News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. AGM 2017: Editors Canada awards honorary life membership to longtime mentor
2. CONFERENCE 2017: Guardians of the Lexicons assemble in Ottawa-Gatineau
3. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Leanne Rancourt
4. CERTIFICATION: Heard the buzz about this year’s certification tests?
5. PARL: Excitement building for the examen d’agrément général
6. INCREASED DISCOUNTS: A new partnership
7. MEMBER SERVICES: Plan for your financial future
8. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
9. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. AGM 2017: Editors Canada awards honorary life membership to longtime mentor
Editors Canada president Anne Louise Mahoney and honorary life member Nancy Flight
Photo credit: James Harbeck
At this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Ottawa–Gatineau, Editors Canada members voted to award Nancy Flight (Editors British Columbia) honorary life membership in the association.
Here is what Nancy’s nominators had to say about her in their letter of support.
There is little that Nancy has not done for our association. Her initial involvement was with the BC branch, where she was an active member and served on the executive. She has participated in juries and panels and has presented at conferences. She has led seminars, including a stylistic editing course for Editors BC as recently as 2015. She wrote one of the first posts for the Editors’ Weekly blog back in January 2013. And it is largely because of her that the Tom Fairley Award now comes with a cash prize.
Nancy’s most lasting imprint on Editors Canada comes from her involvement in two areas.
First, she sat on the national executive council for a remarkable eleven years, from 1989 to 2000. She began as the BC branch representative. From 1993 to 1998, she co-chaired the long-range planning committee with Käthe Roth. She then served two terms as national president, from 1998 to 2000.
Second, Nancy has worked steadily to develop and promote editorial standards—a key part of our association’s mission. Besides mentoring a generation of editors at Greystone Books and Douglas & McIntyre Publishers, including winners of the Tom Fairley Award, Nancy took part in two core standards projects for Editors Canada. One: certification. She helped create the first pilot tests for the program in the early 2000s. Two: Professional Editorial Standards. From 2006 to 2009, she sat on the committee that overhauled this document for the first time since its publication. Nancy oversaw the creation of separate standards for stylistic editing.
This fall, Nancy retires from her associate publisher position at Greystone. Her last day will be October 16—45 years to the day from when she started her first book publishing job in San Francisco.
“We feel this is the perfect time to honour Nancy’s lasting contributions to Editors Canada,” said her nominators. We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations, Nancy. And thank you!
Weren’t able to make it to the AGM? You can find the agenda and supporting documentation on the AGM 2017 page. All of the motions on the agenda carried, and all nominees for the 2017–18 national executive council were acclaimed.
2. CONFERENCE 2017: Guardians of the Lexicons assemble in Ottawa-Gatineau
More than 250 editors from across Canada and around the world gathered in Ottawa-Gatineau in early June for Conference 2017: Guardians of the Lexicons. From Thursday night’s welcome dinner at a local brewery to the closing keynote address and reveal of next year’s conference location, attendees took every opportunity to connect, celebrate, learn and share their knowledge.
Keynote speakers Cherie Dimaline and John McIntyre had the assembled editors in gales of laughter and even moved us to tears with their wisdom, their bons mots and their honesty.
Some joyous feedback from attendees
“I had so much fun at this one that I’m having an unprecedented level of difficulty dealing with real-world land. (It’s not over. It will NEVER be over!)”
“Thanks, everyone, for such a fun conference. I met a lot of people, and the buddies group was such a good idea—I’m really glad I joined. A lot of you gave me some great advice, so thanks and looking forward to Saskatoon!”
“Editors! And words! And costumes and chocolate and wine and oh the laughter.”
“Positively pumped after #Editors17. Met great people and learned so much. Now to process and get back to work. Thanks, @EditorCon!”
Conference 2017 in pics
Photos: James Harbeck
Check out the Editors Canada Flickr page for photos by Virginia St-Denis (FlashDesignsStudio.com) and James Harbeck’s Flickr page. There’s also plenty of ongoing conversation on Facebook and Twitter—search the hashtag #Editors17.
Conference handouts coming soon
Many members have asked about access to conference presentations. Most of them will be posted on the Conference 2017 website as soon as possible, so keep checking back for those.
Conference 2018: Building Bridges in Saskatoon
As announced at the closing keynote, Editors Canada’s 2018 conference will be held in Saskatoon. The theme is “Building Bridges.” Dates for the conference will be confirmed soon, so stay tuned for the announcement. We hope to see many of you there!
Thank you, Guardians!
Our sincere thanks to all of the superheroes who made it happen: the conference committee members (with special thanks to the co-chairs, Marsha Fine and Suzanne Purkis), presenters, volunteers, exhibitors and national office staff. Your hard work, enthusiasm and patience were essential to the success of Guardians of the Lexicons!
3. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Leanne Rancourt
Leanne Rancourt, CPE, started her editing career right after she earned her master’s degree. After working in-house for five years, she decided to go freelance in 2006, and joined Editors Toronto (and later, Editors Hamilton-Halton). Seeing the certification tests as valuable to the profession, Leanne decided to give back to the organization by volunteering on the certification committee. She not only proofreads and marks pilot and candidate tests but also works with other committee members to improve the tests, giving candidates the best test-taking experience possible. Her volunteer work has the added bonus of teaching her more about editing: she gets to discuss editing practices with the other committee members, and she incorporates knowledge she gains from these discussions and the answers to test questions into her professional work.
In addition to being a certification marker and proofreader, Leanne has volunteered as a mentor. She found the experience to be rewarding and memorable, as she helped other editors launch their own careers.
While Leanne does all kinds of editorial work, she focuses primarily on higher education textbooks. Editing educational materials, she says, makes her feel like she’s contributing something positive to the world, since textbooks are an integral part of the learning process. When she’s not editing, she enjoys knitting, running and spending time with her three children.
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.
4. CERTIFICATION: Heard the buzz about this year’s certification tests?
This November, we are launching onscreen testing for our professional certification tests! Our tests will still be invigilated, in computer labs across the country, to ensure we maintain the integrity of the certification process.
Need to jog your editing memory before taking the tests?
Don’t run around aimlessly—get in shape with the new Copy Editing and Stylistic Editing Test Preparation Guides. Our guides have been improved to help you get fit for the tests, making them the perfect prep tools for certification. Each guide has been developed to help prepare you for computer-based testing, updated to reflect the latest edition of Professional Editorial Standards, and fashioned to highlight our world-class certification program—the gold standard of editing. If you’d like to strengthen your editing muscles in time for the tests, purchase our Copy Editing Test Preparation Guide and Stylistic Editing Test Preparation Guide today.
Registration opens soon!
Registration will open on July 25, which is just a few weeks from now! If you want to take this year’s certification test(s) in a computer lab near you, don’t delay. Mark your calendar today and, this July, sign up to get certified.
5. PARL: Excitement building for the examen d’agrément général
This year, we will once again be offering the examen d’agrément général for French-language editors participating in Programme d’agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada (PARL).
Registration going strong
The exam will take place on Saturday, October 14, in Quebec City and Montreal. Montreal is a new test location this year, and nearly 20 have people already registered. The computer lab we’ve reserved for the exam is almost full, but we are booking more space to keep up with demand.
Info session on YouTube
On Monday, June 5, Comité Agrément/Principes chair Sandra Gravel presented a PARL info session online to more than 60 participants. Did you miss the live session? No worries! You can watch it for free now on YouTube.
Register now
Don’t miss out. Book your place for the 2017 examen d’agrément général today. And start preparing by purchasing the Guide de préparation à l’examen d’agrément général directly from Editors Canada.
More information
For more information about the examen d’agrément général, which will be held in October, please email accreditation@reviseurs.ca or visit the PARL website.
6. INCREASED DISCOUNTS: A new partnership
Editors Canada has a new partnership agreement in place.
The agreement is with the Society for Editors and Proofreaders Ltd (SfEP) in the United Kingdom.
- Members of Editors Canada can register for SfEP conferences at a 10% discount.
- Members of SfEP* can register for Editors Canada conferences at the same price as Editors Canada members.
- Members of Editors Canada can register for SfEP online training courses, and other mutually agreed training and development services, at a 25% discount.
- Members of SfEP* can register for Editors Canada webinars and online training courses, and other mutually agreed training and development services, at a 25% discount.
Offering limited discounts, and getting discounts in return, increases options for our members and brings the association revenue that it would not normally receive. As well, members of other associations will see our name in their communications material, so that raises our profile—which could result in new members for Editors Canada.
To learn more about exclusive discounts, visit the Members’ Area of the association website.
*Discounts do not apply for SfEP members who live in Canada.
7. MEMBER SERVICES: Plan for your financial future
Did you know that Editors Canada members have access to retirement and investment planning services through Investors Group?
Visit the Members’ Area to discover a wide range of products and services to help you reach your financial security goals—whether they include saving for your child’s education, planning a vacation, building a nest egg for retirement, investing in a small business or managing your finances during retirement.
Looking for more discounts and other benefits of membership? Check out the Editors Canada member services page.
8. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
Editors Toronto member Marnie Lamb has had her first novel published. The History of Hilary Hambrushina, published by Iguana Books, tells the story of 12-year-old Hilary. Hilary has one goal for her first year in junior high: to become popular. But her plans are turned upside down when her best friend leaves for the summer and a quirky girl moves in next door. What will happen when Hilary’s best friend returns and the three girls start junior high?
Marnie’s adult short stories have been published in various Canadian literary journals, and one story was nominated for the 2013 Journey Prize. For more information about The History of Hilary Hambrushina and to buy a copy, please visit Iguana Books.
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. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
The 2017 conference in Ottawa-Gatineau has come and gone—and what a conference it was! The 250+ participants learned, shared, networked and had a great time. I would like to thank the conference committee co-chairs, Marsha Fine and Suzanne Purkis, for their tireless efforts to make the conference so wonderful. Thanks also to the entire conference committee and all the volunteers—and to the national office staff, especially Caitlin Stewart, the conference coordinator. Well done, everyone!
As always, the Editors Canada annual general meeting (AGM) was held on the Saturday during the conference. We had a good turnout, including over 20 online participants! The AGM was a fairly routine one: members approved the 2016 draft AGM minutes, the 2016 auditors’ report, the 2016 annual report, the 2017 auditor and the slate of candidates for the 2017–18 national executive council. But the meeting started on a thrilling note, when Nancy Flight (Editors British Columbia) received honorary life membership in Editors Canada in recognition of her immense contribution to the association over the past few decades. Congratulations, Nancy!
The 2016–17 national executive will have its final meeting on Monday, June 26 (online). I’ll send members a summary of the meeting the following week.
Anne Louise Mahoney
President
Welcome to Editors Canada!
British Columbia
Katie Beaton, Michelle Cornish, Chris Dickman, Caitlin Gordon-Walker, Sarah Mitenko, Mackenzie Parker, Emily Summer, Blazej Szpakowicz
Calgary
Sharlene Fritz, Tyrone Hooge, Emma-Leigh Mitchell, Ilse Nel, Matt Oetelaar, Annika Ortega, Fox Underwood
Edmonton
Joseph Caouette, Laura Lefevre, Andrea Maltais, Sarah Miller, Kell Pedersen
Saskatchewan
Catherine Milos
Manitoba
Dayna Lamothe
Hamilton-Halton
Selena Middleton
Toronto
Melina Attard, Rose Baotic, Paul Beverley, Phaedra Corrente, Ryley Fingler, Liza Foris, Laurie Handley, Arlene Mahood, Nina Nesseth, Caroline Ormrod, Lee Parpart, Raya Pomelkova, Danielle St-Amour, Jermaine Stennett, Carly Vanderheyden
Ottawa–Gatineau
Lee-Anne Richter
Quebec/Atlantic Canada
Meredith Carruthers, Kelly MacDonald, Heather Macdougall, Heidi Modro, Céline Naud, Lucie Tessier, Elaine Vachon
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.