Media Contact:
Michelle Ou
Communications Manager
Editors’ Association of Canada
Association canadienne des réviseurs
416 975-1379 / 1 866 226-3348
communications@editors.ca
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, May 12, 2011—The Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC) has announced the finalists for the 2010 Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence. The $2,000 prize is awarded annually to an editor who has shown excellence, skill and talent in helping to produce a work published in Canada in English or French in the award year.
“Editors are often the silent partner in written communication,” says award coordinator and EAC past president Moira White. “The Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence provides a glimpse into the extraordinary lengths some editors go to, to ensure that a document ‘sings.’”
The finalists have been invited to EAC’s awards banquet, to be held during EAC’s 2011 conference in Vancouver on May 28.
SHORT LIST
Lucy Kenward of Vancouver, BC, for Vij’s at Home: Relax Honey by Meeru Dhalwala (Douglas & McIntyre)
The judges commended Kenward’s work, noting that she was responsible for the developmental, structural and stylistic edits. She also worked on the first proofs, wrote advance book information, kept marketing concerns in mind, flagged a possible legal/regulatory issue, dealt with the book designer, suggested photos and even cooked some of the recipes. Kenward handled every aspect of editing this book with deftness and care, always attuned to the author’s, publisher’s and reader’s needs in seemingly equal measure.
Arlene Prunkl of Kelowna, BC, for Brain School: Stories of Children with Learning Disabilities by Howard Eaton (Glia Press)
The judges praised Prunkl’s editing, noting that she worked on all levels of the manuscript, from structural editing to proofreading. She helped the author refine and clarify his concepts and his writing so that he could make complex, academic material accessible to families interested in learning more about neuroplasticity, and how the practical applications of this research can help people with learning disabilities. The judges also noted that the book benefited greatly from the editor’s high editorial standards and genuine enthusiasm for the project.
Christine Wiesenthal of Edmonton, AB, for The Collected Works of Pat Lowther by Pat Lowther (posthumous) (NeWest Press.)
The judges lauded Wiesenthal’s editorial contribution in turning an incomplete archive of material into the collected works of poetry. She had to reconcile many conflicting details in chronology, stanza breaks and punctuation, and ensure that these revised details carried over accurately into print. Wiesenthal handled this complex, detail-oriented job with confidence.
The judges for the 2010 Tom Fairley Award are experienced and respected Canadian editors. Carmelita McGrath is an award-winning author, poet and editor living in St. John’s, NL. Frances Peck, a Vancouver, BC-based editor and teacher, is a partner in West Coast Editorial Associates. She has been involved with EAC’s Professional Editorial Standards and its professional certification program for many years. Mary Lou Roy is an Edmonton, AB-based editor who works for the University of Alberta Press. She was winner of the 2009 Tom Fairley Award.
The Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence was established in 1983 and is presented annually by EAC. The cash award of $2,000 is made possible by generous grants from EAC and several publishers: HarperCollins, Random House of Canada, Breakwater Books, Orca Book Publishers, UBC Press, Madison, the C.D. Howe Institute, New Society Publishers and the University of Calgary Press. Further information can be found on EAC’s Tom Fairley Award web page.
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About the Editors’ Association of Canada
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 more than 1,600 members, 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 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, Saskatchewan, Toronto, National Capital Region and Quebec/Atlantic Canada. www.editors.ca