Richmond's Writer-in-Residence

Taslim holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of King’s College in Halifax and has been widely published in outlets such as Maclean’s, WestCoast Families, and Peace Arch News. She is the winner of the 2022 Creative Nonfiction Collective/Humber Literary Review contest and a recipient of the 2021 Silver Canadian Online Publishing Award. In addition to co-editing the anthology Back Where I Came From: On Culture, Identity and Home (November 2024), she is currently working on an essay collection tracing her family’s journey across five generations and three continents.

Having spent her formative years in Richmond, Taslim is excited to give back to the community that shaped her. Her residency will focus on “Belonging in Canadian Literature”, creating a welcoming space for writers of all backgrounds to explore their own stories.

Taslim will lead a variety of free public programs designed to encourage literary exploration, creativity, and connection, including:

Creative Non-Fiction: Stories of Identity and Home (Ages 16+)
A four-session series examining themes of home and identity in Canadian literature.
Register now: #00399837

Memoir Writing: As Far as I Can See (Ages 55+)
A three-session workshop helping participants capture their life stories through the seasons.
Register Now: #00399839

Writing Circle: Writing for Self-Discovery (Ages 13-18)
Generate poetry and prose on self-care and identity in a supportive 1.5-hour workshop.
Register Now: Workshop at Richmond Public Library

Bilingual Poems (Ages 16+)
A two-session series exploring multilingual poetry and personal expression.
Register Now: Event at Richmond Public Library

This Is Us: Literary Journalism (Ages 16+)
A four-session intergenerational project focusing on creating collaborative memoir pieces.
Register Now: Story Project at Richmond Public Library

The Writer’s Life: From Process to Publishing
A panel discussion featuring guest writers and moderated by Taslim.
Register Now: Event at Richmond Public Library.

Celebration of Learning (Ages 16+)
A closing event featuring participant readings and a discussion on belonging in Canadian literature. Registrants of the 2025 Writer-in-Residence programs are invited to participate.

Now in its thirteenth year, the Richmond Writer-in-Residence program fosters a greater appreciation for Canadian writers and creative writing through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and public events. This annual program is a collaboration between Richmond Arts, Culture and Heritage Services and Richmond Public Library.

Richmond Public Library and Richmond Arts Centre, both located in the Richmond Cultural Centre, serve as the program’s home base. Easily accessible by transit, these vibrant spaces offer opportunities for community members to engage with the literary arts.

Past Richmond Writers-in-Residence include: Audrey Thomas, Lindi Nolte, Sonya Lalli, Lindsay Wong, Cynthia Sharp, Andrew Battershill, Nilofar Shidmehr, Karen X. Tulchinsky, Sally Stubbs, Mark Leiren-Young, Nancy Lee and Caroline Adderson

Richmond Public Library (RPL) has been proudly serving the Richmond community since 1976. RPL offers four branches as well as two book dispensers, is open 7 days a week, and offers a wealth of information which is available 24/7 at yourlibrary.ca. Its mission is to create opportunities for the community to learn, connect and belong.

Richmond Arts Centre is the City’s arts education and creation hub for courses, events, organizations and artists. Located on the 2nd floor of the Richmond Cultural Centre, Richmond Arts Centre offers a variety of courses taught by accomplished artist instructors. It is also home to a number of local Resident Arts Groups and connects the arts with communities through a variety of programs and events.