Speakers listFR
The following members of the Editors' Association of Canada are available to speak to groups and associations about editors and editing. Please contact them directly to discuss possible arrangements.
The speakers' profiles are presented alphabetically by last name. The following geographical outline will help you find someone who lives in your area. Some speakers indicate under “Availability” that they are willing to travel (with expenses paid).
British Columbia
Kelowna, Arlene Prunkl
Vancouver, Frances Peck
Alberta
Calgary/Southern Alberta, Christa Bedwin
Lethbridge, Elizabeth McLachlan
Ontario
Burlington, Nathan Medcalf
Kingston, Adrienne Montgomerie
Ottawa, Gael Spivak
Roseneath, Helen Mason
Toronto, James Harbeck
Toronto, Rosemary Shipton
Quebec
Montreal, Jacqueline Dinsmore
Nova Scotia
Halifax, donalee Moulton
Christa Bedwin
Date: December 17, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Christa Bedwin
Email: christabedwin@gmail.com
Website: http://www.editors.ca/profile/940/christa-bedwin--b-ed---b-sc---chemistry-
Tel: 403 615-2253
AVAILABILITY
Christa is available to speak to groups in the Bow Valley, from the city of Calgary to the town of Banff and the many splendid places between. Contact her to work out your scheduling details.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Christa has a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a B.Ed. from the University of Calgary and has also been a teacher and instructor of a variety of topics, including math, science, belly dancing and yoga. She has professional teaching and speaking experience at many levels. Christa is a flexible and innovative communicator who understands the real-life importance of clear communications.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Christa is based in Calgary, Alberta, and has been editing scientific, government, research, education and general materials since 1999. She is experienced in finding omissions and errors in logic in complex material, in spotting detail errors, and in simplifying and clarifying language to make high-level text more accessible to readers of all levels.
OTHER INTERESTS
Christa was raised on a ranch in the Kananaskis and has travelled widely and lived in a variety of exotic Canadian and foreign locales. She now calls a little farmhouse, by a lake in Springbank, home.
Jacqueline Dinsmore
Date: January 16, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Jacqueline Dinsmore
Email: word_wrangler@sympatico.ca
Website: http://ode.editors.ca/profile/1021/jacqueline-dinsmore
Tel: 514 989-7289
AVAILABILITY
As a Montreal freelancer, Jacquie's time is flexible, and she can generally accommodate speaking schedules.
LANGUAGES
English
French
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Jacquie has taught at various levels, developing and presenting classes and seminars for Université de Montréal, Editors' Association of Canada, Canadian Civil Service, Montréal Language School and École secondaire, La Sarre, QC.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Jacquie is fluently bilingual with an Honours degree in translation. She has extensive experience writing, translating, adapting and editing a variety of texts, from marketing brochures to procedural manuals, scientific papers and children's literature. She specializes in editing English translations so they flow like originals.
Jacquie's article, "Editing in a bilingual country: dealing with winter tires, seeping syntax and faux amis," will be published in the February issue of Editing Matters, the journal of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders in the United Kingdom.
OTHER INTERESTS
A stint in the film business has provided Jacquie with many useful skills and lots of good stories. She is an active member of the Editors' Association of Canada: she has helped to organize three national conferences and is currently member-at-large on the national executive council.
James Harbeck
Date: December 17, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: James Harbeck
Email: james@harbeck.ca
Website: http://www.harbeck.ca/James/jhhome.htm
Tel: 416 873-7324
AVAILABILITY
James lives in downtown Toronto and does not have a car. He is available evenings and weekends. Advance notice is necessary; the farther in advance, the better.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
James is a popular presenter at EAC conferences and meetings and has also given presentations on editing to classes at Ryerson and Centennial College. He has taught university-level courses at Tufts University and Emerson College.
He has presented and written on a variety of topics, including: linguistics, English usage and history, desktop publishing and layout, and building an editorial career.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
James is the senior medical editor at MediResource Inc., which provides web-based health information. He is one of the EAC's most respected authorities on English grammar and a publishing "triple threat": he writes, edits and does layout and design.
James has an extensive academic background in linguistics and publishes a blog, Sesquiotica, which features daily word tasting notes.
OTHER INTERESTS
James has a solid background in the theatre (BFA, MA, PhD). He is an avid runner and has been involved in choral singing for many years.
Helen Mason
Date: April 25, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Helen Mason
Email: hmason@i-zoom.net, Helen@dameditors.ca
Tel: 905 342-9400
AVAILABILITY
Helen is available to speak to groups across the country. Contact her about your interests and needs. Helen likes to custom fit her talks to each audience.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Publishing a great book sometimes feels like being in the operating room during a difficult birth. It takes a team. Who are the members of the editorial team? What do they do? What is considered an emergency? What is routine?
After 44 years as an author, editor, and project manager, Helen can story-tell her way through answers to these questions. Find out how school textbooks get published—and why. Learn about the path from idea to finished book, computer assessment CD, or online web site material. Consider how publishing has changed in the past 20 years—and where it may be going.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
After a brief career as an elementary school teacher, Helen balanced working as an elementary and high school supply-teacher with developing a career as a freelance journalist. During this period, she consulted with two school boards as an employment equity consultant, work that led to an interest in developing curriculum and getting her Master's of Science in Education. Helen uses the work on her master's—which included studying how people learn and the barriers to learning—as she edits and manages the development of social studies, language arts, science, and mathematics materials for students in grades 1 to 12.
Helen has spoken and presented at conferences for writers, editors, and teachers, as well as to elementary, high school, and college students. Parent and community groups have also been interested in her perspective.
Helen is a member of the Editors' Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers, the Council of Canadians and the National Farmers Union. She is also a founding member of dameditors and a life member of the Outdoor Writers of Canada.
OTHER INTERESTS
Now that she has retired from long-distance horseback riding, Helen spends her spare time taking writing workshops and working on juvenile novels. She is an avid hiker, walking both with hiking clubs and with her Standard Poodle, Siegfried.
Elizabeth McLachlan
Date: May 2, 2011
Name: Elizabeth McLachlan
Email: elizabeth.m@live.ca
Tel: 403 892-0572
AVAILABILITY
Elizabeth lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, and is willing to visit any community between Calgary and the US border. She has her own vehicle; with enough notice she can usually accommodate any schedule.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
As a long-time member of Toastmasters International, Elizabeth has considerable speaking experience. She tailors her presentations for every audience, using her advanced communication and leadership skills and offering information and insights as both author and editor.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
An EAC member since 2007, Elizabeth has been editing and mentoring aspiring writers since 1999. She has worked with Brindle & Glass Publishing, TouchWood Editions, and Heritage House Publishing—all award-winning literary presses. She also has numerous private clients. Currently Elizabeth is studying to become a Certified Professional Editor.
Elizabeth recently completed her fourth book. Previously published books focus on prairie history and culture. Her work has appeared in several western Canadian publications and she regularly contributes to the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education magazine. Elizabeth has served on literary juries and has twice been a writer-in-residence. She is a touring artist with the Young Alberta Book Society and a Writers Guild of Alberta member.
OTHER INTERESTS
Elizabeth has cultivated a lifelong interest in the fine arts with an emphasis on the performing arts, particularly theatre and dance. She is an avid and eclectic reader.
Nathan Medcalf
Date: January 5, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Nathan Medcalf
Email: editor@equipmentjournal.com
Website: http://www.equipmentjournal.com/Editor.aspx
Tel: 416 459-5163
AVAILABILITY
Nathan lives in Burlington, Ontario, and is willing to travel anywhere in North America, assuming all his expenses are paid.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Nathan speaks about his career as an editor, writer and journalist at universities and trade shows, using personal experience and self-deprecation to connect with audiences and challenge them. Each speech is tailored to be as unique as each audience.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Nathan is a freelance editor and the editor of Equipment Journal, a Canadian business-to-business newspaper that focuses on the construction, mining and forestry industries. He has been an editor for 10 years and has been working in business journalism for four years. He routinely serves as Peer Judge of the KRW awards, which honour the best Canadian business writing.
Nathan recently served as manuscript and layout editor of Gathered Streams—an anthology published by the Canadian Authors Association, Toronto Branch.
OTHER INTERESTS
Nathan is a published author and prize-winning poet. His poetry has been published in international literary magazines and in one Canadian anthology. His first fiction: Another Round? was published in 2009.
Adrienne Montgomerie
Date: November 16, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Adrienne Montgomerie
Email: editor@CatchTheSun.net
Website: http://catchthesun.net
Tel: 613 217-3133
AVAILABILITY
Adrienne lives in Kingston, Ontario, and is available to speak in Kingston and area (within 100 kilometres).
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Adrienne will speak about freelancing, editing in general, textbook and academic editing with an emphasis on science, computer use in editing (she edits exclusively "on-screen"), and about EAC membership.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Adrienne's experience encompasses developmental, substantive and copy editing for a broad range of clients, including McGraw-Hill Ryerson, the Editors' Association of Canada, Pearson Education and Pronk & Associates. She specializes in science (predominantly chemistry), math, social sciences and first aid. In addition to instructing for the Parry Sound Community Access Network (see above), she has experience as a network administrator for WPSD Health Centre and as a curriculum correlation analyst for Nelson Education. She also has extensive production department experience. Working as a computer instructor in the Parry Sound Community Access Network, Adrienne has tutored individual clients in computer use. She has also developed curriculum and lesson plans based on the official Microsoft instructional syllabus and provided tutoring in proprietary hearing aid software for an audiologist.
Adrienne Montgomerie is a freelance editor and has been a member of the Editors' Association of Canada since 1997.
OTHER INTERESTS
Adrienne is a St. John Ambulance instructor, an advanced first aid trainer and a rescue technician (high-angle, ice water and moving water). Adrienne has also been a part-time firefighter and is a flatwater canoe instructor and a sea kayak guide-in-training.
donalee Moulton
Date: January 5, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: donalee Moulton
Email: quantum@eastlink.ca
Website: http://www.quantumcommunications.ca
Tel: 902 443-9600
AVAILABILITY
donalee is available to travel as needed. Based in Nova Scotia, she has easy access to the Maritimes.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
donalee is a professional speaker, educator and trainer. For the past 25 years, donalee has developed and facilitated courses for Saint Mary's University's Executive and Professional Development program. These include: Business Writing Skills; Strategic Communication for Government Professionals; Communications Materials: Advocacy and Fundraising; Writing Effective Policies and Procedures; Essentials of Professional Writing and Editing; Writing to Inform and Engage Employees; and Grammar, Punctuation and Proofreading Boot Camp.
donalee has also facilitated programs for the Learning Centre Plus, which offers professional development services for public servants. donalee has provided courses on the Basics of Communication, Technical Writing, Writing for Work, Effective Oral Presentations and Working with the Media.
In addition, she conducts programs for the Nova Scotia Public Service Commission's Professional Development Program, including a program on running effective meetings and avoiding miscommunications.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
donalee is the owner of Quantum Communications, a full-service public relations and training firm based in Halifax. She provides clients across Canada and beyond with a range of PR services, including editorial, media relations, government relations, crisis communications and communications planning.
OTHER INTERESTS
donalee is a professional journalist; her byline has appeared in more than 100 magazines and newspapers.
Frances Peck
Date: December 17, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Frances Peck
Email: fpeck@shaw.ca
Website: http://www.westcoasteditors.com
Tel: 604 998-1191
AVAILABILITY
Frances is happy to travel to any part of the globe. Invite her to travel to Europe, and she'll have her bags packed within the week.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Frances is an editing instructor at Douglas College and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and previously taught at the University of Ottawa. She has spoken about editing at national conferences, and her workshops are in demand across Canada.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Frances is a Vancouver-based partner with West Coast Editorial Associates and has been writing and editing for the past 20 years. Based in Ottawa until 2005, she has worked with many federal departments and national associations. Frances edits at all levels but particularly enjoys copy editing and rewriting for clarity. Peck's English Pointers, a collection of articles spanning English grammar, punctuation, usage and clarity, is available online at http://termiumplus.gc.ca/site/termium.php?lang=eng&cont=055.
OTHER INTERESTS
Frances is a long-time member of the Editors' Association of Canada and has volunteered for the association in a number of capacities, including chairing two national committees. She is also a member of the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN).
Arlene Prunkl
Date: November 16, 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Arlene Prunkl
Email: info@penultimateword.com
Tel: 778 478-0877
AVAILABILITY
Arlene lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, and is available to speak in the Okanagan region. She will consider speaking engagements in the Vancouver area if scheduling permits.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Arlene loves to educate audiences on the importance of editing and the intricacies of self-publishing. Since her days doing pre-concert talks for the Vancouver Symphony and the Vancouver Opera, Arlene has honed her speaking skills. She has given presentations alongside self-publishing guru Dan Poynter and at the Infinity Publishing author's conference in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the Toad River Writers' Retreat near Fort Nelson, British Columbia, and the Puerto Vallarta Writers' Conference.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since 2002, Arlene has edited almost 100 books, including both fiction and non-fiction. Topics include biographies, memoirs, history, science, travel, self-help, books for teens and children, niche genres and lots of fiction. In addition to freelance editing, for two years she worked in the publications department of a particle physics lab. She was later the editorial proofreader at the respected weekly newspaper Business in Vancouver and its subsidiary special publications. She has worked on numerous corporate projects, including newsletters, grant proposals, marketing materials and websites.
Arlene Prunkl is a freelance editor and an active member of the Editors' Association of Canada.
Rosemary Shipton
Date: January 18, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Rosemary Shipton
Email: rshipton@sympatico.ca
Tel: 416 690-2219
AVAILABILITY
Rosemary is happy to drive to locations in the Toronto area, or to travel anywhere outside that area if her travel expenses are covered. She can speak day or evening, once a date is chosen that suits both parties. Her fee is negotiable.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Rosemary has vast experience in publishing education, teaching and public speaking. She was one of two founding coordinators for the Publishing Program at Ryerson University in Toronto, a position she held for 17 years. She has already taught some 2,000 students copy/stylistic/substantive editing, both at Ryerson and in seminars for associations/groups from Victoria to Halifax. She has also conducted professional workshops in writing and editing for 30 different corporations, non-profit organizations and government departments in Toronto and Ottawa.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Rosemary has edited some 500 trade and scholarly books as well as complex illustrated art books. Several of these books have won major Canadian and US literary awards. Through her partnership, Shipton McDougall Maude Associates, she has worked on 12 commission of inquiry reports.
In 2007 Rosemary was granted an honorary doctorate by Trinity College, University of Toronto. Previous awards include the Tom Fairley Award for Excellence in Editing from the Editors' Association of Canada and three awards for excellence in teaching from Ryerson University.
OTHER INTERESTS
Rosemary describes herself as "a true culture vulture." She loves art in all its forms, classical music and jazz, opera, film and theatre. She reads widely, likes to travel and visits art galleries, museums and concert halls wherever she goes. She enjoys walking and hiking. She's a foodie, a great cook and a discriminating wine drinker. She also keeps close ties with her family—here and in Australia and New Zealand. And she becomes great friends with most of her authors ...
Gael Spivak
Date: January 18, 2011
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Gael Spivak
Email: gspivak@gmail.com
Tel: 613 773-5426
AVAILABILITY
Gael is available to speak in the NCR (Ottawa–Gatineau) region, but uses public transit, so arrangements will need to be made for transportation to locations not easily accessible by bus. She can speak in the evenings or on weekends, or—with sufficient lead time to arrange for a substitute at her workplace—during the day. Rates are negotiable, but Gael will volunteer her time for EAC functions.
SPEAKING FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Gael has a special interest in plain language and has spoken on writing and editing at the 2009 EAC conference and at Mount Royal University in Calgary. She also leads discussions on plain language and editing with offices of the federal government.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Gael Spivak is an English-language editor for the federal government. In 1988, she earned a Master of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of Calgary. She worked in bookstores for many years, maintaining her writing and editing skills through volunteer work.
Since moving to Ottawa in 2000, Gael has worked in government communications as both a contractor and an employee. She has written and edited documents on a range of topics, including animal health, biotechnology, ethics and government, food safety, pandemic influenza, plant health, police research and road salts. Gael developed, implemented and continues to lead a plain language project at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, where she specializes in plain language editing. She also coordinated speech writing for two-and-a-half years, working with senior government officials and a minister's office.
OTHER INTERESTS
Gael is an active member of the Editors' Association of Canada and serves on the executive of the NCR branch. She also does volunteer work with Not Just Tourists – Ottawa, a non-profit organization that helps travellers deliver medicine and medical supplies to countries in need.
This list was prepared by EAC member volunteers Deborah Lawson, Penny McKinlay and Jennie Ramstad.