About the Tale Trail

Sunshine Coast Tale Trail: The Story So Far

Genesis & Inspiration

The Sunshine Coast Tale Trail emerged from an idea in early 2023, sparked by the question: “Wouldn’t it be cool if we made a list of one hundred authors from one hundred years, then put a pin in their location on a map of the Coast?” That notion soon evolved into a full-fledged literary mapping project by SCWES, linking local authors across a century to their locations on both print and interactive maps.

First Public Celebration: “100 Writers in 100 Years"

That idea brought to life in February 2023 during a Heritage Week event at the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives in Gibsons. The event titled “100 Writers in 100 Years on the Sunshine Coast” showcased readings by local authors and celebrated the Coast's rich writing legacy.

Development & Collaboration

Post-event, the project gained momentum under the leadership of SCWES president Cathalynn Labonté-Smith. SCWES secured funding from Heritage BC, an organization typically focused on physical heritage preservation.

The research phase involved SCWES members—Jan Degrass and Mike Starr among them—who compiled lists of Coast writers by delving into historical publications and archives. Collaborators included staff from the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives and tems swiya Museum, ensuring that the project embraced the full scope of storytelling traditions, including those beyond printed authorship.

Map Design & Features

The trail map was illustrated and designed by local artist Jana Curll. A key feature is the inclusion of traditional sháshíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh place names, offering meaningful cultural landmarks and storytelling heritage. The map also highlights storytellers from different traditions—such as Stan Dixon, a shíshálh Elder, and Donna Joe, a legend compiler—and illustrates works and authors ranging from Muriel Wylie Blanchet and Hubert Evans, whose memoirs The Curve of Time and novel Mist on the River respectively remain codepoints of Coast writing, to contemporary authors like scholar Daniel Heath Justice and playwright David King.

Launch & Public Access

The Tale Trail was officially launched just ahead of its ceremonial debut at the Art & Words Festival in Gibsons in August 2024. The map is now available in print across Sunshine Coast tourism outlets and downloadable via the website taletrail.ca, which also features an interactive database with over 900 storytellers, complete with bios and photographs.