News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. EDITORS CANADA AWARDS: Help us shine a spotlight
2. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Alison Larabie Chase
3. GET INVOLVED: Join our member services committee and make a difference
4. STUDENT RELATIONS: Engage the next generation of editors
5. CONFERENCE 2018: Meet the PictureYourselfYXE selfie contest winner
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishments
7. MEMBER DISCOUNT: Online workshop on creating accessible websites and documents
1. EDITORS CANADA AWARDS: Help us shine a spotlight
Editors Canada awards are presented at our annual conference (in 2018, this will happen in Saskatoon on May 26), but the process begins this month! Here’s how you can help us keep our awards program vibrant.
- Share your time and expertise by joining the awards committee. We are looking for committee members as well as a chair to guide this committee that helps to shine a light on exceptional editors. If you are organized, like working as part of a team, and enjoy promoting editors and editing, you’d be a great addition to this active committee! For more information about how you can get involved, contact vicepresident@editors.ca.
- Nominate an outstanding editor or volunteer when the call for nominations is issued.
- Donate to the Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence, the Karen Virag award, or the Claudette Upton Scholarship. The generous donations of our members and other partners make these cash awards (worth a total of $4,400 per year) possible.
2. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Alison Larabie Chase
Alison Larabie Chase joined Editors Canada in 2014, but has worked as an in-house editor and communications professional for the past 15 years. Last year, Alison decided to write and edit on a full-time freelance basis and hasn’t looked back. She works for a wide range of clients, including the Conference Board, university professors, government departments and creative agencies.
A member of Editors Ottawa-Gatineau, Alison began volunteering when she found herself drawn to the communications coordinator position for the 2017 conference. She knew her skillset would be valuable in helping make the conference a success, and had a blast doing so! “Being part of a successful conference team is unforgettable,” she says. “Watching everyone enjoy the sessions and keynotes, connect with others, and celebrate our profession was a true gift.” Not only has volunteering allowed Alison to meet new people, she also finds it a great way to network and keep her skills sharp.
Since then Alison has found more ways to get involved, hosting a workshop in Ottawa and completing testing for the new computer-based certification exams. Although she admits client work can sometimes get in the way of volunteering activities, she loves her flexible schedule as it allows her the freedom to participate in general.
When not at her desk editing—accompanied by her two feline companions—Alison loves to travel and explore new places. She also has quite the command of language, and in addition to English and French speaks both Portuguese and Spanish.
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.
3. GET INVOLVED: Join our member services committee and make a difference
Our member services committee is looking for anglophone and francophone volunteers to help us engage new and existing members by developing new services and resources and making recommendations for improvement. Interested? Contact the committee chair, Sara Promislow.
4. STUDENT RELATIONS: Engage the next generation of editors
The student relations committee welcomed several new members over the summer. Our work is the foundation of a lot of Editors Canada’s strategic plan, and new members—and new ideas—are always welcome.
The new print brochure, “11 Reasons to Become a Student Affiliate,” launched in September. Branches and twigs have received a supply of brochures to add to the marketing materials they use at presentations, seminars and public events.
We continue to focus on marketing the student affiliate program, Editors Canada, and editing as a career to Canadian post-secondary institutions and their students. We are pleased to have student-specific marketing materials for our new initiative: participating in university career fairs and visiting university student centres. We were part of the Halifax Career Fair on September 26 and the UBC Career Days on October 18 and 19. The lessons learned at these pilot events will help shape our strategies for future events.
The national office is also arranging for Editors Canada members to visit classrooms at schools that offer editing and publishing courses, to talk about Editors Canada and the student affiliate program.
Want to get involved in our student outreach? Email studentrelations@editors.ca for more info.
Students can join Editors Canada for just $50 per year
We’re proud to give students a more affordable way to join Editors Canada. Student affiliates benefit from exclusive association benefits and get the training, connections and resources needed to help jumpstart their careers. The number of student affiliates in the association is growing and we look forward to creating opportunities for partnerships with educational institutions and offering even more training. If you know a student who is considering a career in editing, writing or communications, or if you teach students in these areas, please pass this message along and encourage them to join us today.
5. CONFERENCE 2018: Meet the PictureYourselfYXE selfie contest winner
Congratulations to Wendy Barron, from Vancouver, BC, who won Editors Saskatchewan’s PictureYourselfYXE contest. The Saskatchewan branch, which will be hosting the 2018 national conference, was offering a free 2018 conference pass as the prize in a social media contest that was launched at the 2017 conference in Gatineau. To enter, people simply had to take a selfie holding the contest poster and post it online using these hashtags: #PictureYourselfYXE #Editors18.
Wendy came to editing in 2014, after decades working in health care administration. She is passionate about language and loves helping clients clarify their meaning and reach their intended audience. She is a member of Editors Canada and the Plain Language Association International.
To find out more about the 2018 conference, join us on Facebook (Editors Canada Conference 2018) or Twitter (@EditorCon).
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishments
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.
7. MEMBER DISCOUNT: Online workshop on creating accessible websites and documents
David Berman Communications has offered Editors Canada members and student affiliates discounted registration for David’s popular webinar on creating accessible websites and documents.
Webinar: eAccessibility with David Berman: WCAG 2.0 for Web, Office, InDesign, PDF
Date: November 15, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., eastern time
Prerequisites: None (no programming knowledge required)
Are you interested in improving document accessibility? In this online workshop, David Berman will discuss why universal design is important for everybody—to broaden your audience, to comply with the law, to drive down costs, or simply to be socially responsible. He will also provide in-depth familiarity with W3C WCAG 2.0 success criteria, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504/508 and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements.
Editors Canada members, student affiliates and friends register at the discounted rate of $200 (regular price $330) by using the code EDITORSCA. For more information or to register for this webinar, visit David’s website.
Looking for more Editors Canada partner discounts? Visit the members’ area.
Welcome to Editors Canada!
British Columbia
Jennifer Halyk, Donna Millar
Calgary
Andrea Martin
Edmonton
Tim Baril, Daralynn Pilkie, Vivian Zenari
Saskatoon
Merle Massie
Hamilton-Halton
Rachel Reed
Toronto
Mark Jones, Julie Mann, Caroline Mashinter, Mary O’Neill, Nuzhat Teli
Quebec/Atlantic Canada
Michelle Braiden, Catherine Jalbert, Carol-Ann Mimeault-Simard, Marie Josée NDI
Nova Scotia
Emily Adams, Pascale Salvatore
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.