What are get-togethers? They are opportunities to socialize and network with other SCBWI members, in person or online.
Local get-togethers sometimes address specific topics related to writing, illustrating, or both, or they may simply be a friendly, informal exchange of ideas, news, and some laughs. Members who live in your area are invited specifically, but all are welcome.
A sketch & scrawl is a specialized in-person get-together: a roving sketch-and-scribble party for illustrators and writers. Think “pub crawl” for a group of illustrators and writers, but swap out the pub for a variety of outdoor locations. The idea is to meet other SCBWI members, sketch pad and drawing tools in hand, to chat and draw and write in interesting spots outdoors. (A “sketch crawl” is basically the same thing, with perhaps more of a focus on illustration.) Our in-person get-togethers and sketch & scrawls are planned by local volunteer coordinators, who help SCBWI Canada East members connect with others living in their area. If you don’t live in any of the areas listed below, consider initiating a get-together in your area. Email Michelle Jodoin, the Regional Advisor, at canadaeast-ra@scbwi.org to get started.
Online, we offer Canada East Online Get-Togethers and Les rencontres en ligne de l’est du Canada East. These are hosted by members of our regional team and are open to all members across our region. They may be of particular interest to those who do not have access to an in-person get-together in their area. Our bimonthly Illustrators’ Online Get-Together, organized and hosted by our Illustrator Coordinator, welcomes illustrators and illustration enthusiasts from across our region. And our bi-monthly BIPOC Talk get-togethers, hosted by Nadia Hohn, offer our Black, Indigenous, or Person of Colour (BIPOC) members a comfortable space to talk about their experiences in publishing, meet other BIPOC creators, and share resources.
Note: Most of our local get-togethers have once again begun meeting in person, but they do still meet online once in a while. When get-togethers are online, all chapter members are welcome to attend any local get-together, regardless of where they live. That is one advantage of a virtual event—no driving five or fifteen hours just to go to lunch!
To join in the fun, please contact one of the coordinators (listed below) or keep an eye on the events calendar for upcoming get-togethers and sketch & scrawls.
BURLINGTON Get-Togethers: Elena Dee
KINGSTON / QUINTE Get-togethers: Peggy Collins
MONTREAL Get-togethers and Sketch & Scrawls: currently seeking a coordinator. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Regional Advisor, Michelle Jodoin.
SOUTH-WESTERN ONTARIO Get-togethers and Sketch & Scrawls: Jill Bogart and Christy Obalek
OTTAWA-GATINEAU AREA Get-togethers: Helen Mason
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Get-togethers: Alma Fullerton
GREATER TORONTO AREA Get-togethers: Annette Gaffney and Ann Marie Meyers Sketch & Scrawls: Ellie Arscott
CANADA EAST ONLINE GET-TOGETHERS Hosted by Regional Advisor Michelle Jodoin
LES RENCONTRES EN LIGNE DE L’EST DU CANADA EAST Hosted by Assistant Regional Advisor, Elena Dee
BIPOC TALKS Hosted by Nadia Hohn
ILLUSTRATORS’ GET-TOGETHERS (writers are welcome too!) Currently run by guest hosts.