Writers’ Trust of Canada is accepting applications from writers to live and write at Berton House in Dawson City, Yukon in 2025 and 2026. The deadline to apply is February 24, 2025.

Four selected authors will be offered two-month residencies in the childhood home of noted Canadian author Pierre Berton. The home has operated as a writers’ residency since 1996. Residents will receive a $4,000 stipend and travel costs will be covered by Writers’ Trust. Writers-in-residence are required to perform two public readings: one at the Whitehorse Public Library and one at the Dawson City Community Library. As well, they are encouraged to engage further with the local community by holding writing workshops in the community, interacting with the public, participating in local events, and availing themselves and their work to local and national media.
 

To be eligible candidates must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• have published at least one book with a professional publishing house,
• be established in any literary creative discipline (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young readers, playwriting). Self-published writers or writers working in other genres are not eligible.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: February 24, 2025 (11:59pm PT). All applicants will be notified of the results in April 2025.

Applicants will be asked to indicate their preference for available residencies:

RESIDENCY PERIODS
 

• September/October 2025. Open to all eligible authors.
• November/December 2025. To honour our commitment to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in people, on whose land Berton House is situated, Writers’ Trust will bring an Indigenous author to the community during their traditional time for storytelling each fall. To be eligible for this residency, candidates must be First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit, and declare the Indigenous community or communities with which they are affiliated. Indigenous authors are welcome to apply for any of the available residencies and are not restricted to this dedicated residency.
• May/June 2026. Open to all eligible authors.
• July/Augst 2026. Open to all eligible authors.

How are applications assessed?

Applications will be judged by a three-person jury including authors and a Dawson City community member. In their assessment, jurors will place heavy emphasis on a candidate’s expression of interest in Berton House and will want to know why this program is the right match at this time (as opposed to any other residency program). Please note that applicants need not be working on projects related to the North to be Berton House writers-in-residence.

Special access and medical requirements?

We encourage all eligible writers to apply. Please contact the program director at any stage of the application process to discuss any specific mobility concerns, sensory impairments, medical requirements, or other issues you may have that affect your decision to apply to the program. Writers’ Trust aims to accommodate all writers and mitigate access barriers whenever possible.
 

Renovations completed in 2022 increased accessibility at Berton House so that more Canadian writers can benefit from this opportunity. It now has an access ramp from the driveway to the back entrance and accessibility within the house has been improved.
 

However, Berton House is a century-old home in a remote community. It may not provide the accessibility standards or services potential applicants may be accustomed to in their own communities. The house itself is a bungalow located on the southern edge of town. It is roughly 800 sq ft. It is cozy and comfortably accommodates one or two people, but it is not large or spacious.
 

Dawson City is not entirely accessible though many buildings in meet accessibility requirements. The city is serviced by unpaved roads and has sidewalks made of wood planks. These sidewalks are raised off the ground and not serviced by curb ramps. It is challenging to get a wheelchair from the unpaved road up onto the sidewalk. Sidewalks are shoveled during winter months, but the roads are not.
 

Dawson City’s hospital provides 24/7 emergency care. The medical clinic is housed in the same building and offers walk-in and scheduled appointments and has a retail pharmacy. Occupational or physical therapy is not a service typically provided in Dawson and may not be available.
 

Dawson City is serviced by Air North airlines and they provide as needed carry on/off service for persons with disabilities.
 

While Berton House has a no-pet policy, service animals are allowed.
 

For more information, please contact:

Amanda Hopkins, Program Director

ahopkins@writerstrust.com

416-504-8222