Keeping literature alive in Winnipeg
Writers festival credits continued success to volunteers
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/09/2018 (2769 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For freelance writer and book-lover Heather Emberley, Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, is the perfect volunteer gig.
“I’ve been a voracious reader, my parents tell me, since I was three years old,” Emberley says.
“I see that reading changes lives, and I like to share that.”
Emberley is one of more than 70 volunteers involved with this year’s instalment of Thin Air, which takes place Sept. 21 to 29.
The annual festival welcomes writers from Canada and around the world for a week of readings, lectures, interviews, conversations, book launches and other events.
A retired school counsellor, Emberley first got involved with Thin Air more than 10 years ago.
For the past five years, she has volunteered at the afternoon events the festival holds at McNally Robinson Booksellers, where festival director Charlene Diehl interviews authors about their work.
Emberley greets guests, encourages them to fill out surveys and does whatever else needs to get done at the event.
“I’m there to represent Thin Air at the store and help in any way I can,” she says, adding later, “Thin Air is an important part of Winnipeg’s cultural scene.”
John Hill agrees. For Hill, volunteering with Thin Air is an opportunity to do something different from his daily work as the operations manager in a foundry and machine shop.
“My job is not arts-related at all, so volunteering at Thin Air is something I do every year to keep me exposed to what’s going on in the arts in the city,” he says.
Hill has been with the festival for close to a decade and typically volunteers in the festival’s hospitality suites, where writers can decompress before and after their speaking engagements.
“I do some writing and I do a lot of reading, so it’s kind of an opportunity to learn about authors I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise,” he says. “It gets me out and I get to meet like-minded people.”
Volunteers like Emberley and Hill are integral to Thin Air’s success, says Steve Locke, the festival’s volunteer manager.
“There’s just so much to do at the various events… and not enough staff to do all these tasks,” he says. “Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have a festival, really.”
Locke is still looking for volunteers to help at this year’s Thin Air.
The festival is particularly in need of drivers to shuttle writers to and from various locations, as well as hosts for its hospitality suites.
Anyone interested can register at thinairwinnipeg.ca/volunteer or email volunteer@thinairwinnipeg.ca for more information.
Festival staff try to build a sense of family into the event, Locke says, and volunteers are an important part of that.
“You have your writers, you have your audience members and you have your volunteers, and they’re all part of the community,” he says.
Emberley is looking forward to this year’s festival.
She has attended similar events in San Francisco and Whistler, B.C., but Thin Air is her favourite.
“It’s uniquely authentic in that you get to meet writers and hear their personal stories, as well as the stories of their books,” she says, adding that the festival boasts a number of free events. “It’s accessible and inviting.”
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — 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.
Volunteers needed
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, please contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can assist you in finding an opportunity. To learn more about its programs and services, go to volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The Red Ribbon Walk & Run is looking for help at the event on Sept. 23. Volunteers are needed for setup and take-down, volunteer hospitality, the kids area, serving as marshals and more. Apply at wfp.to/Ki4 or email redribbon@ninecircles.ca.
Caregiving with Confidence is seeking a volunteer in the Garden City area for its Time Out for Caregivers respite program. This program provides families of seniors relief by giving them a break from their duties. The volunteer will provide companionship through conversation, reading, etc. No housekeeping or personal care duties are required. Call 204-452-9491 or email volunteer@caregivingwithconfidence.org.
The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg is a long-term facility providing care for 84 residents since 1965. The board of directors is seeking board members, including the officer position of treasurer/finance chair. Members will contribute to the strategic direction and governance of this accredited facility within the framework provided by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. This is a minimum three-year term, starting in January, with the option to continue for another term. Send all expressions of interest and relevant credentials to CEO Sharon Wilms at swilms@tchw.com. For more information, call her at 204-453-4663, ext. 203.
Manitoba Riding for the Disabled, a therapeutic horseback-riding program for children with disabilities, is seeking volunteers to act as horse leaders or side walkers. A mandatory orientation will take place on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at West Wind Stables in Oak Bluff. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Horse experience is necessary to be a leader, but not required to be a side walker. For more information, go online to mrda.cc or phone 204-925-5905.
Habitat for Humanity Manitoba needs volunteers to help build a four-plex at 1860 Logan Ave., until Sept. 14. You must be 16 or older; all skill levels welcome. Habitat builds Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and provides everything you need, including steel-toed boots, hard hats and tools. To learn more, go to habitat.mb.ca, or sign up at habitatmbca.volunteerhub.com.
Manitoba Mutts is seeking a designer to create graphics to support marketing and public relations materials. Must have experience with design programs. Four to six hours per week. The organization is also seeking a web developer to help maintain and update the website, which is WordPress-based. The position is six-plus hours per week and is shared with another developer. Manitoba Mutts is also seeking a marketing assistant to create graphic concepts and key messaging for ongoing programs and fundraising projects. (This includes adoptables and supporting businesses.) Four to six hours per week. To apply for any of these positions, email recruit@manitobamutts.org.
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for people to join its team of dedicated volunteers who are prepared to help people impacted by disasters such as forest fires and floods. For more information, go to redcross.ca/volunteer, call 204-982-7330 or email vrs@redcross.ca.
Volunteer and celebrate Nuit Blanche at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Sept. 29. Ninety volunteers are needed for a variety of assignments. Day, early and late shifts are available, and orientation/training is provided. To apply, email volunteer@wag.ca before Sept. 8.
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron.
Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — 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.
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