Society and culture

Have your ideas heard

Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture welcomes new Writer-in-Residence.

Woman wearing glasses, a tshirt with the Captain America shield on it and a cape, stands with her hands on her hips.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
CCWOC's Winter 2026 Writer-In-Residence, Sonya Ballantyne.
CCWOC's Winter 2026 Writer-In-Residence, Sonya Ballantyne.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
By

Erik Harju

Disclaimer: References of suicide.

Sonya Ballantyne [BA(Hons)/2008] is the Winter 2026 Writer-In-Residence at the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture (CCWOC). As Writer-in-Residence until April 2026, Sonya will host free workshops as well as offer students and community members guidance on their own creative works. The residency brings in talented creatives from across the country to work with budding writers and storytellers from a variety of disciplines. 

Making her mark 

Ballantyne is an established writer, filmmaker and speaker from Misipawistik, a First Nations community bordering Grand Rapids, Manitoba. Her work explores contemporary and futuristic portrayals of Indigenous women and girls. Her award-winning projects include the documentary Nosisim (2024 Barry Lank Award) and the graphic novel Little by Little (In The Margins, 2025 Top Ten Title). Her film The Death Tour screened at Cannes in 2023 with a world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2024. Additionally, she has worked as a sensitivity consultant on major video game projects such as God of War: Ragnarok (Santa Monica Studios/Sony Publishing) and The Walking Dead (Telltale Games).

The Centre’s Director, Jocelyn Thorpe, opened the event with a light fare of snacks and beverages, and after a few minutes, introduced Ballantyne to the attendees. She had prepared a creative piece to share, titled “How Bono Saved My Life (Three Times).” Her story conveyed the experience of a young Indigenous woman who faced numerous hardships while growing up, with three main events that drove her to the brink of taking her own life. All three of those events were saved in unique ways by her love for Bono, global activist and lead vocalist of the band U2. The themes in the piece began with darkness, eventually building up to a positive outcome, leaving the attendees feeling emotional at the end of the performance.

Creating her own characters

Ballantyne is a master in storytelling, and her work shows her passion and expertise in crafting riveting stories and captivating audiences of all varieties. Thorpe, had this to say about welcoming Sonya as CCWOC’s latest Writer-In-Residence, “ever since I saw Sonya’s first film, Crash Site, I have been a big fan of her work. When Sonya was a kid, she didn’t see Indigenous superheroes on TV or in movies. She solved that problem by writing her own characters and bringing them to life on-screen and in print. Sonya’s enthusiasm and sense of humour make her a joy to be around, and she is an amazing person to talk to about ideas for creative projects. If you need an idea, she has twenty. If you want support and guidance, please attend her workshops and meet with her one-on-one.”

Two women presenting at the front of a classroom full of students.
J. Thorpe addresses the audience at the welcome event. Credit: F. Waddell
I hope to bring my knowledge from the last twenty years to the students and faculty of UM. I am glad to see how much has changed since I was a student.

Sonya Ballantyne

Ballantyne herself shared some words on her position as Writer-in-Residence, "I feel really honoured to return to UM as a Writer-In-Residence. When I was a student twenty or so years ago, I was in a completely different place than I am now, and the university was in a different place too. I remember dealing with racism during my time as a student and the Indigenous Student Centre was two offices and a boardroom that we shared with the International Students Centre. Now the Indigenous Students Centre has its own building and there are more Neechi students on campus. I hope to bring my knowledge from the last twenty years to the students and faculty of UM. I am glad to see how much has changed since I was a student."

Woman presenting at the front of a classroom. She is looking up at a large screen.
S. Ballantyne presents to aspiring writers at the 2026 welcome event. Credit: F. Waddell

The Centre is offering students, faculty, staff and alumni the opportunity to hone their own skills in creative writing and storytelling. You can book a one-on-one session with Sonya to get feedback on your creative works, as well as attend one of Ballantyne’s workshops to gain valuable knowledge on how to advance your creative ambitions. 

For more information on how to get in touch with Ballantyne and/or attend one of the free workshops, visit the Centre for Creative Writing and Oral Culture.

Consultations:
Interested writers can book a 30-minute consultation and submit up to ten pages of writing in advance (in 12-point font, double-spaced). Consultations can take place either in-person at UM or online. 

Workshops:
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Series 1: Graphic Novels
February 3, 2026 – Writing
February 10, 2026 – Artwork
February 24, 2026 – Putting it all together

Series 2: Screenwriting
March 3, 2026 – Sonya’s process
March 10, 2026 – Sonya’s collaborator Sage’s process
March 17, 2026 – Developing your process

Learn more

Boilerplate: Community

Creating space for everyone to thrive is more than a goal—it’s who we are. Fostering a vibrant community is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.

Faculty of Arts