News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: Registration opens Tuesday, July 25
2. PARL: Update on the Programme d’agrément’s second cycle
3. CONFERENCE 2017: Session handouts now online
4. CONFERENCE 2018: Bringing together communication-related professions
5. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Angela McGovern
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishments
7. EDITORS CANADA MEDIATION: Your resource for conflict resolution
8. EXTERNAL LIAISON: Indigenous Editors Circle and Editing Indigenous Manuscripts workshops
9. BRANCH NEWS: Editors Edmonton is now on Twitter
10. NEC: Welcome from your national executive council president
1. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: Registration opens Tuesday, July 25
Certification season is coming!
Registration for this year’s professional certification tests, in copy editing and stylistic editing, is opening soon! If you’ve been wanting professional certification in one or both of these editing streams, your time to act is approaching.
What makes this year different?
This November’s launch of onscreen testing makes taking the certification tests more like the “real-world” editing experience you’re familiar with. The tests will be administered in computer labs to ensure test security and reasonably similar testing conditions for all candidates. Candidates will edit in Word for PC—offering the test on Macs would have driven up the exam fees substantially.
Are you ready to register?
Registration for the 2017 tests opens on Tuesday, July 25. If you’re looking to tackle this year’s certification tests, make a decisive move. Take a pivotal step in professional development, and make this the year you commit to getting Editors Canada-certified.
2. PARL: Update on the Programme d’agrément’s second cycle
Launched in the spring of 2015, the Programme d’agrément en révision linguistique (PARL) has begun its second exam cycle. The Comité Agrément/Principes is proud to announce that the next general exam will take place Saturday, October 14, in Quebec City…and in Montreal!
To date, nearly 40 people have registered for the exam and have begun to prepare for the challenge in the hopes of earning the title of réviseur agréé. Join them!
59 individuals working in the field now have the title of réviseur agréé, while 8 individuals are now a réviseur agréé avec attestation en révision comparative.
Sophie Pallota receives her certificate from Sandra Gravel, chair of the Comité Agrément/Principes during the Editors Canada conference on Saturday, June 10, in Ottawa–Gatineau.
For more information on the Programme d’agrément, visit the PARL web page or watch our free info session on YouTube.
3. CONFERENCE 2017: Session handouts now online
We’re pleased to announce that many of the speaker handouts from this year’s conference in Ottawa–Gatineau are now available online.
Visit the Conference 2017 session handouts page now to download the handouts.
4. CONFERENCE 2018: Bringing together communication-related professions
Photo: Tourism Saskatoon
Join us in Saskatoon for the 2018 Editors Canada conference on May 25–27!
Known as the “City of Bridges,” Saskatoon has eight bridges that span the beautiful South Saskatchewan River, which meanders through the city. They are a vital part of the fabric of our community and remind us of the importance of making connections.
Fittingly, the theme of the 2018 conference will be “Bridging Communities—Bringing together communication-related professions.” We see this as an opportunity to bring together editors from the Prairies and across the country, as well as professionals from other related organizations.
Get involved
Do you want to help us build some bridges?
- If you want to help define the conference, join the advisory committee.
- If you know someone who would be a terrific keynote speaker or presenter, be part of the programing team.
- If you have some hot leads on potential supporters, the sponsorship team wants you.
- If you’re a hotshot project planner who can’t wait to get your hands on our volunteer management spreadsheets, boy have we got a job for you!
To make your mark on the 2018 conference, email conference_chair@editors.ca.
5. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Angela McGovern
Angela McGovern joined the Kingston twig in 2016 to learn more about Editors Canada, meet other members, and get advice on running a freelance editing business. Although she didn’t have the title “editor,” she had spent a significant amount of time during her career reviewing, writing, proofreading and editing documents. After spending 16 years in the corporate world—including a stint as executive director of marketing at Cineplex Entertainment, where she led the team that licensed movies for downloading and streaming on smartphones—Angela was interested in becoming a freelance editor. She has since launched her business and specializes in proofreading, stylistic editing, and content writing for business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients.
During Angela’s first twig meeting, a member suggested that the conference committee could benefit from Angela’s business experience. She joined the committee two weeks later as the conference sponsorship coordinator. In this role, Angela was responsible for securing sponsors and funding for the conference. Her tasks included contacting past and potential sponsors and managing the sponsorship process.
Being new to Editors Canada, Angela had to quickly learn about her responsibilities and the existing relationships between the association and affiliates. Despite these challenges, Angela embraced the role, using the skills honed during her career to secure new sponsors. She also created new tools and templates that will continue to benefit future conference volunteers.
Angela lists two major rewards to volunteering, the first being the ability for members like her to use their skills, whether editing related or not, in a meaningful way. “The association is always evolving,” she says, “which means that volunteer work evolves.” The second is the opportunity to learn from fellow members about editing and running a business.
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.
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishments
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.
7. EDITORS CANADA MEDIATION: Your resource for conflict resolution
Did you know that Editors Canada members have access to free mediation services?
Editors Canada mediation is designed to help members resolve grievances or contract disputes (involving editing work) with their clients. While the mediator cannot intervene in cases that have gone to legal action or when the editor involved is not a member of the association, the mediator may be able to help settle the matter when other steps have not solved the problem.
For more information, contact the Editors Canada mediator, Suzanne Purkis.
8. EXTERNAL LIAISON: Indigenous Editors Circle and Editing Indigenous Manuscripts workshops
Access the specialized knowledge needed to edit Indigenous content appropriately! This August, join renowned Indigenous editors and writers at Humber College’s Lakeshore Campus in Toronto to learn about cultural protocols, Indigenous community values, and the problematic histories of past editing practices. Choose from week-long or two-day workshops. Learn more.
9. BRANCH NEWS: Editors Edmonton is now on Twitter
Editors Edmonton is now on Twitter. Follow @EditorsEdmonton to stay up to date on twig news and to read a selection of relevant, informative and often humorous tweets about editing.
Looking for other association Twitter accounts, like branches, twigs, the conference and Editing Canadian English? Check out Editors Canada groups. And don’t forget to follow @editorscanada for the latest from national.
10. NEC: Welcome from your national executive council president
Welcome to full-on summer. Although it sure doesn’t feel like it in some parts of the country.
Anne Louise Mahoney reported on the meeting that the national executive council (NEC) had via Zoom in June. Since then, we’ve been organizing ourselves for the summer and fall.
The federal legislation that governs not-for-profits requires that directors be elected at a meeting of members (which happened in June). The directors are then to decide, by a vote amongst themselves, who takes what role. The directors have done that now and you can find the information on the national executive council page on our website.
You can also see the national committee chairs and other national positions on their page on the site.
As the new president for Editors Canada, I’d like to say welcome to the new directors and chairs, and welcome back to the people serving another term.
As we go into August, committee chairs will start planning for the year, using the strategic plan as guidance. Editors are never short of creative ideas but the strategic plan will keep committees and the NEC focused on our agreed-to outcomes. This helps us to make the most efficient use of our valuable time and our budget.
I’m looking forward to updating you on where we’re at in August. Enjoy the summer, everyone!
Gael Spivak (Editors Ottawa-Gatineau)
President, Editors Canada
Welcome to Editors Canada!
British Columbia
Emily Bragg, Laura Floyd, Bridget Greenwood, Melanie Jeffs, Megan Osmond-Jones, Anna van Blankenstein
Edmonton
Aerin Kristjaan Bonnell Davies, Tara Penner
Manitoba
Vichithra Rasangi Batuwita Liyanage
Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph
Jennifer Herrington
Hamilton-Halton
Timothy Patterson, Karina Sinclair
Toronto
Jessica Abraham, Pamela Brewster, Amanda Clarke, Naomi de Szegheo-Lang, Beatrice Fantoni, Geetika Lahar, Lorne Ruffell, Roufa Therrien
Ottawa–Gatineau
Liliana Hoton, Rafia Mahli
Quebec/Atlantic Canada
Ona Bantjes-Ràfols, Marie-Hélène Cadieux, Philippe-Aubert Côté, Diane Després, Magalie Lapointe-Libier, Ginette Racine
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.