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To build a home is something special. We spend hours upon hours picking out the perfect location that meets all our needs and desires. We seesaw between colours we would like to see throughout the house. We criss cross the city to find the perfect painting or accessory that will give it a unique touch. Without a doubt, our home is one of the most important projects we will ever undertake in our lifetime. So this got me thinking about Canadian writers’ houses.

I have recently discovered that several of the Canadian authors on my “to read” list have had their homes turned into museums, writers’ retreats and more. Here is what I have gathered so far:

• Pierre Berton = Berton House Writers’ Retreat = if you are a writer who has published at least 1 book + is established in a writing genre in particular, then you may apply for a 3 month residency.  Located in beautiful Dawson City, Yukon, this is the house where the famous Canadian author was raised.

• Joy Kogawa = Historic Joy Kogawa House = this is the Vancouver, B.C. home where the author lived until the age of 6. Between 2003 and 2006, a grassroots committee fought with the assistance of other support groups to purchase the house, which they transformed into a home where writers could come to live and write.

• Gabrielle Roy = La Maison Gabrielle-Roy = the author’s childhood home in Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, has been restored and transformed into a museum, which is open to the public.

• Margaret Laurence = The Margaret Laurence Home = this Neepawa, Manitoba home serves many purposes. It is a cultural centre that offers tours of the residence, book launchings and writers’ workshops. In the home you will find gems such as her typewriter, which were generously gifted by her children.

• Stephen Leacock = National Leacock Historic Museum Site = located in Orillia, Ontario, this is the house the author built for him and his family in 1928. At Leacock House, you will find anything from guided tours, a café, a children’s section and a summer literary festival.

I would love to hear about your experience if you have ever visited one of these historic homes or if you know of others that exist across Canada!