5 Montreal writers named CBC/QWF featured columnists for 2022

CBC Quebec and the Quebec Writers' Federation are pleased to announce our 2022 featured columnists. They are: Dinu Mahapatuna, Magdalena Olszanowski, Mike O'Brien, Naomi Goldberg and Sharen McDonald.

The CBC/QWF "Indelible Ink" initiative is an opportunity to give up-and-coming writers a voice on our website as well as to hear from a broad range of perspectives from new voices.

• Meet our 2021 writers

Applicants were asked to submit a 600-word non-fiction personal essay (in English) based on the theme of "awakening." A selection committee had the difficult task of narrowing it down to the following five winners:

Mike O'Brien

Mike O'Brien is a Montreal writer with a focus on philosophical, political and ecological issues. His work has appeared at 3QuarksDaily.com and the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. He is also an occasional educator, moderator, editor, photographer and stage performer.

• Read Mike O'Brien's piece here

Naomi Bénéteau Goldberg

Naomi Bénéteau Goldberg is a writer, an avid reader, a home chef and a community worker. She holds a graduate diploma in journalism from Concordia University. She lives in Montreal.

• Read Naomi Bénéteau Goldberg's piece here

Sharen McDonald

Sharen McDonald's life has always been linked to education and a love of words. She is a teacher, librarian and public-speaking and debating coach. Her writing ranges from non-fiction to poetry. Over seven decades, she has found laughter and kindness to be the best travel companions on the journey of a lifetime.

• Read Sharen McDonald's piece here

Dinu Mahapatuna

Dinu Mahapatuna is a first-year student studying English literature and creative writing at Concordia University. Her writing credits include being shortlisted for The Walrus's Youth Short Story Competition, The Malahat Review's Open Season fiction contest and the QWF's College Writers Award (always the bridesmaid, never the bride). You can find her previous literary publications in SPACE Magazine, The Plant newspaper and the Soliloquies Anthology, but you will likely not find her outside of school.

• Read Dinu Mahapatuna's piece here

Magdalena Olszanowski

Magdalena Olszanowski is a Polish-born writer, artist and educator in Montreal. She received her PhD in communication studies from Concordia University. Her work can be found in journals such as Feminist Media Studies, Visual Communication Quarterly, n+1 and nomorepotlucks. 

• Read Magdalena Olszanowski's piece here

Past winners of this CBC/QWF initiative include Monique Polak, Sarah Lolley, Joshua Levy, Emira Tufo, K.B Thors Caroline Vu, Bronwyn Averett, Kasia van Schaik, Isobel Cunningham and Caitlin Stall-Paquet.

CBC Quebec always welcomes pitches for First Person essays. Please email povquebec@cbc.ca for more information.