News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. WEBINARS: Train online with Editors Canada
2. #EDITORS20: Register, volunteer and experience Montreal
3. TOM FAIRLEY AWARD: Submit your nomination
4. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: After the exam
5. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Lisa Frenette
6. GET INVOLVED: Join the insurance task force
7. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
8. MEMBER DISCOUNT: Save 20% on University of Chicago Press titles
9. MEMBER BENEFITS: Free helpdesk support for Editors Canada email
10. GIVING BACK: Recognize the importance of editing this #GivingTuesday
11. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. WEBINARS: Train online with Editors Canada
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) began at midnight on Friday, November 1. As thousands of writers all over the world hunker down to write those magical 50,000 words, it’s a great time for editors to use this month to prepare for the aftermath.
Because digital technology continues to advance, the training and development committee has developed a fall webinar season that is progressive, useful and packed with up-to-date content.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Persuasion Wins!: Creating a Persuasive Website for Your Freelance Business
Monday, November 18
Award-winning copywriter Erin Brenner will teach us how to produce a persuasive website for our freelance businesses. This webinar might be geared towards the editor, but it is also a highly transferable skill that can be provided to clients who are looking to optimize their traffic.
Cutting Through the Noise: Focusing Content on Employees’ Needs
Tuesday, November 26
Adrienne Gagnon, content management editor at Farm Credit Canada, shows us how online employee handbook-type information can be revolutionized, in both official languages. With the advent of digitization, corporations are increasingly moving information online. This webinar will show how you can take advantage of the move.
What’s Wrong With This Email? An Editor’s Take on How to Write Great Emails
Thursday, November 28
Margaret Chandler shows us how to craft a winning email. Are you looking for some practical strategies, tips and resources that will help you craft reader-centred emails that achieve your desired results? Explore the Seven Cs of effective communication and best practices for writing and editing emails.
Join us for one or more of these beneficial webinars.
2. #EDITORS20: Register, volunteer and experience Montreal
Registration
We are pleased to announce that registration for our International Editors Conference 2020, From Papyrus to Pixels: International Editing Trends, is now open! The conference takes place June 19–21 at Le Centre Sheraton hotel in the heart of downtown Montreal, Quebec. We’ll be hosting editors from around the globe for three full days of professional development, networking and fun.
Register for the conference now!
Premium seminars
On Friday, June 19, Editors Québec will also be presenting four premium seminars, which you can register for separately on the conference registration form.
Volunteering
Getting involved with the conference as a volunteer is a great way to learn new skills and build your professional network. You’ll also get to work with an amazing team! Right now, we’re looking for a francophone speaker coordinator. If you’re interested in this role—or if you’d like to learn more about volunteering for the conference—please send an email to the volunteer coordinator.
Experience Montreal
A perfect balance of Old World charm and cosmopolitan glamour, Montreal has something for everyone. Learn more about things to do in our beautiful host city on the Local Experience page.
Social media
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get all the latest information about the conference.
3. 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 2020 Tom Fairley Award.
The $2,000 cash award will be presented to the winner at the banquet of the International Editors Conference 2020, hosted by Editors Canada, in Montreal, Quebec, on Saturday, June 20. In recognition of their outstanding editorial performance, finalists will each receive cash awards of $500.
The deadline to submit your completed nomination form is Friday, January 17, 2020.
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!
4. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: After the exam
Best of luck to the 2019 Copy Editing professional certification exam candidates! Wondering what happens after the exams are handed in?
It’s important that the exams are marked objectively and anonymously. The marking process is double-blind, and based on best practices for designing questions, preparing answer keys and training markers. Two people evaluate each completed exam, considering a range of answers for each question. If their assessments differ significantly (if one mark is a pass and the other is a fail, for example), the exam is sent to a third marker. A marking analyst then reviews all the results to ensure the marking is consistent and reliable. The identities of the candidates (who are identified only by numbers) and everyone involved in the exam-setting, administering and marking process are kept confidential.
Next, the Editors Canada national office cross-references the candidate numbers on the exams with the names of the registrants. Finally, an external auditor from an accounting firm checks that the cross-referencing has been done correctly and that each candidate will receive the correct pass or fail letter. The letters are sent by the national office in the spring of the year after the exam was written. A lot of work by a lot of people goes into each exam cycle!
If you’re interested in knowing more about the professional certification exams, visit the certification page on our website or contact the national office.
5. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Lisa Frenette
Those who have seen the 40th anniversary timeline on the Editors Canada website have experienced some of the enthusiasm and creativity Lisa Frenette brings to her work. Lisa joined Editors Canada in 2017, drawn by the way it supports editors “of all different walks of life and at different stages in their editing careers.” A member of Editors Toronto, she began volunteering on the communications and marketing committee, later joining the 40th anniversary task force.
Helping to create the interactive timeline was a rewarding experience. “Not only did I learn a lot about the history of Editors Canada, but I was able to have a hand in making something that was fun and memorable.” Her most recent volunteer work involved researching social media platforms to help Editors Canada use these tools in new and exciting ways.
Lisa established her freelance business, Scribble Editing, three years ago. Although she specializes in copy editing and proofreading, she considers herself “a bit of a chameleon,” tackling blogs, articles, online courses and marketing materials.
When not working or volunteering, Lisa loves to spend time outdoors relaxing at her cottage, camping with family, or walking the trails in Mississauga with her dog. “Being an editor means sitting in front of a computer a lot of the time. Being outdoors is how I ground and re-energize myself,” Lisa says.
Editors Canada certainly benefits from Lisa’s energetic contributions. And luckily for us, Lisa benefits as well. “Editing is an art of sorts,” she says. “What I love about Editors Canada is how the organization helps editors to perfect their craft, meet other editors and grow confidence in what they do.”
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. GET INVOLVED: Join the insurance task force
Editors Canada is looking for a volunteer to fill the role of insurance task force lead. Over the last year, this task force has spent time researching and making contact with a variety of insurance brokers.
As insurance task force lead, you don’t have to be an insurance expert, just an Editors Canada member interested in sourcing the best possible insurance program to meet the wide range of needs of our membership.
If you’re this person or if you’re willing to help out with this task force, please contact Heather Ross.
7. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
Editors Toronto member Damian Tarnopolsky’s play The Defence has won first prize in the 2019 Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition. Damian received the $15,000 award and his script underwent a professional three-day workshop at the Dan School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University, followed by a public staged reading at the 2019 Kingston WritersFest.
Editors Nova Scotia member Ginny McGowan, PhD, is a recipient of the 2019 WISE 50 Over 50 Award.
Ginny was also instrumental in the development of a nine-month pilot project to engage Prince Edward Island youth with barriers to employment in the era of climate change. The program, which includes a mentoring component, received funding from the federal government and was launched on Monday, October 21.
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.
8. MEMBER DISCOUNT: Save 20% on University of Chicago Press titles
Editors Canada members and student affiliates receive a 20% discount on all University of Chicago Press (UCP) imprint books purchased from the Chicago Manual of Style Bookstore (where you’ll find titles on writing, editing and publishing) or the UCP home page. Use promo code EDCANADA20 for the discount.
Please note the discount does not apply to books distributed for other publishers. To identify UCP titles, check for ISBNs that begin with 9780226.
Don’t forget: we’re proud to offer The Chicago Manual of Style Online as a free benefit of membership! Visit the members’ area to start using CMOS Online now.
Looking for more Editors Canada partner discounts? Visit the members’ area.
9. MEMBER BENEFITS: 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.
10. GIVING BACK: Recognize the importance of editing this #GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is almost here! December 3 is GivingTuesday, an annual opportunity for charities, companies and individuals to join together and rally for their favourite causes. This year, Editors Canada hopes to raise more than $2,000 in support of its national awards and scholarship: the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence, the Karen Virag Award for contributions to the editing profession, and the Claudette Upton Scholarship for promising editing talent.
Please help us recognize excellence in editing by donating $5, $10, or as much as you like, to the Editors Canada GivingTuesday campaign.
11. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
Recently, one of the directors on the national executive council (NEC) was approached by CBC Radio to do an interview about the changing role of editors. The NEC was quick to offer suggested topics to mention: the different types of editors (in-house and freelance), the different types of texts we edit, and the benefits of editors working together. The NEC also thought it was important to dispel the notion that editors in other countries are threats to our livelihoods; instead, we should promote the fact that these editors are our colleagues.
This brought to mind the fact that all of us are ambassadors for our profession. Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone should call up their local TV station to arrange for an interview; it simply means that we should take an active role in promoting editing and in educating non-editors in what we do. In your role as an editor, take the time to speak about your profession. There are a lot of misconceptions out there, but we can all be part of educating the public about the value of a good editor.
And speaking of working together, this update was a group effort, so my sincere thanks to all the members of the NEC and to John Yip-Chuck for helping me with this month’s topic.
Heather Buzila
President
Welcome to Editors Canada!
Editors Barrie
Celeste Piercey
Editors British Columbia
Kathleen Booth, Megan Brand, Elsie Froment, Angie Ishak, Holly Munn, Emily Summer, Jennifer Webb, Wang Xuan
Editors Calgary
Mazi Cunningham, Brenna Davies, Diane Ellis, Larry Hurd, Taraya Middleton, Megan Reimer
Editors Kingston
Carolyn Heald, Katherine Prairie
Editors Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph
Paul Ling, Lloyd Winfield
Editors Ottawa-Gatineau
Ross Cowan, Robyn Hall, Ilona Peltz
Editors Québec
Camille Cantin, Kathleen Côté, Marie-Pascale Fortier, Martine Gagnon, Sonia Larochelle, Julie Latulippe, Marie-Claude Lavoie, Janelle Mellamphy, Magdalena Milosz, Germain Morin, Adeline Müller, François Paré, Camille Pépin-Bernard, Maryline Boisvert, Nancy Girard, Olivier Poulin
Editors Toronto
Margaret Hanson, Shannon Parr, Vidya Sawh
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.