Ian Niven covers the history of Writers In Electronic Residence: from its start in 1988 with Riverdale Collegiate (in Toronto, Ontario) and Cariboo High School (in Burnaby, British Columbia) interacting with Lionel Kearns (the first "writer-in-electronic-residence") through 1998, with over 20,000 students in 300+ schools who have participated with over 40 writers online.

Dr. Stan Shapson speaks about the Faculty of Education at York University's association with Writers In Electronic Residence. The Faculty administers the program, in partnership with The Writers' Development Trust and provides the essential technological needs for the program to run.

George Galt speaks about The Writers' Development Trust's work with WiER, in partnership with York University's Faculty of Education. One aspect of WiER particularly related to The WDT and Canadian writing is the program's promotion of new paid work for writers.

Caroline Venn speaks about TransCanada PipeLines' funding renewal of $250,000: bringing their total contribution to WiER to $500,000. This funding is applied directly to the fees of schools who participate from communities situated along TCPL's right-of-way (the program is known as "Write Of Way," in recognition of this feature).

Caroline Venn pauses as the people in attendance, including senior representatives from arts, education, business and technology constituencies as well as teachers, students and writers, applaud the funding renewal.

Emily Hearn, a Toronto children's writer who has worked at WiER's elementary level since it was implemented, introduces the students from Churchill Public School, who have participated for the entire length of the elementary program as well.

As Caroline Venn, Toronto Liaison Officer for TransCanada PipeLines, looks on, Churchill Public School students read their stories. Ken Stief (to right of Caroline Venn), a Superintendent for the Toronto District School Board, applauds.

Andrew, a Churchill Public School student, reads as Heather and Jennifer look on.

Heather, a Churchill Public School student, reads as Caroline Venn from TransCanada PipeLines, looks on.

Heather reads the response to her story, posted to WiER, from Robert Priest, a writer in electronic residence, after which Trevor Owen asks if she has ever met Priest. When she indicates "no" Robert Priest steps forward and they meet face-to-face for the first time. Caroline Venn from TransCanada PipeLines, who has sponsored Churchill's participation in WiER since the inception of TCPL's Write-Of-Way program, looks on.

Trevor Owen, the Founder and Program Director of Writers In Electronic Residence, talks about new initiatives WiER is undertaking. These include: "Telling a Different Story," a focussed-discussion project dealing with issues of race and culture being run in partnership with the Oakville Arts Council, the Halton Multicultural Council, the Junior League of Toronto and Bookers; Maclean's WiER, featuring a different Canadian writer online each month at the Maclean's web site (in April, Michael Lane will be featured -- a former WiER student and son of the first "parent-in-electonic-residence," Patrick Lane); and additional tenth-anniversary events, to be announced prior to Canada Book Day (April 23).

Ritz Chow, who participated in Writers In Electronic Residence as a student at Riverdale Collegiate in Toronto beginning in 1988 (WiER's inaugural year), read two of her recent poems, one of which is unpublished. She currently serves as an editor of Fireweed: A Feminist Quarterly.

Alice Lee, who participated in Writers In Electronic Residence as a student at Riverdale Collegiate in Toronto beginning in 1988 (WiER's inaugural year), reads her short story, which moved all of the people in attendance. Trevor Owen, WiER's Program Director, graciously holds the microphone.