In the 70s and 80s people such as Bill Richardson, Kit Pearson, Judi Walker and Sarah Ellis were among the librarians in Vancouver who told to children regularly. They eventually decided that they were also (of course !) interested in telling to adult audiences…and…well…. one thing led to another until finally in 1989, the Vancouver Society of Storytelling (VSOS) was born.

The VSOS incorporated on Nov. 27, 1991. Now grown to an association several hundred members strong, the VSOS is the only social-profit and charitable arts organization in B.C. committed to promoting and supporting the ancient and contemporary art of storytelling.

The VSOS’ mandate is to connect storytelling with the voices and listening ears of individuals, organizations, and communities. This is done through workshops, monthly events, presence at free public events and by producing an international festival. We foster opportunities for inter-generational exchange and lifelong learning as well as being committed to bringing storytellers into schools. This supports the cultural sector through direct job creation while ensuring that the storytelling tool-kit is accessible to teachers, educators and students alike. The VSOS aims to nurture the spectrum of storytelling throughout the province in order to reflect its cultural diversity.

In its 20 years of existence the VSOS has undertaken many projects that reflect its goals of presenting diverse, accessible, high quality storytelling to the public.

Some highlights:

• Produced 17 international storytelling festivals
• Produced, in conjunction with CBC Radio One and Britannia World Music, the 3 CD enhanced compilation How Music Came to the World and Other Stories. The CD is in distribution nationally, through Festival Distribution Inc.;
• Initiated and produced the Canadian Storytelling Directory;
• Programmed storytelling at the grand opening of Vancouver’s public library;
• Co-sponsored VOICES: an Oral History Symposium with the UBC Museum of Anthropology;
• Brought the “Living Room” (an informal story-swap environment) to numerous community events;
• Served as a storytelling resource locally, nationally, and internationally.