Samantha Krilow – Surrey Muse

Samantha Krilow is a writer and storyteller who is a creative writing and Indigenous community justice graduate from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her Cree-Métis and Croatian heritage are important influences in her creative work; her journey of reconnection to her roots runs parallel to her writing and storytelling development. Her work focuses on Indigenous contemporary realities and incorporates traditional storytelling and oral traditions alongside new forms and media. Her writing has been featured in Pulp Magazine and Literary Cultures Journal. Samantha has received Honourable Mention for the Joy Kogawa Award for Fiction in 2022. At this time, Samantha works as a Community Engagement Lead with Surrey Muse Arts Society.

Follow Samantha on Twitter
@samanthakrilow

At the December 6, 2025 gathering of Surrey Muse, Samantha will be the Host. More about the event is here: december-6-2025

‘LIKE’ us on FB
facebook.com/pages/Surrey-Muse
FOLLOW on Twitter
@SurreyMuse
FOLLOW on Instagram
surreymuse.arts

Support other SMAS Projects
Surrey Muse Art & Literature Awards
Surrey Muse At Large (SMAL)
Surrey Muse Writers
Women Who Named the Unnamed

Contact
[email protected]

Surrey Muse gatherings take place
on the unceded Coast Salish territories of
the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen,
Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

.

Logo-surrey-city

..

Zehra Naqvi – Surrey Muse

Zehra Naqvi is the author of The Knot of My Tongue (McClelland & Stewart) and a recipient of the Bronwen Wallace Award for Poetry, awarded by the Writers’ Trust. Her work has been commissioned by Amnesty International and UNHCR, and has been featured on CBC Radio. She holds degrees in Migration Studies and Social Anthropology from Oxford University, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She was born in Karachi and grew up on Coast Salish Territories.

Visit Zehra’s Website
zehranaqvi.org
Read ‘The Knot of My Tongue’
The Knot of My Tongue

At the December 6, 2025 gathering of Surrey Muse, Zehra will be the Featured Poet. More about the event is here: december-6-2025

‘LIKE’ us on FB
facebook.com/pages/Surrey-Muse
FOLLOW on Twitter
@SurreyMuse
FOLLOW on Instagram
surreymuse.arts

Support other SMAS Projects
Surrey Muse Art & Literature Awards
Surrey Muse At Large (SMAL)
Surrey Muse Writers
Women Who Named the Unnamed

Contact
[email protected]

Surrey Muse gatherings take place
on the unceded Coast Salish territories of
the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen,
Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

.

Logo-surrey-city

Shahnaz Qayumi – Surrey Muse

Shahnaz Qayumi is an author born in Kabul, Afghanistan.  A passionate advocate for human rights and education, she writes stories for children that reflect diversity, resilience, and belonging. Her published works include Zia’s Story, Like You and Me, Run Away Like a Gingerbread Man, Afssana Seesana (Afghan Folk story).  After graduating from high school, Shahnaz went to Kyiv, Ukraine, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology and Pedagogy. She returned to Afghanistan during the communist regime and began teaching as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Kabul University. However, due to political oppression, she was forced to flee to Pakistan and later immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, with her family.  Adjusting to a new language, culture, and education system was challenging, but Shahnaz gradually established herself within the Canadian academic community. In 2014, she completed the Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery program at Harvard University.  Currently, Shahnaz teaches at Langara College and serves as the CEO of Partnership Afghanistan Canada (PAC), a registered non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Afghan girls and women through education, as well as offering parenting courses for mothers and fathers in Afghanistan.

Visit Shahnaz’s LinkedIn
Shahnaz Qayumi
Visit Partnership Afghanistan Canada
www.pacafg.org
Read Zia’s Story reviews
Zia’s Story reviews

At the December 6, 2025 gathering of Surrey Muse, Shahnaz will be the Featured Author. More about the event is here: december-6-2025

‘LIKE’ us on FB
facebook.com/pages/Surrey-Muse
FOLLOW on Twitter
@SurreyMuse
FOLLOW on Instagram
surreymuse.arts

Support other SMAS Projects
Surrey Muse Art & Literature Awards
Surrey Muse At Large (SMAL)
Surrey Muse Writers
Women Who Named the Unnamed

Contact
[email protected]

Surrey Muse gatherings take place
on the unceded Coast Salish territories of
the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen,
Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

.

Logo-surrey-city

Surrey Muse Gathering – Saturday, December 6 / 2025

149th Gathering

Featured Artists

Author Shahnaz Qayumi
Poet Zehra Naqvi
Writer Dilan Qadir
Emerging Artist Carol Neuman
Featured Art by Mariam Zohra D
Host Samantha Krilow

Saturday, December 6, 2025
1:15 – 4:15 PM (PT)
Room 405, City Centre branch, Surrey Libraries
10350 University Drive, Surrey, BC V3T 4B8

Open Mic submissions
Arrive 5 minutes before the event and sign up
Submission guidelines

Free & Wheelchair Accessible
Masks Recommended
Donations welcome

Updates will be posted here
Program
Videos will be posted here
youtube.com/@surreymuse

More about the gatherings
Gatherings

‘LIKE’ us on FB
facebook.com/pages/Surrey-Muse
FOLLOW on Twitter
@SurreyMuse
FOLLOW on Instagram
surreymuse.arts

Support other SMAS Projects
Surrey Muse Art & Literature Awards
Surrey Muse At Large (SMAL)
Surrey Muse Writers
Women Who Named the Unnamed

Contact
[email protected]

Surrey Muse gatherings take place
on the unceded Coast Salish territories of
the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen,
Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations

Logo-surrey-city

Chelsea Comeau – Surrey Muse

Chelsea Comeau is a freelance writer, editor, and web designer. Her work has appeared in Room, CV2, SubTerrain, and other literary magazines. In 2025, she was the winner of the People’s Choice category in the CV2 2-Day Poem Contest, and in 2024, Lorna Crozier chose her poem as one of two winners for Planet Earth Poetry’s Tribute to Patrick Lane contest.

Read ‘Solace’
Solace
Read ‘Til There’s Nothing Left’
Til There’s Nothing Left

At the October 25, 2025 gathering of Surrey Muse, Chelsea will be the Featured Poet. More about the event is here: october-25-2025

‘LIKE’ us on FB
facebook.com/pages/Surrey-Muse
FOLLOW on Twitter
@SurreyMuse
FOLLOW on Instagram
surreymuse.arts

Support other SMAS Projects
Surrey Muse Art & Literature Awards
Surrey Muse At Large (SMAL)
Surrey Muse Writers
Women Who Named the Unnamed

Contact
[email protected]

Surrey Muse gatherings take place
on the unceded Coast Salish territories of
the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen,
Qayqayt, Tsawwassen, Musqueam,
Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

.

Logo-surrey-city