FAQs
The Wild Writers Literary Festival is a collective that consists of three presenting partners: The New Quarterly Literary Magazine, Words Worth Books, and the Balsillie school of International Affairs.
The Wild Writers Literary Festival is a festival that invites emerging and established Canadian writers from coast-to-coast to Waterloo Region for a three-day literary weekend. Our purpose is to bring readers and writers together to celebrate a love of literature while striving to encourage the next generation of writers through writing workshops.
Our festival programming committee decides which authors will be featured at the festival. If you would like to submit your interest to be featured at the festival, please contact us.
The 2024 Wild Writers Literary Festival will be held at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the Centre of International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Uptown Waterloo from Friday, November 1 to Sunday, November 3.
There are several Go Trains and Buses that make regular trips from the Greater Toronto Area to the Kitchener Downtown Transit Terminal daily. You can also check out VIA Rail for additional trains traveling to Kitchener. We also recommend Flix Bus as an alternative bus option that makes routine trips to Kitchener’s Downtown Bus terminal from Toronto as well as different regions of Ontario.
Upon arriving at the Downtown Kitchener Bus Station, you can either take the city bus or ION Light Rail from the Kitchener Market Station to the Waterloo Public Square Station. Once in Waterloo Public Square Station, you can walk over to the Balsillie School of International Affairs/CIGI.
The Balsillie School of International Affairs and CIGI are accessible via the ION Light Rail (Either the Willis Way stop or Waterloo Public Square stop) and the 7 Bus Route.
Additionally, bike racks are available at CIGI and the Balsillie, but please note that they are standard bike racks, not storage boxes.
All event venues are accessible by car and provide free parking.
Grey Silo Golf Club is accessible by car or the 202 Bus Route (Closest Stop is University Avenue/ New Bedford).
Free parking is available in the lot behind The Balsillie School of International Affairs (right off Father David Bauer) or across the street at the Museum Lot at Waterloo Park (83 Erb Street West).
We’d recommend bringing a water bottle with you, as water will be provided on site. If you are participating in writing workshops, we’d recommend bringing your favourite notebook and pen.
If you have any questions, you can ask any volunteer wearing a blue Wild Writers T-shirt for assistance.
Most definitely! There will be a book table, supplied by Words Worth Books, who will sell all of the books by our featured authors.
Yes, and it’s free! Water stations will be supplied in each event room and hallway.
Gourmet Lunch Boxes are available to pre-order in advance for Saturday’s festival programming. All orders must be submitted by Thursday, October 31st at 5P.M.
Of course! We would welcome your help. Each year, the festival recruits around 20-30 enthusiastic volunteers to ensure the festival runs smoothly. For more information on becoming a volunteer, please visit our Volunteer Page.