History

Founding Editor David Evanier. Photo by Jon Paul Henry, who says it was "taken at the Douglas College Surrey Campus, on 140 Street, when the campii were still trailers joined together.

Founding editor David Evanier. Photo by John Paul Henry

1971

Mordecai Richler won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction for St. Urbain’s Horseman, Alice Munro’s Lives of Girls and Women is on bookstands, and author, poet, singer, songwriter Leonard Cohen released Songs of Love and Hate. Amidst all the free love and new ideas carried over from the Sixties, a certain EVENT was born.

The nascent literary magazine, whose mandate was to publish both accessible and challenging writing while striving for excellence in expression and intensity of experience, gave Canadian literary talents reason to pursue traditional and innovative works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction and critical reviews.

1981

After 10 years at its New Westminster home, EVENT needed to spread its wings and embarked on a new adventure across the Fraser River with a move to Kwantlen College. Six years later, a ripened and matured EVENT returned to Douglas College reborn as EVENT: The Douglas College Review.

1988

The following year, EVENT’s annual Non-Fiction Contest was established.

1993

For the up-and-coming or established contributor, EVENT introduced the Reading Service for Writers—an affordable, high-quality editing service.

2002

Three decades since its first issue, EVENT released the 30-year Retrospective Issue, a greatest hits anthology of the best in fiction and poetry.

2011

EVENT celebrates its 40th year.

EventTimeline_40year

2016

The magazine begins to print commissioned illustrations to complement the writing in each issue.

In the same year, EVENT holds its first annual Aboriginal Voices event at Douglas College, an evening of poetry and prose featuring readings by talented local Indigenous writers.

2017

EVENT introduces the Let Down Your Hair Speculative Writing Contest.

2021

In February, during the COVID pandemic, the magazine holds its first live virtual event, to an audience of more than 120 people.

Present

EVENT retains its mandate and the ideals of 1971, combined with emerging zest and sophistication, and remains as committed as ever to celebrating Canada’s new and seasoned writers.