The outgoing artistic director of the Vancouver Writers Fest, Hal Wake previews the upcoming 30th annual gathering at Granville Island (16-22 October 2017), reflects on his 12 years at the festival, books and publishing, and his career in broadcasting, with Joseph Planta.
Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.
It really feels like fall in this town when the Writers Fest kicks off. And very shortly, the 30th edition will begin. Since 2005, Hal Wake has been its artistic director, and last year he announced it would be his last. He joins me now as he has for a number of years around this time of year to preview what’s to come. We’ll also reflect on these stellar years where the festival has just grown in attendance, sales, and the number of world class authors coming to Vancouver and filling Granville Island with readers this special week in October. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca [1]. This year there are well over 100 authors in nearly 100 events, and it’s all set to begin 16 October to 22 October 2017. There are, as is expected a number of sellouts already, so we’ll look to Hal to tell us what’s to look forward to. Before becoming the artistic director of the Writers Fest, Hal Wake had a distinguished career at the CBC, first producing on Peter Gzowski’s Morningside, and then hosting the morning program, Early Edition here in Vancouver until 1997. He trained as an actor and stage manager at Carleton University. I’m very pleased to welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Hal Wake; Mr. Wake, good morning.
Podcast: Play in new window [2] | Download [2] (43.0MB)
Subscribe: RSS [3]