News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
- WEBINAR RECORDINGS: Convenient resources for every editor
- MEMBER SERVICES: Editors Canada Discord server launched!
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Thinking of taking the Editors Canada Editing Essentials test?
- MEMBER DISCOUNTS: Save 30% on PerfectIt
- MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
- EXTERNAL LIAISON: Call for fundraising and grant writing volunteers for the Canadian English Dictionary
- NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. WEBINAR RECORDINGS: Convenient resources for every editor
Looking for ways to grow your business? Want to learn the basics of editing horror or picture books? Curious about how AI is impacting the industry? We’ve got a webinar for that (and much more). See our large and varied selection of webinar recordings to find training that suits your needs. And don’t forget about your 40% member discount!
Plus, learn PR skills online at SFU
Expand your communication toolkit with professional PR training this summer. Our partners at Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies offer a number of part-time online classes, including:
- Introduction to Public Relations
- Reputation Management
- Change Management and Organizational Communication
- Cultural, Social and Environmental Responsibility in PR
- Media Relations
2. MEMBER SERVICES: Editors Canada Discord server launched!
Did you miss the Discord launch party? We missed you too! But don’t worry: the socializing continues on Editors Canada’s new and interactive Discord server, an app that runs independently of any social media. Other fun events will be taking place over the course of the year, so you’ll have many opportunities to rub virtual elbows with your editing friends at Editors Canada—and to make some new ones!
What can you use Discord for? Your Editors Canada updates go directly to the Discord server, so you’ll catch all our social media posts updates, and other organization-wide announcements. You’ll also find everything from a casual chit-chat and meme dump, to sharing resources and industry best standards and even a lively debate about the serial comma. There is a space for editors to come together to help grow our careers by sharing job opportunities and referrals.
Please email the chair of the member services committee for an invite link if you haven’t accessed the server yet.
3. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Thinking of taking the Editors Canada Editing Essentials test?
The Editors Canada Editing Essentials test is designed to provide an entry-level qualification for editors by evaluating basic competence in the areas of structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading. Successful completion of the test proves your ability to work as an editor based on your knowledge of the basics of editing. If you’re considering taking the test, you may be wondering how to prepare.
The first and most important resource is Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards (2016). The Editing Essentials test is based on a selection of these standards, so the best way to prepare is to study them closely and consider their practical applications.
We’ve assembled a list of additional resources you may find helpful as you prepare:
Study resources
- Editors Canada Professional Certification preparation resources
- The certification test preparation guides (available for purchase) contain sample versions of the professional certification exams, but are also good practice for any editing test.
- The website also contains lists of useful books and courses, style guides and dictionaries and other relevant publications, including the Edit Like a Pro series.
- Editors Canada webinars
- The Australian Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) provides links to several helpful resources:
- Study resources for its accreditation exam, including style guides and handbooks useful for editors worldwide
- Recorded webinars
- The US Board of Editing in the Life Sciences (BELS) offers a free study guide.
- The American Medical Writers Association has a study guide and resource list for its Essential Skills certificate and other exams.
- The UK Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading offers a suite of courses in proofreading, copy editing and editorial skills, at levels ranging from beginner to experienced.
- The Editorial Freelancers Association provides many resources for editors, from business tips to editing education.
- Taking online quizzes and tests is a great way to practise! Try these:
- The Chicago Manual of Style has quizzes to test your knowledge of editing and proofreading.
- If you’re interested in medical or scientific editing, try the American Medical Association Manual of Style quizzes.
- The New York Times offers some free copy editing quizzes online.
- ProEdit offers the “Ultimate Editing Test.”
Unlock your editing career
Ready to launch your editing career? Wondering how to let employers know you’ve got what it takes? Visit the Editing Essentials page to learn more and to register today.
4. MEMBER DISCOUNTS: Save 30% on PerfectIt
An annual subscription to PerfectIt, one of the most popular professional editing tools in use today, is available to Editors Canada members and student affiliates for 30% off the regular price for a single licence.
PerfectIt checks for:
- Consistent hyphenation and capitalization
- Abbreviation definitions
- Capitalization of headings
- List/bullet capitalization and punctuation
- International spelling variations.
To claim your discount, purchase using this custom link from Intelligent Editing.
Note: CMOS for PerfectIt is not available through our website
In August 2021, The University of Chicago Press (UCP) and Intelligent Editing launched The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) for PerfectIt. Although access to The Chicago Manual of Style Online is included with Editors Canada membership, we are unable to offer CMOS for PerfectIt through our website because of the nature of the collaboration between UCP and Intelligent Editing. Members will need individual subscriptions to both products if they’d like to use the add-in. Get 20% off an individual subscription to CMOS Online.
Looking for more Editors Canada discounts? Visit the member services section of our website today.
Need help logging into the website?
Visit the member portal and click the “Click here if you forgot your password” link.
Looking for tips for using the Editors Canada website? Here are some of the most common issues and workarounds.
5. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
Editors Calgary member Lorna Stuber published her fifth book on June 3, 2025. In her most recent memoir, Wine, Bach, and Cuckoo Clocks, Lorna tells of her adventures in Germany while she reconnects with and learns more about her familial ties to Europe. Available in paperback, ebook and audiobook formats wherever books are sold
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.
6. EXTERNAL LIAISON: Call for fundraising and grant writing volunteers for the Canadian English Dictionary
The Canadian English Dictionary (CED) will be the first new general Canadian dictionary of English in over two decades. It is being developed by a not-for-profit consortium including Editors Canada, the UBC Canadian English Lab and the Strathy Language Unit at Queen’s University. Writing the first draft of the dictionary entries is well underway, but fundraising efforts are crucial to the continuance of the project.
The CED is currently looking for volunteers who can help with fundraising, researching grant opportunities, and preparing grant applications. Volunteers would be working closely with the lead editor to write funding applications for the project. Experience writing successful grant applications for government or private funders is desirable but not mandatory for the position.
This is a unique opportunity to take part in a historic project that will have a lasting impact on the Canadian English language and identity for years to come.
Please reach out to Natalie Garriga if you’re interested in this volunteer position or would like further information, and please include any relevant grant writing experience.
7. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
June is always an exciting month at Editors Canada, and this year was no different. We hope many of you were also able to attend the annual general meeting.
There is some exciting work happening with the national executive council (NEC). The draft strategic plan was recently released for member review, and we have some exciting updates coming from the career builder committee. As webinar proposals are submitted, we are confident that we will benefit from another season of excellent learning opportunities and engaging discussions.
We also want to reassure you that we understand the frustration around the problems with Online Directory of Editors (ODE). The issues were discussed during the May 25, 2025, NEC meeting, and we are working to get those issues resolved promptly.
The NEC met on June 22, 2025, for the last time before breaking for the summer. A summary of the meeting topics will be shared in the July e-news. As usual, there will be no NEC meetings in July or August, and the fall 2025 meeting schedule will be determined in July based on director availability.
On behalf of the NEC, I wish you all a happy, safe summer!
Kaitlin Littlechild
President
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.