Outspoken Prince George writer Brian Fawcett will be returning to his hometown later this month and UNBC will be hosting a symposium on Northern BC writing in his honour.

Titled The Writing Way Up North, the symposium will feature panels on different aspects of Northern BC literature. The UNBC English program is currently inviting submissions from students and community members – the deadline for a one-page proposal is March 14. The symposium will be held on Wednesday, March 30, from 9am to 3pm.

The night before, well-known writer Brian Fawcett will be giving a talk and reading at the University. Born and raised in Prince George, Fawcett has been a controversial writer for decades. While he has published 14 books, he is particularly known in northern BC for Virtual Clearcut, an award-winning book that captures Fawcett’s continuing interest in his hometown, issues of globalization, and environmental degradation.

Fawcett has donated a significant portion of his personal records to the Northern BC Archives at UNBC. This collection includes textual, photographic, electronic and audio recordings dating from 1951 to 1995 relating to Brian Fawcett's personal and creative life as a poet, writer, editor, columnist, and social critic. Highlights of the archive include drafts of Fawcett’s early published works, his early notebooks and personal journals, unpublished poetry, and extensive correspondence with other well-known Canadian writers over the course of Fawcett’s literary career.

“Brian’s presentation and the writers’ symposium to follow is our expression of thanks to Brian for his contributions to UNBC and his continued advocacy of northern BC writing and writers,” says Rob Budde, a professor in the UNBC English program.

Brian Fawcett will be giving public talks on Tuesday, March 29 at 8pm in Agora room 7-150 (adjacent to the Security office).