Annual By The Lake Book Club Scholarship Awarded to Emerging B.C. - Based Writer

Layla Reeves, a Vancouver Island writer and student in Humber's Creative Writing Graduate Certificate program, is the 2022 recipient of a $1,500 scholarship from Assembly Hall’s By the Lake Book Club (BTLBC). The scholarship is presented annually to a student in the program who self-identifies as Indigenous, Black or African and demonstrates financial need.

A writer from a young age, Reeves holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and has worked in long-term care facilities and with COVID patients before pivoting to focus on her writing full time.

“Receiving Assembly Hall's By the Lake Book Club scholarship gave me confidence and assurance in my educational and literary pursuits,” says Reeves. “My family, of generations past, had a hard life and overcame many challenges. I’m proud to be their descendant and to be recognized in today's society for that.”

This scholarship is an extension of the ongoing collaboration between the Humber School for Writers and Assembly Hall, City of Toronto, which has produced BTLBC events since 2009.

“The School for Writers is delighted to continue working with Assembly Hall to bring writers and readers together,” says program co-ordinator and writer Alissa York. “We're deeply grateful for their support of our students.”

The BTLBC holds six Tuesday-night events, between February and December, featuring author readings, moderated discussions, question-and-answer sessions and book signings in the heart of the Lakeshore community. The next BTLBC event runs February 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and features Jade is a Twisted Green-author Tanya Turton in conversation with Salma Hussain.

Layla Reeves, Creative Writing Student