Writers in Exile
A community of journalists, poets, editors, translators, essayists and playwrights who have fled threats or persecution in their homelands related to their writing.
PEN Canada provides solidarity and support for writers living in exile in Canada.
Through our program and community, members can develop their professional skills with residencies, workshops, public performances, and a broad range of formal and informal support.
How we can help:
- Newcomers can receive assistance with refugee claims and/or be accompanied to refugee hearings by Canadian writers;
- Our office can provide written confirmation of a claimant’s professional credentials;
- Members can be connected to media who can share their stories and raise public awareness of the reasons for their exile;
- Members can meet with mentors and Canadian media workers who offer advice and guidance
Join the Community
Across Canada, PEN has created a community for writers who have been displaced from their homelands, fleeing extraordinary hardship, including threats of violence, imprisonment, torture and death.
Members offer each other solidarity, acting through their shared experiences. Through our program, members can access workshops, events, and formal and informal support.
Joan Leishman Memorial Fund
A new initiative in support of writers living in exile
Joan Leishman was a remarkable journalist and a cherished mentor to members of the PEN Canada Writers in Exile group. She died in August 2025 in a tragic accident that rocked her family, friends, and everyone at PEN who knew her.
To honour Joan’s memory, PEN Canada has established the Joan Leishman Memorial Fund, which provides urgent assistance and critical support directly to exiled writers living in Canada. The fund may also be used to help certain exiled writers advance their professional careers.
Apply for a Residency or Scholarship
Gaining work experience and education in Canada can be central to success after immigrating.
For Writers in Exile members, PEN maintains several placements in residency programs at universities and other institutions, with arm’s length selection committees choosing the recipients.
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