The Once and Future Writing Centre: A Reflection and Critique

Abstract

Despite nearly four decades of teaching and studying writing, including many years as a writing centre instructor and director, I really don’t know what will happen to Canadian writing centres, and I am also uncertain about what should happen. However, I have some reflections on our past, some concerns about how we got here, and some thoughts about how we might move forward. I should acknowledge that the criticisms I offer here began in self-reflection: looking back over my work in a writing centre, I recognize that I have been guilty of all that I describe in the following pages. But I haven’t been alone.