Our Mission

PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of expression as a basic human right. PEN Canada promotes literature, defends freedom of expression, and aids persecuted writers - both those facing threats and abroad, and those living in exile in Canada.

About PEN CANADA

We are the Canadian chapter of PEN International, founded in England in 1921 to represent “Poets, Essayists and Novelists."

PEN has endured as the only world-wide organization of writers. It has grown to include centres on six continents, which sponsor International PEN Congresses held at least once a year.

The first PEN centre in Canada was founded in 1926 in Montreal. In 1983, the English-language centre, PEN Canada, moved to Toronto, while the French-speaking Centre quebecois du PEN continues its work in Montreal. The two Canadian PEN centres collaborate on various issues. Since then, PEN Canada has expanded to include journalists, playwrights, publishers, translators, editors and screenwriters. PEN Canada is one of the most active of the 141 centres of PEN International.

PEN Canada is a registered charity (#88916 2541 RR0001). Tax receipts are provided for all donations.