The Editors' Association of Canada/Association canadienne des réviseurs (EAC) promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communication. The association has more than 1,600 members, both salaried and freelance, who work with individuals and organizations in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit and publishing sectors.
Six regional branches—British Columbia, the Prairie Provinces, Saskatchewan, Toronto, the National Capital Region and Quebec/Atlantic Canada—provide a range of local programming and services.
EAC sponsors professional development seminars, promotes and maintains high standards of editing and publishing in Canada, establishes 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.
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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 réviseurs, and in-house editors were invited to join.
In 1996, the Editors' Association of Alberta came under the umbrellas of EAC, becoming the Prairie Provinces Branch. And in 2005, a group of editors in Saskatchewan formed a sixth branch, Saskatoon (later renamed "Saskatchewan").
Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence
Established in 1983 and presented annually by the Editors' Association of Canada, The Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence recognizes the editor's often invisible contribution to written communication. The cash award of $2,000 is made possible by 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) as well as by donations from association members.
Claudette Upton Scholarship
The Claudette Upton Scholarship is an annual, national award that recognizes a promising student editor from among EAC's membership. It was awarded for the first time in 2010. This is a $1,000 scholarship to help support continuing professional development in editing.
EAC Certification
EAC's certification program is for editors of written material who work in English. Successful candidates can become Certified Professional Editors or earn certification in proofreading, copy editing and/or structural and stylistic editing.
Annual Conference
Hosted by a different branch each year, EAC's annual spring conference provides professional development and networking opportunities for members and non-members alike.
Professional Editorial Standards
Adopted by the association's membership in 1991, revised in 1999 and again in 2009, Professional Editorial Standards list the skills and knowledge needed for editing in English-language media in Canada.
Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle
The association first produced Les Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle, professional standards for editing in French, in 2006.
Editing Canadian English
Editing Canadian English is a reference book for writers, editors, and journalists working in Canada. The first edition of the book, published in 1987, was written by a group of association members in Toronto. The second edition was first published in May 2000 by Macfarlane, Walter & Ross and subsequently reprinted by McClelland & Stewart.
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards (MPES) is a four-volume reference tool that covers the core editorial skills needed to work as an editor. MPES is divided into volumes on stylistic editing, structural editing, copy editing and proofreading. Each volume contains situations, solutions and discussions about the issues presented.
Certification Study Guides
EAC's Certification Study Guides are the primary resources for anyone who wants to become a certified editor. Each guide contains an overview of EAC Certification, advice on how to prepare for the tests, a practice test, an answer key and marking sheets.
Active Voice / La voix active
Published since 1981, Active Voice / Voix active is the Editors' Association of Canada's national newsletter. It is published three times a year.