Library names Ariel Gordon writer-in-residence

Winnipeg author Ariel Gordon has been named the Winnipeg Public Library’s writer-in-residence for 2025-2026.

In addition to being 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.

“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 noteworthy writers from elsewhere, including pivotal poets to Gordon.

“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