Director/Coordinator: Gail Sidonie Sobat

is a multi-award-winning teacher and author, with twelve books for children, teens and adults, and a number of educational and academic articles. A Global News Woman of Vision and an Arts and Culture Citation Award recipient, she is the YouthWrite creator/ coordinator, an international presenter, an instructor in the professional writing program at MacEwan University and in the Faculty of Education at U of A. Gail was The Writers’ Union of Canada Regional Representative for Alberta, NWT and Nunavut, and writer in residence with the Metro Edmonton Federation of Libraries. 

She has moved forty times in her life from Badlands to Siksika Nation Reserve to hideous suburbs to Istanbul to the Sunshine Coast to her writer’s garret in a century-old temperamental house. She adores all of her Supers & Coordinators equally, and loves YouthWrite like a madwoman!

Board President: Thomas Trofimuk   

Thomas Trofimuk writes both poetry and fiction. He has published five novels, including The 52nd Poem, Doubting Yourself to the Bone, Waiting for Columbus, This is all a Lie, and The Elephant on Karlův Bridge – released in 2022. He has been actively involved with YouthWrite since its inception. He lives in Edmonton, and loves this city, even when it’s minus-40C.

Vice President: Conni Massing   

Conni is an award-winning writer working in theatre, film and television. Recent stage credits include Fresh Hell (Shadow Theatre); Matara and The Invention of Romance, both premiered by Workshop West Playwrights Theatre; Oh! Christmas Tree (Roxy Performance Series), and her widely produced stage adaptations of W.O Mitchell’s Jake and the Kid and Bruce Allen Powe’s The Aberhart Summer. Conni has worked as a writer and story editor on television series such as Mentors, The Beat, North of 60, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, Taking it Off and Family Restaurant. Film projects include Invisible, co-written with and directed by Neil Grahn, and Voila, directed by Geraldine Carr. Her published work includes seven plays and a full-length comic memoir, Roadtripping: On the Move with the Buffalo Gals. Conni is proud to be a long-time instructor for YouthWrite as well as vice-president of the YouthWrite Board.

Secretary: Sierra Rivet

Bio coming soon

Treasurer: Manoj Hakmanage

Bio coming soon

Member-at-large: Lauren Seal

Lauren Seal is a writer, book lover, and was St. Albert’s third Poet Laureate. She mentors the teen and young adult poets of SWYC, the Spoken Word Youth Choir, and performs in the adult incarnation of the group. Her debut novel-in-verse, Light Enough to Float, is forthcoming October 2024 from Rocky Pond Books. As a former YouthWriter, Lauren is thrilled to now sit on the YouthWrite board.

Member-at-large: Rebecca Lafond

Bio coming soon

Member-at-large: Natasha Deen 

Guyanese-Canadian NATASHA DEEN is a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal recipient and a best-selling author for kids, teens, and adults. Her novels include Lark Steals the Show (Crime Writers of Canada 2023 Award of Excellence Nominee), The Signs and Wonders of Tuna Rashad (a Globe & Mail's Top 100 Books for 2022), and Spooky Sleuths: Don’t Go Near the Water (A 2023 CCBC Best Pick for Kids & Teens). When she’s not writing, she teaches with the University of Toronto SCS and spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Visit Natasha at www.natashadeen.com.

Member-at-large: Jodie Kachkar

is a stage designer/manager, writer and mediocre skateboarder. As a longtime
camper and member of SWYC (Edmonton's Spoken Word Youth Choir), Andy has spent her years with YouthWrite focusing
on poetry, spoken word and creative nonfiction. Outside of YouthWrite, Andy is a
student at the University of Alberta heading into her third year in BFA Theatre
Production. She’s worked with Citadel Theatre and Freewill Shakespeare, most
notably. Andy can hardly wait to spend her summer with YouthWrite and meet this
year’s campers!

Member-at-large: Katrusia Lahola

Bio coming soon