Stephen Shawcross (Director)

Stephen Shawcross has been a member of the Wordfest Board since 2011. Born on father’s 27th birthday, pints all around. Quickly falls in with gang of junior teddy boys where he earns the nickname “Sureshot Shawcross” due to accuracy with a catapult. In 1965, joins rock group “The Knack”, playing first gig for the princely sum of $8. Enters York University, wreaking havoc with various subversive organizations. Tours Europe in British ambulance with glam-rock band “Ginger Muff”. Quickly tires of wearing makeup so gets real job. For the next 25 years attempts to juggle career, wife, kids, assorted jazz gigs, painting, killer squash game, and the odd night of high stakes poker. Takes sabbatical in ’04. Finishes writing first novel in Venice. Runaway Summer tops Calgary Herald best seller list for 32 weeks in 2007. Follows up with A Fearful Symmetry. In his spare time, Stephen Shawcross, is an urban planner and partner in Canada’s number one and the world’s sixth largest architectural practice, the IBI Group.