Editors' Association of Canada

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 (FEAC) 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 (which was essentially BC).

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,[8] 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 (later renamed "Saskatchewan").

In 2000, the association’s French name was changed to Association canadienne des réviseurs.[9]

In 2006, EAC launched its professional certification program for proofreading, copy editing, structural editing, and stylistic editing, along with the CPE (Certified Professional Editor) designation.[10] In 2015, the association launched its French editing proficiency program, Programme d'agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada (PARL).

In 2015, the association changed the short form of its name from "EAC" to "Editors Canada" (in French, "ACR" changed to "Réviseurs Canada"). Editors' Association of Canada / Association canadienne des réviseurs remains the association's legal name.

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 (Editors 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 (PARL)

In 2015, the association launched its French editing proficiency program, Programme d'agrément en révision linguistique – Réviseurs Canada (PARL). 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.

Professional Editorial Standards

Lists the skills and knowledge needed for editing in English-language media in Canada. (Adopted by the association's membership in 1991, revised in 1999 and again in 2009.)

Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle

Professional standards for editing in French. (First produced in 2006.)

Editing Canadian English, 3rd edition

A reference guide for writers, editors, and others who work with Canadian English. (First edition was published in 1987; second edition was published in May 2000; third edition was published in 2015.)

Also available as an online resource (www.editingcanadianenglish.ca).

Editorial Niches

Explores a range of editorial genres. (Published in 2015.)

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:

• Proofreading Study Guide
• Copy Editing Study Guide
• Stylistic Editing Study Guide
• Structural Editing Study Guide

Active Voice / Voix active

The Editors' Association of Canada's national newsletter. (Since 1981; now published once a year.)

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. (First published in 1991; revised and updated in 2011 and 2015.)

• American Medical Writers Association
• Council of Science Editors
• European Association of Science Editors
• European Medical Writers Association
• Society for Technical Communication

• Editors Canada website
• Réviseurs Canada (French) website