Like many during the pandemic, Holly Vestad found herself reckoning with her goals and priorities. The result? A career pivot from pursuing a PhD in English to freelance editing. Her earlier experience as publishing assistant and later managing editor at Caitlin Press served her well in that switch, as did her BA and MA in English literature.
“Everything I’ve learned within the academy has directly shaped my approach to editing,” Holly says. “From thinking about narrative, plot, character, the sentence, the paragaraph, form and genre, to the grand ‘so what’ question artists ultimately need to answer about their work.”
In 2022, Holly joined Editors Canada for membership perks, such as access to online resources. “But it was also to meet others trying to carve out a freelancing/sole proprietorship during the pandemic,” she says. “This community was a balm during those difficult years!”
Holly joined the career builder committee, soon becoming chair. She led the committee in setting up the Career Development Hub, which was possible, she says, “only with the incredible support from my committee members, the national executive council and [senior communications manager] Michelle Ou.” To rejuvenate the committee, Holly strove to optimize members’ time for their career trajectory, giving them specific titles they could add to their CVs. For her outstanding work, Holly received Editors Canada’s 2026 Lee d’Anjou Volunteer of the Year Award.
In addition to editing non-fiction, Holly works as writing tutor at First Peoples’ House and the McGill Writing Centre at McGill University in Montreal. She also coordinates a research team developing an arts-based suicide intervention for Inuit youth. Her weeks can be hectic, but Holly relaxes by writing fiction and quilting with found fabrics, experimenting with how to piece them together—much as she has pieced together a dynamic post-pandemic career.
The featured volunteer recognizes the contributions of our dedicated people who keep Editors Canada going. Volunteers are the backbone of the association, and we are grateful for the many members and affiliates who answer the call when help is needed.
Want to make a difference in your association? Find out more about volunteering for Editors Canada.
~S. Robin Larin