News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
- TOM FAIRLEY AWARD: Submit your nomination
- WEBINARS: Give the gift of learning this holiday season
- NEW PUBLICATION: Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing is here!
- CONNECT FROM ANYWHERE: Access branch and twig programming across Canada
- MEMBER BENEFIT: Resources from the Canadian Press at no additional charge
- BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
- FEATURED VOLUNTEERS: Nominate someone who contributes to Editors Canada
- MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishment
- NATIONAL OFFICE: Holiday closure
- NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. TOM FAIRLEY AWARD: Submit your nomination
It’s our time to shine
Editing might be an invisible art, but that doesn’t mean great editors should hide in the shadows. Help us shine a spotlight on editing excellence by submitting a nomination for the 2025 Tom Fairley Award.
The award will be presented during Editors Canada’s online awards ceremony in spring 2025. The winner will receive the $2,000 grand prize and, in recognition of their outstanding editorial performance, the finalists will also receive cash awards of $500 each. These cash prizes are made possible by Editors Canada and its generous donors.
The deadline to submit your completed nomination form is Friday, February 14, 2025.
Please spread this message far and wide. Nominees don’t have to be members of Editors Canada and self-nominations are encouraged.
For complete nomination instructions and other information about the award, visit the Tom Fairley Award page.
More than books
Editors know that the fine art of editing extends beyond books and print media. While the Tom Fairley Award has been awarded to many outstanding book editors since it was created in 1983, we encourage nominations for a variety of written projects. Whether it’s a magazine, a corporate or government report, software documentation or a book, we want to hear about it. When it comes to editing, the variety of material is limitless!
2. WEBINARS: Give the gift of learning this holiday season
Still looking for a holiday gift that will make a lasting impact? An Editors Canada webinar recording is a great choice for anyone who’s interested in editing, writing or publishing. We offer sessions on:
- Marketing and business skills
- Editing and AI
- Accessibility and neurodiversity in editing
- Editing specializations like cookbooks, comics and picture books
- And much more
Find the perfect gift on our webinars page!
Plus, grow your skills at SFU in 2025
Our friends at Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies will offer a wide range of flexible online courses for writers and editors beginning in January. Register now to save your spot:
- Research, Analysis and Information Design
- Technical Writing and Editing
- Writing and Editing for the Web
- Copy Editing
- Introduction to Public Relations
- Plain Language Principles
3. NEW PUBLICATION: Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing is here!
Editors Canada has published a new resource for editors across the country! We’re pleased to announce that Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing is here and you can purchase it directly through our website.
Based on Professional Editorial Standards, the Edit Like a Pro series allows editors to assess and practise their skills on their own time. These books give hands-on editing practice, sample answers, and expert commentary on each of four types of editing: proofreading, structural editing, stylistic editing and copy editing.
The first two editions, Edit Like a Pro: Proofreading and Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing, are now available.
Member and bundle discounts
Looking for discounts? We’ve got you!
Buy the Edit Like a Pro: Proofreading and Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing bundle and save $5.
Editors Canada members and student affiliates save even more on the bundle price and on single volumes.
4. CONNECT FROM ANYWHERE: Access branch and twig programming across Canada
Did you know that belonging to Editors Canada means you can attend any branch or twig meeting around the country? Check out the national events calendar to find out what’s happening!
5. MEMBER BENEFIT: Resources from the Canadian Press at no additional charge
Did you know that access to The Canadian Press Stylebook, Caps and Spelling and the Guide de rédaction en ligne is included with Editors Canada membership?
Individual subscriptions to the Guide de rédaction en ligne and the Online Stylebook & Caps and Spelling Bundle cost more than $125/year, but these terrific Canadian Press resources are available to you at no additional charge through the Editors Canada website! All you need is your editors.ca member portal login.
Looking for other benefits of membership? Check out the Editors Canada member resources and member services pages.
Need help logging into the website?
Visit the member portal and click the “Click here if you forgot your password” link.
6. BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
VolunteerConnect
If you want to volunteer for Editors Canada, check out VolunteerConnect, our resource for matching volunteers to tasks. You can use this searchable tool to
- find opportunities of interest to you
- list yourself as a potential volunteer
Volunteering lets you give back to your organization, but you also receive so much in return: experience, skills, contacts, friendships and a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Volunteer today!
For more information about volunteering in Editors Canada, email the chair of the volunteer management committee.
Marketing and communications committee
The marketing and communications committee (marcom) is collaborating with the publications committee to promote Editors Canada’s newest resource, Edit Like A Pro: Structural Editing. We’re looking for a volunteer to help finesse and disseminate the promotional content for this new publication.
This promotion will get the word out about Editors Canada, and keep members informed of all the resources at their fingertips. The project will involve a social media campaign (adapting and scheduling posts), as well as email blasts and, potentially, print media.
If you’re handy with social media, interested in spreading the word about Editors Canada, looking to network with other editors, and/or excited about what new things the association is up to, then this project might be right up your alley!
If you’re interested in learning more, please contact marcom chair Sarah Higgins.
Volunteer management committee
The volunteer management committee is looking for a person to join our regular monthly meetings and take on the task of overseeing VolunteerConnect, Editors Canada’s resource for matching volunteers to projects. This would mostly involve deleting out-of-date postings and performing the occasional revision or update. We’re also accepting other new committee members. For more information, please contact the chair of the volunteer management committee.
7. FEATURED VOLUNTEERS: Nominate someone who contributes to Editors Canada
Would you like to recognize an outstanding volunteer? The volunteer management committee is seeking nominations for our Featured Volunteers. We’re shining the spotlight on some fabulous Editors Canada members in the coming months, but it’s time for a round of new nominations. It could be someone you supervise, someone you work with, or someone you’ve noticed contributes a lot to our organization. To nominate someone, please contact the chair of the volunteer management committee.
8. 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.
9. NATIONAL OFFICE: Holiday closure
The national office will close for the holidays on Friday, December 20, 2024, and will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season. See you in 2025!
10. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
The national executive council (NEC) met on Sunday, November 10, 2024. Because the NEC does not meet in December, this was the last meeting of 2024. The minutes from this meeting will be available in the new year.
Among other topics, the NEC discussed the December launch of Edit Like a Pro: Structural Editing, this year’s professional certification exams, and the schedule for the rest of the 2024–25 webinar sessions.
The NEC was joined by Bryan Mortensen, executive director of the Federation of BC Writers, to discuss a potential partnership with Editors Canada. Bryan led a lively discussion on the state of arts organizations and the challenges in securing funding.
On behalf of the NEC, I wish everyone a lovely holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year!
Kaitlin Littlechild
President
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.