FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, May 11, 2015—The Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC) has announced the finalists for the 2014 Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence.
The Tom Fairley Award recognizes an editor’s outstanding contribution to a work published in Canada in English or French in the award year. The $2,000 grand prize will be presented at the awards banquet of the international Editing Goes Global conference in Toronto on June 13. EAC is also pleased to announce that the two other finalists will each receive a cash prize of $500 in recognition of their exceptional editorial performance.
SHORT LIST
Sue MacLeod of Toronto, Ontario, for Mending Hearts, Building Bridges: The Story of Save a Child’s Heart by Bernard Goldman (Save a Child’s Heart Foundation)
MacLeod is an editor who clearly has the confidence and trust of her clients. “She did a superlative job of finding the gold in a mountain of text and shaping it into a cohesive and powerful book, while keeping her client’s aims and preferences steadily in view,” said one judge. The judges were impressed with her work on the manuscript, as well as her ability to negotiate tricky political and ideological waters, collaborate with the book’s designer and keep the project on schedule. “Overall, a stellar editing job.”
Suzanne Rent of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Our Children (Metro Guide Publishing)
In her two and a half years as editor of Our Children, Rent has transformed the magazine from a service publication to one that engages parents, teachers and students. Her enthusiasm for her role is obvious. She meets with the editorial board, assigns stories, writes sections herself, and, within a small budget, manages all aspects of producing this very attractive and interesting magazine. She extends herself beyond “mere” editorial duties to being a mentor who encourages young talent. “She shows us a side of editors that we often forget,” said one judge. “We are caring, involved and creative people within our local communities as much as we are line-tamers and grammar gurus.”
Grace Yaginuma of Vancouver, British Columbia, for A Discerning Eye: The Walter C. Koerner Collection of European Ceramics by Carol E. Mayer (Figure 1 Publishing)
Art books are notoriously complicated to edit because of the many elements they contain (text, multiple illustrations, captions, photo credits and reference notes) and the particular conventions they follow. This project was hindered by several delays and a tight schedule, but Yaginuma edited the manuscript expertly at all levels, performing structural, stylistic and copy editing for the project. She was always professional, positive and patient in her written communications with everyone involved on the project. “This very fine publication would not have been possible without [her] excellent editorial work and file management.”
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The judges for the 2014 Tom Fairley Award are respected Canadian editors. Peter Midgley is the author of a travel memoir, Counting Teeth: A Namibian Story, and was the recipient of the 2013 Tom Fairley Award. He is also the senior editor (acquisitions) at the University of Alberta Press. Rosemary Shipton was the founding coordinator of the Publishing Program at Ryerson University. She has taught all levels of editing. In 2007 Trinity College, University of Toronto, granted her an honorary doctorate for her contribution to publishing in Canada. Sandy Newton is a freelance writer, editor and consultant. She co-authored Birds of Newfoundland (winner of a 2010 Atlantic Book Award) and won the 2012 Tom Fairley Award.
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About the Editors’ Association of Canada
Additional information about the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence is available on the EAC website.
The Editors’ Association of Canada/Association canadienne des réviseurs began in 1979 as the Freelance Editors’ Association of Canada to promote and maintain high standards of editing. EAC is the voice of editors in Canada, with 1,500 members and affiliates, both salaried and freelance, who work in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit and publishing sectors. EAC’s professional development programs and services include professional certification, an annual conference, seminars, guidelines for fair pay and working conditions, and networking with other associations. EAC has six regional branches: British Columbia; Prairie Provinces (currently on hiatus); Saskatchewan; Toronto; National Capital Region; and Quebec/Atlantic Canada, as well as smaller branches (called twigs) in Calgary, Alberta; Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph, Ontario; Hamilton/Halton, Ontario; Kingston, Ontario; Nova Scotia; and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Media Contact
Michelle Ou
Communications Manager
Editors’ Association of Canada
Association canadienne des réviseurs
416 975-1379 / 1 866 226-3348
communications@editors.ca