Alma Lee, who founded Vancouver Writers Fest, dies at 84

At certain Vancouver Writers Fest events, always in the front row, a sign said a lot about why we were there: seat reserved for Alma Lee. And deservedly so. This is the festival Ms. Lee founded in 1988, and long after she retired as artistic director in 2005, she remained a huge presence. Not to swan about as the queen she was, or bask in gushy sentiments from grateful writers, but to listen and engage. Ms. Lee loved to read. And she brought that love to festival events, not just listening intently from the front row, but putting up her hand to ask thoughtful questions. And often to cheer on an author, especially an emerging writer with a first book, by offering praise – never false, always deeply considered and eloquently expressed.Ms. Lee, who died Friday at 84 “surrounded by love,” according to the festival’s current artistic director, Leslie Hurtig, loved to talk about books and ideas, query authors – and readers – about their thoughts, not because she had started this festival and will forever be associated with it; but this is who she was – the person who had the passion to create the festival to begin with.