PEN Canada
A Global Literary Community
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| Motto | For Freedom of Expression |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1926 |
| Type | Non-profit Organization, Literary society, Lobbying, |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Publication, Advocacy, Lobbying, Literary Awards |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 43°38′56″N 79°24′09″W / 43.648819°N 79.402571°W |
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Region served
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Canada |
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Official language
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English |
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President
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Randy Boyagoda |
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Key people
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Board of Directors |
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Parent organization
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International PEN |
| Affiliations | International Freedom of Expression Exchange |
| Website | pencanada |
| Remarks | PEN Canada is the representative of International Pen, for whole of Canada |
PEN Canada is one of the 148 centres of PEN International. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Since the founding, various PEN Centers around the world have campaigned on behalf of such acclaimed writers as Czech playwright Václav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, novelist Salman Rushdie and Turkey’s 2006 Nobel laureate in literature, Orhan Pamuk. PEN Canada is a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange network.
Over the years, PEN Canada membership has included many of the leading figures in the Canadian literary and cultural establishment, including Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Clarkson, John Ralston Saul, David Cronenberg and Yann Martel.
The Writers in Prison Committee advocates on behalf of 25-30 persecuted, imprisoned and murdered writers in countries such as Myanmar, China, Iran, Turkey, Mexico, Eritrea and Uzbekistan. Since January 2003, PEN Canada has seen the release from prison of 33 Honorary Members. International PEN's Day of the Imprisoned Writer is marked on November 15. The PEN Canada One Humanity Award honors a writer, journalist, academic or PEN Canada Honorary Member outside of Canada.
The Writers in Exile Network establishes partnerships with Canadian universities, colleges and other institutions to create placements for writers who have found asylum in Canada, so that they may re-professionalize their skills in their new country. The City of Toronto/PEN Canada Writer in Exile Fellowship allows a refugee writer to be a member of the Toronto Writers’ Centre for one year.
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Wikipedia