Editors Canada is supported by national office staff providing a range of services. For information about seminars, social events, job hotlines and volunteer opportunities in your area, please contact the local branch and/or twig nearest you.
National office
Sara Abdul
Training and Development Manager
I am an arts and culture writer with a background in academic scholarship, short fiction and editorial. I write fiction, copy and coverage about film, TV, spatial design, philosophy and cultural phenomena. In my spare time, I am managing editor, creative director and lead graphic artist for pinkasparagus.ca, a Toronto-based arts and culture hub for emerging artists. I hold an MA in Cinema from the University of Toronto and an Honors BA in English and Philosophy from the University of Ottawa.
Additionally, I have five years of experience managing thought leading events and initiatives in the arts and culture industry. I excel at professional relationship building, strategic revenue generation, art promotion and project management with expertise from my time in corporate partnerships at the Toronto International Film Festival. Having been a social media manager for startups including Banoom Visors, Asparagus Vintage and now Pink Asparagus, I’ve become a research savvy and engagement driven digital marketing specialist with an eye for innovation. As an educator, I have taught essay writing, critical thinking, philosophy, digital humanities and critical theory at the University of Ottawa, the University of Toronto and the Durham District School Board.
Natasha Bood
Executive Director
I have 16 years of experience working in not-for-profit arts organizations, including serving as executive director of the Toronto Summer Music Festival and Academy from 2011 to 2018—during which time the organization more than doubled its audience. In 2014, Toronto Summer Music became the first arts organization to win the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Mo Davies Award for excellence in fundraising, small organizations. I was the recipient of the 2015 John Hobday Award in Arts Management from the Canada Council for the Arts, a $10,000 prize that allowed me to participate in a number of leadership courses at the Banff Centre.
Prior to Toronto Summer Music, I was the executive director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, a highlight of which was administering the RSO’s 100th anniversary season. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in music history with a minor in English and film from the University of Regina and a post-graduate diploma in arts administration and cultural management from Humber College in Toronto.
Michelle Ou
Senior Communications Manager
I joined the national office staff in 2005 after copywriting, editing and website development gigs in marketing, finance, health, sports and music. As Editors Canada’s communications manager, I develop national marketing strategies to raise the profile of the editing profession, and for member acquisition and retention. I’m also the main voice behind Editors Canada’s national social media presence, tweeting links to the articles you might find interesting and the jokes that will definitely make you groan. When I’m not donning the Editors Canada sandwich board, I’m supporting independent, underground music and can be found at concerts in Toronto and abroad.