Written by Janine Harker; copy edited by Meagan Kus
I am terrible at making choices, especially between good things. Put a menu in front of me and at best, I’ll have narrowed my choices to two or three equally desirable options by the time the server arrives.
Imagine my trepidation, then, when asked to participate in the selection of the 2019 Karen Virag Award recipient. I can barely manage to choose what to eat—how was I going to help select an award recipient?
Written by Karen Smith; copy edited by Katie Beaton
This past June, I flew from British Columbia to Nova Scotia and joined Editors Canada in celebrating the organization’s 40th anniversary conference. It was both my first Editors Canada conference and my first time in Halifax. As a novice conference attendee, I wanted to learn as much as I could at the training sessions. I also hoped to make some new connections in the publishing world. However, as I prepared to fly east, I wasn’t sure what to expect at the conference and whether it would be worth the time and cost to attend. Ultimately, it was an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I was glad to have been part of it. In return, I hope that sharing my experience may give other editors insight into whether attending the conference will be of value to them.
Editors BC held elections in May to fill positions becoming vacant on the executive.
Please join us in thanking outgoing executives Marianne Grier (moving from branch chair to past chair), Ritu Guglani (professional development), Roma Ilnyckyj (past chair), and Heather Ross (member services) for the volunteer hours they have dedicated to serving all Editors BC members.
We are also extending a warm welcome to our new executive members Lucy Kenward (member services) and Amber Riaz (professional development). These new executive members will take over from their outgoing counterparts on July 1.
We are still in need of volunteers to fill the positions of branch chair and programs co-chair. If you are interested in either of these positions, or know of someone who might be a good candidate, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Barbara Johnston, at bcvolunteers@editors.ca.
Written by Nancy Tinari; copy edited by Katie Beaton
Ruth Wilson’s “Advanced Proofreading” seminar provided us with a wealth of information, tips, and exercises derived from Wilson’s decades of experience. The hours flew by as we learned, worked, and occasionally became sidetracked by those minute issues that editors love to debate.
Though the other participants and I had wildly divergent proofreading experiences, I’m confident that all of us found Wilson’s seminar to be valuable. Her material was extensive and broad enough to help near-beginners as well as those more experienced in hard copy markup, online markup, or both.
What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 7:00–9:00 pm (elections start at 8:00 pm)
Where: Alma VanDusen Room, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for Editors BC members, non-members, and students.
Summer is coming! Join us in winding down the Editors BC 2019–2020 season with an ice-cream and refreshments social and volunteer recognition night.
Written by Roma Ilnyckyj; copy edited by Maggie Clark
As the executive of Editors BC, we know that we have members all across BC, as well as in Yukon, and we know that this geographic range means that a lot of our members don’t get the same access to Editors BC benefits as those who live in or near Vancouver. To address this gap, we have some initiatives in the works. For a start, we’re making our monthly meetings accessible to all our members through live streaming.
Written by Joanna Vandervlugt; copy edited by Maggie Clark
On Saturday, February 23, 2019, I attended Frances Peck’s seminar for Editors BC, “Getting the Message Across: Clear Writing Tips.”
Despite coming over from Vancouver Island, I found this seminar’s location convenient. The seminar was set up in Vancouver at the BCIT Downtown Campus. This place was an easily accessible one for those who were familiar with the SkyTrain routes like myself.
After reaching my destination from the SkyTrain and settling in, I got to know a bit more about the other class participants. We introduced ourselves, and it seemed that the seminar participants ranged from proofreaders, editors, writers, and academics. Many commented that they were a fan of Frances, and I soon learned why.
