Karen Virag Award

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Each year, Editors Canada presents several awards including Karen Virag Award recognizing excellence in editing and service to the organization. We’re proud to acknowledge the editors who have shown remarkable talent and dedication over the course of the previous year.

The Karen Virag Award recognizes the perennial heroes of editing. There heroes are the individuals or organizations that go out of their way to raise the profile of our profession in their communities year after year. They champion what editors do and how valuable we are.

Tell us about one of your editing heroes by submitting a nomination for the award.


About the Karen Virag Award

This award was created in memory of long-time association member Karen Virag, and in recognition of her many contributions to the profession. The Karen Virag Award recognizes the efforts of an editor or an organization to raise the profile of editing in their community.

The award will be presented during Editors Canada’s online awards ceremony in spring 2025. A cash award of $400 is made possible by Editors Canada and its generous donors.


Nominations

The nomination period for the 2025 Karen Virag Award is now closed.

Editors Canada will begin accepting nominations for the 2026 Karen Virag Award in early 2026.


Please spread the word

Editors Canada did not present the Karen Virag Award in 2024 due to a lack of suitable nominations.

“Karen’s contribution to our profession was immense,” says Editors Canada president Kaitlin Littlechild. “Please help us to recognize others who champion what editors do and who know how valuable we are by submitting a nomination for the 2025 Karen Virag Award.”


Recipients of the Karen Virag Award

2023

Adrienne Montgomerie

2022

Rosemary Shipton

2020

Greg Ioannou

2019

Iva Cheung

2018

James Harbeck

2017

Virginia Durksen

2016

Nancy Flight


Remembering Karen Virag

Headshot of Karen Virag

The award is named after honorary life member Karen Virag. Its intent is to reflect Karen’s own work to raise the profile of editing. This included her long-standing participation on the Cultural Human Resources Council as the Editors Canada representative and her frequent appearances on CBC Radio as one-half of the dynamic Grammar Gals duo with Virginia Durksen. Karen also served as the Editors Canada director of publications.

Support our awards

Help to support Editors Canada awards! We invite you to contribute to these awards that honour the outstanding editors and students in our midst.

We also welcome donations by cheque. Please make your donation payable to “Editors’ Association of Canada” with “Karen Virag Award” written on the memo line.

Send your donation to

Editors Canada
2967 Dundas Street West, #1449
Toronto, Ontario M6P 1Z2

Annual donors

Editors Edmonton

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