Talk to any local who's lived in Whistler long enough and you'll discover most have an arsenal of adventure stories that they keep tucked away, ready to be doled out around the campfire or at a dinner party.
Now, they can win $100 for those tales. The Whistler Writing Society has launched the Outdoor Endurance and Survival Writing Contest, open to anyone in the Sea to Sky corridor (which means from Lillooet to Lions Bay). The entries can span literary genres — from poetry to creative non-fiction, fiction and spoken word.
As the title suggests, the theme is "outdoor endurance and survival," but writers can tackle either or both of those topics. The story, however, must take place outside.
There are three categories: open, Indigenous, and youth (up to 18 years old). Multiple entries are welcome, but make sure yours doesn't exceed 500 words.
One writer from each category will be chosen to read their submission at the Outdoor Endurance & Survival Reading Event, slated for Friday, April 13 at 7 p.m. at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. On top of $100 in cash, the winners will also receive two tickets to the event for guests and their submission will be published in the first edition of the Sea to Sky Review. (Other readers taking part in the event will be announced in the near future, organizers say.)
The deadline for entry is March 29. Send in your submission in at whistlerwritersfest.com under events.
WFF opens submissions
The Whistler Film Festival opened up its submissions to Canadian and international filmmakers last week.
The festival is currently accepting films of all lengths from various genres. The early bird deadline is in place until April 30. After that, organizers will accept films on a regular deadline until June 30 and then on a late film deadline until Aug. 15.
The December festival will feature seven juried competitive sections with 14 awards and a total of $146,000 in cash and prizes.
To find out more, or to submit, visit whistlerfilmfestival.com.
Take a workshop
Looking to learn a new, creative art form? Kylie Millar has you covered.
The local artist is hosting two workshops this month: the first is on pyrography (a.k.a. wood burning) on March 22 and the second is encaustic (a.k.a. pyrography, plus wax art) on March 29.
The classes can be taken together or separately with both resulting in art you can take home. Millar, a Pemberton-based fine arts graduate from UBC Okanagan, will teach participants about using different lines, textures, shading and layering.
They'll also learn about making collages with wax, incorporating images and layering with other media.
Participants must be 13 or older. The pyrography class is $45 for Arts Whistler members and $50 for non-members. The encaustic class is $60 for members and $65 for non-members.
For more information or to register, visit artswhistler.com.
