Editors' Association of Canada


The Editors' Association of Canada, or Association canadienne des réviseurs in French, promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communication. The association has about 1500 members, representing both salaried and freelance editors, who work with individuals and organizations in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit, and publishing sectors.
Six regional branches—British Columbia, Prairie Provinces, Saskatchewan, Toronto, National Capital Region, and Quebec/Atlantic Canada—provide a range of local programming and services. Several smaller branches, or 'twigs', also offer local services to members: , , , , , and .
Editors Canada sponsors professional development seminars, promotes and maintains high standards of editing and publishing in Canada, creates guidelines to help editors secure fair pay and good working conditions, helps both in-house and freelance editors to network, and cooperates with other publishing associations in areas of common concern.
The association is incorporated federally as a not-for-profit organization and is governed at the national level by an executive council.

History

In the late 1970s, several young Toronto editors began talking about their shared problems and goals, and by May 1979 the Freelance Editors' Association of Canada had been officially launched. There were approximately 50 people involved, with Maggie MacDonald serving as the association's first president. Within the first year, the association had a logo, a constitution, and a directory.
By 1981 Ottawa was hosting a group; three years later Montreal formed a committee; and in 1985 British Columbia did the same. However, until 1990, FEAC operated as a Toronto-based organization. During 1990 and 1991, a new national structure with four separate regional branches was established. The branches were Quebec-Atlantic Canada, National Capital Region, Toronto, and Western Canada.
In 1982, FEAC adopted a French name, Association canadienne des pigistes de l'edition, and thus committed to being a bilingual association.
During the first 15 years of its existence, FEAC addressed primarily issues that were uniquely of concern to freelance editors. However, over the years that emphasis had gradually changed. So in 1994 the association's name was changed to the Editors' Association of Canada/Association canadienne des rédacteurs-réviseurs, and in-house editors were invited to join.
In 1996, the Editors' Association of Alberta came under the umbrella of EAC, becoming the Prairie Provinces Branch. And in 2005, a group of editors in Saskatchewan formed a sixth branch, Saskatoon.
In 2000, the association’s French name was changed to Association canadienne des réviseurs.
In 2006, EAC launched its professional certification program for proofreading, copy editing, structural editing, and stylistic editing, along with the CPE designation. In 2015, the association launched its French editing proficiency program, Programme d'agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada .
In 2015, the association changed the short form of its name from "EAC" to "Editors Canada". Editors' Association of Canada / Association canadienne des réviseurs remains the association's legal name.

Major programs

Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence
Established in 1983 and presented annually, The Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence recognizes the editor's often invisible contribution to written communication. The cash award of $2,000 for the winner and $500 for each of the other two finalists is made possible by the association and its donors.
Claudette Upton Scholarship
The Claudette Upton Scholarship is an annual award of $1,000 that recognizes a student editor from among Editors Canada's membership. It was awarded for the first time in 2010.
Lee d'Anjou Volunteer of the Year Award and President's Award for Volunteer Service
In 2010, the association launched the Lee d'Anjou Volunteer of the Year Award and the President's Award for Volunteer Service, which recognize service by members to the organization at the local or national level.
Editors' Association of Canada Certification
Editors Canada's certification program sets objective standards for recognizing high levels of knowledge and skill in editing. Successful candidates can become Certified Professional Editors or earn certification in proofreading, copy editing, structural editing, and stylistic editing.
Programme d'agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada
In 2015, the association launched its French editing proficiency program, Programme d'agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada. PARL is composed of two exams: the examen d'agrément en révision linguistique générale, which focuses on French editing; and the examen en révision comparative, which tests concordance in editing of text that has been translated from English to French. Successful candidates can earn designations such as réviseur agréé and professionnel agréé en révision générale et comparative.
Annual Conference
The association hosts a spring conference in a different Canadian city each year. In 2015, the association hosted the first international conference of editors with attendees from Canada, Africa, Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. The 2016 Editors Canada conference will take place June 10–12 in Vancouver.

Publications

Professional Editorial Standards
Lists the skills and knowledge needed for editing in English-language media in Canada.
Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle
Professional standards for editing in French.
Editing Canadian English, 3rd edition
A reference guide for writers, editors, and others who work with Canadian English.
Also available as an online resource.
Editorial Niches
Explores a range of editorial genres.
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards
Covers the core editorial skills needed to work as an editor. Divided into four volumes: structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, and proofreading. Each volume contains situations, solutions, and discussions about the issues presented.
Certification Study Guides
Contain an overview of Editors Canada Certification, advice on how to prepare for the tests, a practice test, an answer key, and marking sheets. There are four volumes:
Active Voice / Voix active
The Editors' Association of Canada's national newsletter.
So You Want to Be an Editor
An inside look at the editing profession in Canada and an overview of the path to launching an editing career.