News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: Show the world you’re at the top of your editing game
2. UPCOMING WEBINAR SERIES: Academic Editing: Beyond Basics
3. FRANCOPHONE CONFERENCE: S’inscrire dans le changement : une profession en prise sur son temps
4. #EDITORS20: Venue, volunteer opportunities and more
5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Mentorship
6. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Aaron Dalton
8. BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
9. FIND WORK: Editors Canada joins Peerwith.Expert Partner Program
9. MEMBER BENEFITS: Free helpdesk support and a partner conference discount
10. MEMBER SERVICES: Welcome Kit
11. TWIG NEWS: The Business of Writing and Editing (Calgary workshop)
12. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishment
13. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: Show the world you’re at the top of your editing game
You’ve worked at mastering the craft of editing; now earn a professional certification to demonstrate your experience and expertise to employers, clients and peers, too. Certification can open professional doors, serves as a powerful marketing tool and may allow you to command a higher salary or rates.
Registration for the 2019 professional certification exam is now open. This year, Editors Canada is offering the copy editing exam.
Exam date: Saturday, November 16, 2019, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., local time.
Locations: Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Additional exam sites may be added depending on demand. Note that the exam can be written only on PC in the exam centres.
Remote testing option: Live more than 300 km away from one of the exam centres, whether in Canada or abroad? Face circumstances that make it hard for you to travel to an exam centre? Editors Canada offers remote testing: arrange to write the exam at a location that’s convenient for you, providing it meets certain criteria and you can arrange for a suitable invigilator. Apply in writing to certification@editors.ca by Friday, September 13. Mac computers are permitted for candidates writing the exam remotely. For more details, see the Remote Testing Guidelines on the association website.
2. UPCOMING WEBINAR SERIES: Academic Editing: Beyond Basics
Academic competition combined with limited academic resources can create pressures for students that may pose challenges for the freelance editors they contact to hire. The rewards of working with post-secondary students, however, far outweigh any challenges.
Do you want to edit post-secondary student texts? Sign up for our webinar series (Fridays, August 23 and 30 and September 6) Academic Editing: Beyond Basics with Mary Rykov, PhD. Mary recently served as project lead to revise the association’s Guidelines for Ethical Editing of Student Texts.
Catch up on demand: Webinar recordings are available
Did you miss an Editors Canada webinar? Many of our webinars have been recorded and are now available for purchase (and some are even free). When you buy a webinar recording, you’ll receive a video file to watch at your leisure on your computer or mobile device. The file is yours to keep, so you can watch it again and again.
Visit our webinar recordings page to see what’s available now. We’re adding new recordings regularly, so be sure to check often.
3. FRANCOPHONE CONFERENCE: S’inscrire dans le changement : une profession en prise sur son temps
One-day conference
S’inscrire dans le changement : une profession en prise sur son temps
Quebec City, Laval University
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Is writing correctly in French still necessary in the digital age?
Good question! As an editor, you almost certainly have an opinion on this issue. What will the panellists of our roundtable discussion say?
Panellists for the discussion include Josée Boudreau (Société québécoise de la rédaction professionnelle), Dominique Bohbot (Université de Montréal), Nathalie Bonsaint (Radio-Canada), Gille Herman (Éditions du Septentrion) and one representative from the Office québécois de la langue française. The discussion will be moderated by Isabelle Clerc (Laval University).
If you’re not already registered for this conference, don’t delay. Book your place now!
4. #EDITORS20: Venue, volunteer opportunities and more
Venue
Work on our second international editing conference is now underway. It will be held at le Centre Sheraton, located in the heart of beautiful downtown Montreal. We have arranged a special room rate of $219/night from June 15 to June 25, 2020. To get the rate, book your room through our reservation link.
Volunteers
Not only is volunteering a great way to learn new skills or develop existing ones, but it’s also a great opportunity to network with editors from across the country and around the world.
The conference committee is currently looking for volunteers to fill the roles of speaker coordinators and social media coordinators—in particular, we need a francophone to oversee our French social media.
Interested in volunteering for one of these positions (or for a different position)? Email Patricia MacDonald for more information.
Social media
Join the conference Facebook group or follow us on Twitter to get all the latest information about the conference and to learn more about our host city, Montreal.
5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Mentorship
Mentorship can help you develop your knowledge and skills, build confidence, get feedback and encouragement, and much more. As mentor Anita Jenkins put it, “One-on-one interaction with a wise and supportive mentor is an incredibly important component of the learning curve.”
The Editors Canada mentorship program is two months long, and can be extended to six months. A committee matches mentors with mentees. Once matched, they communicate for two hours to determine if they’re a good fit. A fee of $250 covers the cost of administering the program and a modest honorarium for the mentor.
To apply to be a mentor or a mentee, visit the John Eerkes-Medrano Mentorship Program page.
Testimonials
“My first mentorship term was a wonderful experience! My mentor was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and inspiring. She tailored our conversations to my needs and was very generous when answering questions and recommending resources. Working with her over these last two months has given me many different perspectives on my editing career. Thank you so much to Editors Canada for making this possible.”
– Sarah Jefferies, PhD
“What a great opportunity to learn collegially and to benefit from the experience of a senior editor: we’re lucky to have a program like this. Thanks so much for this opportunity!”
– Claire Wilkshire
6. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Aaron Dalton
Aaron Dalton joined Editors Canada in 2010 and began volunteering as information technology chair for the Prairie Provinces branch. His background as a computer programmer helped him manage the branch’s web presence, email and newsletter. He has since consulted with the certification steering committee about transferring to computer-based testing. Currently Aaron serves on the member services committee, updating the in-house-specific material on the Editors Canada website and working with the Active Voice team to publish the online version. “As a communicator, I have enjoyed being a part of bringing useful and interesting information and stories to fellow editors,” he says.
Aaron admits that he “stumbled into editing as a career.” As a research assistant in graduate school, he discovered that he enjoyed editing and began thinking of it as a career possibility. After working for a book publisher, he landed his “dream job” at Alberta Energy Regulator. There Aaron reviews a wide range of technical documents and works closely with authors to help them craft the best possible documents. His favourite part of the job, he says, is the teaching. “I facilitate workshops on plain language and effective writing that allow me to reach larger groups of staff and advocate for our readers more directly and vigorously.”
Aaron’s talents extend beyond editing and computer programming: he plays the flute, speaks French and Italian, and enjoys baking and playing board games. His enthusiasm for such activities extends into volunteering as well. “What you get out of an endeavour is proportional to what you put into it,” he says. “Volunteering is a good way to get to know people and to influence outcomes.”
The volunteer of the month highlights the dedicated people who keep Editors Canada going. Volunteers are the backbone of the association. We are grateful for the many members and affiliates who answer the call when help is needed.
7. BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
Want to stand above other contenders? Consider volunteering for Editors Canada. Volunteering has many benefits for the association, as well as being beneficial to your career. Engaged members and affiliates work with influential members of the publishing and communications industries, learn new skills (at any experience level), expand their portfolios and enhance their career options.
Communications and marketing committee
Do you want to hone your public relations skills and build your marketing toolkit? Are you interested in learning more about the effective use of social media to promote an event or market a product? Do you want to help spread the word about Editors Canada to current and future editors and the people who hire them? The communications and marketing committee has opportunities for motivated and creative volunteers interested in leading or contributing to various communications and marketing initiatives. We’ve got several projects planned or underway, and we’re always open to fresh ideas! To learn more about the work of the communications and marketing committee, please email communications-marketing@editors.ca. A kick-off committee teleconference will be scheduled for late August or early September.
8. FIND WORK: Editors Canada joins Peerwith.Expert Partner Program
Editors Canada recently signed a partnership agreement with Peerwith that should give our members front-row seats to a large market of well-paid freelance work.
Editors Canada members can now display their membership on the Peerwith.Expert online platform. This will highlight members’ commitment to editorial excellence.
Peerwith connects researchers and academics from around the world with experts in researcher services—like editing—in a collaborative and transparent peer-to-peer, multilingual marketplace. Editors Canada members with free profile pages on Peerwith can display a badge to verify they’re a member.
Watch your inbox for more about this partnership, including how you can take advantage of this new member benefit.
9. MEMBER BENEFITS: Free helpdesk support and a partner conference discount
Free helpdesk support for Editors Canada email
Did you know that professional helpdesk support for editors.ca and reviseurs.ca email is a free benefit of membership?
If you have an @editors.ca and/or @reviseurs.ca email address and need IT support sending, receiving or configuring your email, please visit https://calligo.cloud/ca/create-a-ticket to create a support ticket.
Do you want an email address that tells people what you do and that will not change no matter how many times you switch Internet Service Providers? Learn more about getting an @editors.ca email address.
DesignThinkers Toronto 2019 conference discount
DesignThinkers Toronto 2019
October 24-25, 2019
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto
Over its 20-year history, the DesignThinkers Conference has spanned massive changes in the communication design industry. From print to digital, visual identity to brand, websites to user experiences, design has evolved as new trends, technologies and philosophies transform the wider world. Join us at DesignThinkers Toronto this October, put on by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), to explore the innovations and disruptions that inform, inspire and influence design, consider its impact and re-imagine its role as we confront fundamental global challenges.
Conference registration includes presentations by industry leaders, a design marketplace, book signings, giveaways, food and drink at our Delegate Party and a multitude of opportunities to network with top design professionals from around the world.
Editors Canada members get a 15% discount off registration. Visit the members’ area for the discount code.
10. MEMBER SERVICES: Welcome Kit
The Welcome Kit for new members has been updated and is now available for download.
The Welcome Kit provides a brief overview of our services and resources, with links to the relevant pages on our website. It is a useful guide for existing members as well, and can be used as a quick reference for information on the website.
Special thanks to the member services committee for producing this wonderful resource and to Ellen Keeble for her design.
11. TWIG NEWS: The Business of Writing and Editing (Calgary workshop)
Workshop: The Business of Writing and Editing
Event date: Saturday, September 28, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., MDT
Location: Room AA128, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, 1301 16 Ave Northwest, Calgary, Alberta, T2M 0L4
Editors Calgary is co-hosting an event with the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) called “The Business of Writing and Editing” and featuring three illustrious speakers.
Starting and running a business is much like a puzzle with a missing piece: How do you know where to start? The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association and Editors Calgary are looking to help you answer that question. Join us for “The Business of Writing and Editing” and learn the strategies and knowledge you need to help you make that first step and to keep you moving forward.
Presenters:
Christina Frangou, writer and journalist
Lana Okerlund, editor, indexer and writer
Stephanie Horner, culture banker at ATB Financial
12. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishment
Editors Canada Member News is where we share information about members and affiliates who win awards, publish books and make their mark in other important ways.
Do you have an achievement you’d like to share? Are you excited about a new project or opportunity that has come your way? Let us tell the world all about it! Please send your stories to the member news coordinator.
13. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
When I was first approached last year about taking on the role of president of Editors Canada, I was skeptical, to say the least. After all, I’ve only been on the national executive council (NEC) for one year (although I have volunteered with the association in other roles), and I have a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. But as the year progressed and I had the chance to work with the other directors on the NEC and to meet members across the country in my role as director of branches and twigs, I realized that I have an amazing variety of people to ask for advice and direction. That realization, combined with the skills I already have from working as an in-house editor for 12 years, makes me excited to begin my term as president.
The 2019–20 NEC is made up of many experienced, knowledgeable people, and I look forward to working with and learning from them over the next year. I am passionate about the work Editors Canada does for editors across the country and beyond, and I am thrilled to be able to contribute to the association.
Heather Buzila
President
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.