate and exhibit with others who are passionate about artist’s books and independent publication. Each year, bocchi exhibits at local and international art book and zine fairs, featuring self-published works by collaborators and independent book artists from Canada. We have participated in art book fairs in cities such as Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Taipei, and Tokyo.
heilamng.com

Ali Wyld
I’m a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, bibliophile, and coach.

My art—in all its forms—is rooted in a desire to disrupt the narrative and tell a damn good story. While seemingly wide-ranging, at its core, my art explores the human experience, using ceramic, textile and literary mediums. It is a form of rebellion, an act of devotion, and a way of engaging with and trying to understand the world.

I also happen to really love books. I love reading them, writing them, talking about them, collecting them, and making art about them. Books provide insight into our own lives and the lives of others, offer new perspectives, take us on wild adventures, and open our minds to new knowledge and deeper understanding of the world. A good book, at the right moment, can heal, it can inspire, it can quite literally change your life. Books are magic. I use them to guide my coaching practice (a method akin to bibliotherapy), helping others gain new perspectives on their journey.
https://www.aliwyld.com

Crow & Quill Studios
Purveyors of fine art photography, handcrafted cards, curious books, and the sort of tchotchkes that irresistibly attract crows and other discerning collectors. Every photograph we sell—including those on our cards—is printed on archival‑grade rag paper and signed by the photographer, made to last for many years. We believe art should spark curiosity, delight, and the occasional urge to stash it in a secret nest.
facebook.com/crow&quillstudios

instagram.com/crow&quillstudios

"Artyquotes"
I am a Printmaker artist and now a book writer. I have combined the two art forms to create my book called "Artyquotes" I write about the art that I am representing in this 200 page coffee picture book for adults.
Instagram. maryleighcampbell

Dawn Lo
Grown up in both Hong Kong and Canada, Dawn Lo is an illustrator whose work has appeared in picture books, zines, public art installations, and more. Besides drawing and reading, grocery shopping is one of her favourite activities. She enjoys visiting different grocery stores and discovering new snacks to share with friends! Her past picture book projects include: Hello Baby, It’s Me, Alfie by Maggie Hutchings, One Tiny Bubble by Karen Krossing and Sally’s Puppy Adventures by Andrew Larsen.
dawndawndawnillustration.com

Marcela J Villaca
Marcela J Villaca is a visual artist born and raised in Brazil who migrated to Coast Salish lands a decade ago. Her work tells stories of belonging, movement, play, and the many relations connecting humans and the land. She creates with pencils, acrylics, collage, watercolors, crayons, and digital tools. Marcela sells original artworks, art prints, and merch.
marcelajvillaca.com

Westcoast Calligraphy Society
The Westcoast Calligraphy Society is an enthusiastic group of people with a common bond–a love of all things calligraphic. We like to share our knowledge of design, colour, illustration, bookbinding, paper making and our other talents with everyone interested in the art of letters. Many of our members teach beginning and more advanced calligraphy throughout the Lower Mainland.
westcoastcalligraphy.com

Pink Art Witch
Hi there, I'm Nova and I'm adisabled, queer artist and author from Surrey. I've participated in the Word Vancouver festival before, and I'm excited to potentially participate again this year. In the last two years, I've sunk my focus into my webcomic, which I print and sell at markets like these, but I also create cute stickers, greeting cards, and art prints inspired by popular culture. I draw and print almost everything myself (I have a cricut and I'm not afraid to use it!), and when I'm not doing all of that, I'm working on any number of writing projects. Thanks for your consideration again this year!
http://www.pinkartwitch.com

Rhinobeetl Art
rhinobeetl is a comic artist and illustrator with a passion for the bizarre. Inspired by folklore, urban legend and superstition, rhinobeetl’s latest work revolves around pests, body horror and beloved monsters.
https://rhinobeetlportfolio.carrd.co

kuraluu
Inspired by Japanese manga and anime, kuraluu's style incorporates the changing of seasons and traditional patterns to bring you a unique visual storytelling experience. If you enjoy slice-of-life stories, cafe food, and the musings of being an artist, be sure to stop by!
https://kuraluu.carrd.co/

karen shangguan
karen shangguan is an artist and writer from vancouver, bc who specializes in poetic narratives and tactile drawings.
https://www.karenshangguan.com

Kyla Bourgh‍ ‍
Kyla Bourgh (b. 1978, Canada) is an author, visual artist, curator, and director of Atelier 8.18 in Vancouver, where she has curated over 60 artists since 2020. Her work focuses on community-building through collaborative and interdisciplinary practices. She holds an MFA from Emily Carr University and has participated in interna- tional residencies in Zürich and France. @kyborgi

Magazine

pulp MAG
pulp MAG is Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s literature and visual arts magazine. Made by students, the magazine acts as a touchstone for emerging writers and artists from Kwantlen and across Canada. We publish prose, poetry, and art three times per year, with copies of the latest issue available across KPU campuses and on our website. We want to give a platform to unique voices with important stories to tell, and we believe in the importance of artist recognition, exposure, paying our creative talent, and in building a strong community to hold the work.
pulpmag.ca

Satin Ire
Hello! We are a literary magazine currently celebrating our very first issue (CURRENTS). Our aim is to encourage new artists and celebrate all things odd and beautiful. We are based out of the San Juan Islands in Washington State USA, however I am an SFU graduate and have resided in Vancouver on and off since 2022. Satin Ire publishes works from both local and global writers and artists, including poetry, prose, creative nonfiction, and an array of visual art. Issue 01: CURRENTS is a journey informed by the changing of the tides and pointed towards the uncertainty, the excitement, and the indifference of different. Satin Ire is a magazine from artists to artists, ready to see it all through your eyes. We would absolutely love the opportunity to join and connect with the local Vancouver writing and arts community which helped us become who we are!
satinire.com

EVENT Magazine
EVENT publishes fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and book reviews three times per year. In every issue we present a diverse and compelling collection of work by established and new writers from Canada and around the world, and cover art by a BC photographer. Now in our 55th year, EVENT, published by Douglas College in New Westminster, is one of Western Canada’s longest-running literary magazines.
https://www.eventmagazine.ca/

PRISM International
PRISM international is a literary magazine located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people (Vancouver, BC). We publish three print issues a year, and run four contests. Our mandate is to publish the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world. Writing from PRISM has been featured in Best American Stories, Best American Essays and The Journey Prize Stories, amongst other noted publications.
https://prismmagazine.ca/

Eavesdrop Magazine & Multimedia Association
Eavesdrop Magazine is a literary arts nonprofit founded on the West Coast as Canada’s first queer audio-lit magazine. Our tone is inclusive, playful, and passionate. With a dedication to accessibility and uplifting underserved voices, we publish poetry, fiction, plays, CNF, comics, and visual art biannually in print, digital, and audio. Our goals are to connect our artists’ work with interested audiences who care, challenge elitism and inequality in the literary arts, and provide a safe space for people to explore niche aspects of human existence.
https://www.eavesdropmagazine.ca

Indigenous Brilliance / Room Magazine
The Indigenous Brilliance Collective is an arts collective dedicated to celebrating Indigenous women, trans, queer, and Two-Spirit storytellers. Founded in 2018 on the unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, xʷməθkʷəjˀəm, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, our work is grounded in Indigenous resurgence, relational accountability, and cross-cultural solidarity.

We plan to share a table with Room Magazine, a long-time partner and supporter of our work. Room is Canada’s oldest feminist literary magazine, published quarterly since 1975. Room publishes literature, art, and criticism by cis and trans women, trans men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people, and is committed to an intersectional feminist mandate centring 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disabled voices.
indigenousbrilliance.squarespace.com

The Capilano Review
Established in 1972, The Capilano Review is an interdisciplinary print magazine that publishes out of Vancouver, BC. Each biannual issue features full-colour art sections and artists’ projects, poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and reviews.
thecapilanoreview.com

Watershed Sentinel
The Watershed Sentinel is an independent magazine focused on environmental issues in BC and beyond. Voice of the grassroots environmental movement for 35 years, we publish the stories of community groups and thinkers, people working on the ground on issues such as water, oil and gas projects, climate change, GMOs, fish farming, Indigenous rights, and conservation efforts, etc.
watershedsentinel.ca

Portal magazine
Portal is an annual full-colour 96-page literary magazine that offers a gateway to accomplished short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, scripts, interviews, art, and photography by emerging writers.
portalmagazine.ca

subTerrain Magazine
subTerrain magazine is published 3 times a year from modest offices in East Vancouver, BC. We strive to produce a stimulating fusion of fiction, poetry, photography and graphic illustration from uprising Canadian, U.S. & International writers and artists.
www.subterrain.ca


SAD Magazine
SAD Mag is a volunteer-run, Vancouver-based nonprofit dedicated to showcasing emerging creatives through independently produced arts and culture media. SAD Mag covers local stories in art, design and identity - with a focus on fresh perspectives, striking visuals and bold experimentation.We are proud to be a launchpad for creative careers and a home for the weird, the earnest and the underrepresented. We are committed to learning, unlearning and prioritizing Indigenous voices in our community.
sadmag.ca

Kwiiahwas Presents | Little Bug Beads
We are two beaders - one from Haida Gwaii and the other Secwépemc, Syilx, and Mayan. We bead pins, keychains, lanyards, wristlets, various earrings, and so much more! We met as coworkers, then became best friends, and business partners. We have been vending for a year and always love branching out to new
instagram.com/beader_by_day

The Carnival of Glass
The Carnival of Glass is an immersive fantasy storytelling project delivered by post. Each monthly circulation features an original short story presented as an in-world newspaper, accompanied by additional articles, correspondence from the Ringmaster, and occasional artifacts that deepen the world beyond the page. It is designed to make receiving a story feel less like reading a publication and more like discovering something that has arrived from another world.

Publisher

Kalamalka Press / Hour Teeth
Since 1986, Kalamalka Press has published more than 40 books of poetry, fiction and literary criticism by both new and established writers. For its first 26 years, the editors focused on work that represented Canadian perspectives on a diverse array of issues: war, environmentalism, poetics, and memoir. In 2012, the press underwent an editorial shift and began publishing shorter, fine-press chapbooks that acquired through two competitions: the John Lent Poetry/Prose Award and the Three-Hour Short Story Contest. Kalamalka Press is integrated into Okanagan College's Writing & Publishing Diploma Program, giving students the chance to learn hands-on typesetting, letterpress printing, and bookbinding skills under the direction of award-winning designer and printer Jason Dewinetz.

Located on stolen Syilx lands and operated by kevin mcpherson eckhoff, Hour Teeth is a makeshift maker of shifty gimcracks and gimmicks like recycled motebooks, zines, nevery occasion cards, and chapbooks.
kalamalkapress.ca

Three Ocean Press
Three Ocean Press aims to provide unique points of view that help readers understand the world they live in. Our titles are carefully curated with an eye to publishing works of literary and social value.
https://www.threeoceanpress.com/

Anvil Press
After over 36 years of publishing, Anvil has firmly established itself as a publisher of progressive, contemporary Canadian literature with an entrenched urban sensibility. An award-winning publisher of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, Anvil has become known for its quality books and unconventional literary work. National — and local — in its vision, Anvil remains committed to its East Vancouver roots and doesn’t shy away from work from the wrong side of the tracks.
anvilpress.com

Midtown Press
We publish titles in French and English; with over 60 titles in print so far.
midtownpress.ca

Mythic Texture Media
Akem is a writer and artist that has illustrated picture books and written short stories in the spec fic and fantasy genre. Her background is as an artist in animation, based in Vancouver, BC. She self-publishes her books under Mythic Texture Media.
mythictexture.com

Cloudscape Comics Society
Cloudscape Comics Society has been serving the BC comics community for 18 years! First and foremost we are a collective of comic artists - aspiring, established, and everything in between - who support each other. Starting out rather small, Cloudscape dove into publishing and has focused on publishing local comic artists for as almost as long as the group has existed. Our goal is to uplift local artists, and we are often publishing artists who have never been published before, giving them a chance to break into the highly competitive market.
cloudscapecomics.com

Deborah Anne Kimberley
Deborah Anne Kimberley is a passionate author and storyteller who channels her life experiences into powerful narratives. Her books Depression Obsession, Psycho Bitches from Hell, and Running from the Demons reflect her journey through trauma, resilience, and self-discovery. Each work offers readers a glimpse into her struggles and triumphs, inviting them to connect with their own stories. With a raw and honest voice, Deborah Anne Kimberley crafts verses that resonate deeply, providing hope and understanding for those facing their own battles. Her writing is a testament to the healing power of words.

Publication Studio Guelph
Publication Studio prints and binds books by hand, creating original work with artists and writers we admire. It serves as a space for publication in its fullest sense: it doesn’t simply produce books, but also brings people together through the shared experience of reading. Every book is made one at a time by hand as needed. PS Guelph is one point within the Publication Studio global constellation, with sibling studios including: PS São Paulo, PS Montevideo, PS Paris, PS Glasgow, PS Hudson, PS Vancouver, and PS Pearl River Delta. We are drawn to work that engages with the social, political, and environmental issues of our time, including advanced capitalism, the climate crisis, and a shift towards anti-coloniality.
https://publicationstudio.biz/

Post Hypnotic Press Inc.
Post Hypnotic Press Inc. is a Canadian audiobook publisher and producer located in Burnaby, BC. We've been publishing audiobooks since 2010. In 2018, when Audible opened in Canada, we started to produce audiobooks for other publishers and authors. We have produced hundreds of audiobooks in a variety of genres, including solo, multicast, and 3D audio with full castes and surround sound effects. As an indie publisher, we have also published a few titles in print/ebook/audio, including classics, kids books, and business books, but our focus continued to be audiobook publishing and production.
posthypnoticpress.com

Granville Island Publishing

Granville Island Publishing is a hybrid publisher that behaves just like traditional publishing companies, except that we publish books using an author-subsidized business model. Our books meet traditional publishing standards, therefore are distributed to brick and mortar stores as well as on-line. The return to authors is a higher-than-industry-standard share of sales proceeds.

At Granville Island Publishing (GVIP), we assess and meet your publishing needs. Every author and every book is unique. We work with our authors to publish professional, beautiful-looking books. We do this while managing budgetary constraints, preserving the voice and message of your manuscript, and tailoring our services to meet your needs in order to achieve your goals.

Claraquel Ediciones

Claraquel Ediciones is an authorial and curatorial publishing project that seeks to inhabit the margins of traditional books. Its catalog will include visual and narrative essays, poetry, and fiction. Every publication—always illustrated—will feature at least one Argentine contributor, promoting the international projection of local authors and the circulation of foreign authors in Argentina.

Viviana Maidanik (b. 1990, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an illustrator, graphic designer (FADU-UBA), and director of Claraquel Ediciones. She is currently enrolled in the CUEx programs on Development and Management of Independent @claraquel.ediciones

Small Press/Printer

broke press
At broke press, the purpose of publishing is seen simply as getting art to an audience. broke press fulfills this mandate by producing chapbooks and poetry zines, by both emerging and established Canadian writers.

broke press publications are produced using a mix of modern and traditional bookmaking processes. Digitally designed and printed, broke press chapbooks are then hand-folded, -trimmed, and -bound. Great care is put into the production of each literary creation.

Located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, in Vernon, British Columbia, broke press is operated solely by Clare Thiessen, who acts as editor, designer, and book maker.
brokepress.ca

Wharfinger's Press
Wharfinger’s Press is a small, cooperative publishing house based out of Maple Ridge. We aim to show readers and writers alike what is possible, and help provide a fresh platform for emerging, unique talent that isn't restricted by genre or market trends. We prefer to represent the outsiders, outliers, misfits, rebels, under-privileged, under-represented, and neurodiverse and we work directly with our authors throughout the publishing process, providing transparency along the way. This is a labour of love, and we are drawn towards passion projects. Now in our fifth year, our library includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, illustrated works, graphic novels, and more.
wharfingerspress.com

Tiny Victories Press
Jenni Schweers is a solo mom whose life-changing journey through egg freezing and IVF inspired her to speak to women navigating the often-overlooked realities of fertility. Nearly missing out on motherhood while balancing career ambitions, Jenni is an advocate for normalizing conversations about reproductive health and encouraging earlier awareness and education. Me, Myself & IVF is a candid and deeply personal memoir that takes readers inside the emotional, physical, and financial realities of egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF), offering practical insights to help women better understand their fertility. Blending personal experience with actionable information, the book aims to inform, demystify, and empower readers to make confident choices about their reproductive futures.
tinyvictories.ca

Spellwings Press
Spellwings Press is a selective independent publisher based in British Columbia, Canada. We curate a focused list of fiction (primarily fantasy and romance) under the Spellwings imprint and guide each accepted title through editing, design, production, distribution, and release. We cultivate an active author and narrator community with a global membership, and often coordinate joint promotional activities. 

We release audiobooks through our audio division, Spellwings Audio, which includes a roster of over twenty-five narrators.
spellwingspress.com

New Society Publishers
New Society Publishers is an activist, solutions-oriented publisher focused on bringing you tools for a world of change. We care deeply about both what we publish and how we do business, and so the same thinker and doer approach permeates our in-house work and the books themselves. A certified B Corporation, we print on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, we are carbon neutral, and we print primarily in North America.
newsociety.com

Filidh Publishing

Small indie press mentoring and publishing local authors. After 23 years in business and more than 60 titles in print, now sponsoring book fairs, and events for readers/ writers too.
Filidhbooks.com

Spud Publishing Inc
Spud Publishing Inc. is a traditional indie publisher based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, currently serving writers in North America. We are an ever-growing publisher, owned by a creative team, and dedicated to making a fair and enjoyable experience for their partners. Spud Publishing believes in supporting and building a community that brings everyone out on top. At the end of the day, we want to create an experience that we would feel good about being a part of. We continue to prioritize the marriage of writing and art in all our endeavors, as we believe one is best served with the accompaniment of the other. And we are passionate about what we do!
spudpub.com

Flame Arrow Publishing
Flame Arrow Publishing is a Canadian independent publisher of speculative fiction based in British Columbia. The press publishes bold and imaginative stories in English and French, including novels, anthologies, and the long-running magazine Brins d’éternité. Flame Arrow focuses on speculative fiction that explores resilience, resistance, and rebirth, with a particular interest in hopepunk and visionary storytelling.
flamearrowpublishing.com

Community Group

Coast Mental Health
Over the years, the Rabble Rousers have created projects that continue to inspire change – from digital storytelling events and podcasts to public art, interactive magazines, and youth-led workshops. Each initiative has been designed by young people for young people, offering connection, creativity, and hope.

These efforts challenged stigma, fostered belonging, and proved what’s possible when lived experience leads the way.

We invite you to explore these projects that are not just about raising awareness, but are also about changing lives, fostering connection, and breaking down barriers young people face.

@coastrabblerouser on TikTok (2025) – Talking [and sharing musings on] mental health, survival, culture and chaos – straight from the clubhouse. ContemPLATE: An Interactive Self-Help Magazine (2025) – Empowering young people with tools for wellness and self-care. You Got This: Mental Health PSAs (2023) – Spreading messages of hope and resilience through public service announcement.
https://linktr.ee/coastrabblerousers

Childrens

Red + Blue Stories
Red + Blue Stories is a small storytelling studio focused on crafting compelling and memorable cross-media stories and narrative games for children. Founded in 2021 by Karl Kim and Julie Puech, the company creates unique products with bespoke stories and interactions seamlessly blending across multiple mediums.
redbluestories.com

Itty Bitty Bookshop
Itty Bitty Bookshop gives local children's authors the ability to sell their books at markets and events across Vancouver's lower mainland. All our pop-up locations are ran by the creators themselves and our community currently includes 40+ local authors & illustrators.
ittybittybookshop.ca

Dahee Im Illustration & Handmade Goods
Dahee Im is a Korean-Canadian illustrator based in Vancouver. Inspired by childhood memories, beloved objects, and stories that resonate across generations, she creates colourful, joyful, and playful work using gouache, crayons, and digital media. Alongside building her portfolio as an aspiring author-illustrator in children’s books, she also runs a small online shop, participates in local markets, and hosts creative workshops.
bydahee.com

A story of thoughts
Rindala Semaan is a Canadian writer, clinical counselor, social activist, and naturalist she will be presenting her bedtime story "Et si on dormait"? At word Vancouver 2026. This story is meant to be a tool for school aged children and their parents, to ease the fears of falling asleep. Rindala's work has appeared in francophone outlets and her text “Le terroir de teta” was published in the magazine A ciel ouvert this spring. You can read her blog on
astoryofthoughts.com

Hugo Badger
Hugo Badger, author of The Puffy Badger, is a Taiwanese visual artist and storyteller based in Vancouver. With an MFA in animation, Hugo works in visual effects and animation on major Hollywood productions. By night, he writes and illustrates stories for kids and adults, believing the best tales always start with a little trouble. His stories feature animal characters, told in simple language with thoughtful details that bring them to life.
hugobadger.com

Toby Publishing
Toby Lermer is the creator of the Ella and Mark Early Reader Series, a five-book learn-to-read collection designed for Kindergarten and Grade 1 children. The series follows Ella and Mark, a sister and brother who live in Vancouver, Canada, and experience relatable adventures that help young readers build confidence through carefully selected sight words, colourful illustrations, and engaging stories. Based in Alberta, Canada, Toby created the series to provide families and teachers with modern, accessible early literacy resources.
ellaandmark.com

JoiebyLise
The author and publisher of the Real Life Pets and Urban Animals series, Lise Boullard is a bilingual writer based in South Vancouver, British Columbia. She holds a Master of Publishing from Simon Fraser University and has more than fifteen years of experience in journalism and writing, with work appearing in Reader’s Digest Canada, The Vancouver Sun, Glacier Media, and other Canadian outlets.

Inspired by real animals and everyday moments, she creates picture books for kids ages 0-8 with each title available in French and English, that aim to teach kids empathy through simple, heartfelt stories. She is also passionate about supporting French language development and Francophone culture in Canada, rooted in her French heritage through her father. Link to books in Real Life Pets series: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GF4MTY42?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk Link to books in Urban Animals series: https://www.amazon.ca/Urban-Animals-Relaxing-bedtime-stories/dp/B0GGGX5N
joiebylise.com

Olga Lebed & Igor A. Karnovsky
Olga Lebed and Igor A. Karnovsky are Vancouver-area authors with lifelong backgrounds in engineering, mathematics, science, and education. Igor Karnovsky, D.Sc., is a professor and researcher with more than 50 years of experience in applied mathematics, structural mechanics, and vibration theory, and the author of numerous academic books published by Springer and McGraw-Hill. Olga Lebed, M.Eng., M.Sc., is a civil engineer with more than 25 years of experience in engineering, mathematics education, and software development, and has taught mathematics in Canada. Together, they have co-authored several technical books. Voices of the Past. Origins is their first historical adventure for young readers, bringing together their love of science, history, education, and storytelling.