Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture welcomes new Writer-in-Residence.
Disclaimer: References of suicide.
The Centre’s Director, Jocelyn Thorpe, opened the event with a light fare of snacks and beverages, and after a few minutes, introduced Ballantyne to the attendees. She had prepared a creative piece to share, titled “How Bono Saved My Life (Three Times).” Her story conveyed the experience of a young Indigenous woman who faced numerous hardships while growing up, with three main events that drove her to the brink of taking her own life. All three of those events were saved in unique ways by her love for Bono, global activist and lead vocalist of the band U2. The themes in the piece began with darkness, eventually building up to a positive outcome, leaving the attendees feeling emotional at the end of the performance.
Ballantyne is a master in storytelling, and her work shows her passion and expertise in crafting riveting stories and captivating audiences of all varieties. Thorpe, had this to say about welcoming Sonya as CCWOC’s latest Writer-In-Residence, “ever since I saw Sonya’s first film, Crash Site, I have been a big fan of her work. When Sonya was a kid, she didn’t see Indigenous superheroes on TV or in movies. She solved that problem by writing her own characters and bringing them to life on-screen and in print. Sonya’s enthusiasm and sense of humour make her a joy to be around, and she is an amazing person to talk to about ideas for creative projects. If you need an idea, she has twenty. If you want support and guidance, please attend her workshops and meet with her one-on-one.”
Ballantyne herself shared some words on her position as Writer-in-Residence, "I feel really honoured to return to UM as a Writer-In-Residence. When I was a student twenty or so years ago, I was in a completely different place than I am now, and the university was in a different place too. I remember dealing with racism during my time as a student and the Indigenous Student Centre was two offices and a boardroom that we shared with the International Students Centre. Now the Indigenous Students Centre has its own building and there are more Neechi students on campus. I hope to bring my knowledge from the last twenty years to the students and faculty of UM. I am glad to see how much has changed since I was a student."
For more information on how to get in touch with Ballantyne and/or attend one of the free workshops, visit the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture.
Consultations:
Interested writers can book a 30-minute consultation and submit up to ten pages of writing in advance (in 12-point font, double-spaced). Consultations can take place either in-person at UM or online.
Workshops:
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Series 1: Graphic Novels
February 3, 2026 – Writing
February 10, 2026 – Artwork
February 24, 2026 – Putting it all together
Series 2: Screenwriting
March 3, 2026 – Sonya’s process
March 10, 2026 – Sonya’s collaborator Sage’s process
March 17, 2026 – Developing your process
Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture welcomes new Writer-in-Residence.
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