Library names Ariel Gordon writer-in-residence
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/09/2025 (373 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeg author Ariel Gordon has been named the Winnipeg Public Library’s writer-in-residence for 2025-2026.
A Free Press copy editor, Gordon is the author of seven books, including non-fiction volumes Treed: Walking in Canada’s Urban Forests and Fungal: Foraging in the Urban Forest.
In addition to poetry collaborations such as Siteseeing, co-written with Brenda Schmidt, Gordon has authored a forthcoming book of fiction for younger readers, Blood Letters, with illustrations by local artist GMB Chomichuk.
Mike Deal photo
Ariel Gordon
“I joined the writing and publishing community when I was 19, and I was always someone that felt like I needed to take advantage of these writers-in-residence,” says Gordon, 52. “It was always sort of a dream that I might get there, that I might be able to work in this role.”
Gordon will serve as the library’s writer-in-residence from Oct. 1 until April 30, 2026; among her tasks will be providing one-on-one consultations with writers and offering writing workshops.
“I really believe in community — that we’re stronger when we’re together, when we work together,” she says. “Writing is such a solitary task, but launching books, doing readings and attending workshops and supporting each other can help us be not so lonely in that work.
“I like both phases — I really like writing and editing, that time to see what I think and to work through craft, but then I also really love being in the community.”
In addition to helping other writers, Gordon will also be working on her own material, including her next work of non-fiction, Stumped: Mourning in the Urban Forest, set to be published by Wolsak & Wynn in fall 2026.
“It’s about losing my 112-year-old boulevard elm to Dutch elm disease, about eco-anxiety and losing trees to development and climate change, and how I’m trying to deal with that, but still try to work from a place of hope and optimism.”
Previous writers-in-residence at the Winnipeg Public Library include local literary luminaries such as Joan Thomas, Miriam Toews, Di Brandt and David Bergen as well as authors that were pivotal to Gordon’s development as a writer.
“Anne Szumigalski and Sandra Birdsell are foundational writers for me — to think that I would be on a list that they were on is exciting, a real milestone for me, one that’s meaningful. As a mid-career writer, this is an achievement I’m really proud of — and I haven’t even done anything yet,” she says, laughing.
books@freepress.mb.ca
Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ben Sigurdson
Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press‘s literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben.
In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press’s editing team before being posted online or published in print. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Related Articles
Wolseley resident wants to remind us all why elms matter
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us
History
Updated on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 6:13 PM CDT: Minor edits
