You have a story. We want to help you tell it. Join us at one of our free writing workshops - Action News
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Calgary

You have a story. We want to help you tell it. Join us at one of our free writing workshops

CBC Calgary has been facilitating a series of free community storytelling workshops. In writing and in photographs, we are here to help you tell your story.

Scroll down to read personal stories from your neighbours and community members

A graphic to promote the workshops.
In four sessions, you will be coached step-by-step in this creative writing process. Hone your skills, and if you like, pitch your story to CBC. (Lianne Sabourin/CBC )

No matter where you live, what you do in life, you have a story. And we want to hear it.

If you pour concrete to build the tallest towers downtown, what view does that give you on city life? What about your time as a nanny, a teacher or driving a taxi?Let us walk in your shoes a minute to see new sides of Calgary.

Scroll down to see examples of other stories written through these workshops.

Upcoming writing workshops

We ran two workshops in spring 2024 and will be planning others.

The workshops are being held as part of our ongoing partnership with the Calgary Public Library and other community supporters. If you'd like to be notified of upcomingworkshops, you can join a waiting list by emailing Elise at elise.stolte@cbc.ca.

Elise Stolte has 20 years of experience as a journalist, includingas a city columnist for a daily newspaper.

CBC Calgary hosts writing workshops in the community

2 years ago
Duration 1:00
You have a story and were here to help you tell it. Weve been working with folks from all walks of life to help bring their stories to life through our weekly writing workshops. Register for free and read some of the first person stories at cbc.ca/albertastories.

What toexpect

This is not about writing a whole memoir. It's writing one thread of your story an experience at work or in life that gave you a new perspective, a kindness you can't forget, or a challenge you pushed through.

It could be about work, adventure, parenting, growing up.

You pick aworkshop and try to make it to all four sessions. We'll have small writing challenges to help you build your story week by week and give you personal feedback. We'll talk about everything from where to begin, how to use key anecdotes and when a splash of colour can make your story come alive.

And don't worry if your English isn't perfect. We're there to support you.By the end, you should have a rough draft you're proud of and, if you like, you can pitch it to cbc.ca/calgary as a freelance contributor to ourFirst Person series. We're hoping you might!

Past workshops

Telling your story Forest Lawn, Crowfoot and Bassano

In spring2004, CBC Calgary partnered with the Calgary Public Library and the Bassano Memorial Library to run three workshops. Here are the stories we published from those communities so far.

War Stories Society

CBC Calgary partnered with the War Stories Society, which sponsors a monthly veterans' writing workshop that meets in Calgary at The Military Museums. Watch for their public reading at the Central Library this fall and check out their stories below.

Telling your story

  • What: Do you work in a shop, a daycare or maybe at a kitchen table? What is your work story, andhas it changed you?
  • When: May 2023
  • Where:Thanks to the Village Square branch of the Calgary Public Library for hosting.

Telling your story

  • What: Open-themed exploration of the stories in our everyday lives, like anact of kindness you won't ever forget.
  • When: April 2023
  • Where: Thanks to theSeton branch of the Calgary Public Library for hosting. Read the first pieces:

Just Your Story

  • What: Open-themed exploration of the stories in our everyday lives, like anact of kindness you won't ever forget.
  • When: November/December 2022.
  • Readthe stories at cbc.ca. Thanks to the Nicholls Family Libraryfor hosting.

Aging

  • What: Learned something the hard way? We want to hear from your lifetime of experience at this workshop on aging.
  • When: October 2022.
  • Readthe stories at cbc.ca. Thanks to the Kerby Centre for hosting.

Coping

  • What:Pandemic, inflation, life.How are you coping?
  • When: September 2022.
  • Readthe stories at cbc.ca. Thanks to the Calgary Public Library and the Women's Centre of Calgary for hosting.

Shift(ing) work

  • What: Tell us your stories of work how it's changed over the past few years and what it means to you.
  • When:August 2022.
  • Readthese stories at cbc.ca.Thanks to Calgary Public Library for hosting.

Source of strength?

  • What: Times are tough. What's your source of strength?
  • When:July 2022.
  • Read these stories on cbc.ca. Thanks to the Genesis Centre for hosting.

Stories from the Northern Hills

What: Stories from a collection of neighbourhoods in north central Calgary.
When:June 2022.
Read these stories on cbc.ca. Thanks to Vivo andthe Northern Hills Community Association for hosting.


'My Priority' 12 regular Albertans explain why they think the way they do this election

When: March-May 2023

Click here to read their pieces.


Where I belong a youth community photo project by CBC Calgary

Catch the photo installation at public libraries around the city through November.

When: January 2023

Click here for details.


A view on renting

Photography workshop telling stories of renting in Calgary.

When: May-June 2022.

Click here for details


Family Caregivers:The challenge and beauty of caring for frail loved ones at home

When: Fall 2021, held with help from Caregivers Alberta.

Read the results:


Do you have an idea for a theme? Is there a community you'd love to see us connect with or an organization that might help host? Reach out to Elise Stolte at elise.stolte@cbc.ca. We're hoping to bring theseworkshops toall parts of the city in time.