Welcome to the Calgary twig of Editors Canada!

Who we are

We are the Calgary twig of Editors Canada, originally serving southern Alberta, eastern British Columbia and southern Saskatchewan. In the summer of 2021, our chairs assumed the leadership of Editors Edmonton, whose members live in the greater Edmonton area, northern Alberta, and northern Saskatchewan. With the proliferation of online training capabilities over the last few years, we’re pleased to now count among our members editors from other parts of British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, as well as eastern provinces such as Ontario. All are welcome! We are a vibrant and growing twig with a combined membership of approximately 150. Since early 2021, our chairs have been working hard to offer formal and informal events and training opportunities each month. Our events are not only way cool, but many are also open to the public. Why not join us sometime? (Rest assured that since we were founded in 2015, nobody has ever been bitten… because we don’t bite!)

Our programs

Book Club: We meet in person and virtually every six to eight weeks to discuss our latest pick. Our choices cover any topic related to being an editor, such as editing, writing, language, business building, networking, and mindset.

YYC Webinar Club: We pick a recorded webinar, purchase and watch it as a group, and then discuss what we learned. Our discussions often rival the recordings for training value! (Popcorn optional.)

Coffee & Convo: Informal meetings to chat about topics of interest and get peer feedback.

Shop Talk: Formal professional development sessions, such as guest speakers and workshops, to make our fantastic editors even more awesome.

Group #StetWalks: Because who doesn’t need some fresh air sometimes? (#StetWalk is a hashtag editors use to post pictures while out walking.)

We also partner with other organizations, such as When Words Collide, to collaborate on all things writing and editing. For more information about editing in Calgary, the support we can offer you, and all the fun you’re missing out on, we invite you to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Twig Talk.


Looking for an editor?

Hiring a professional editor brings many advantages:

  • Get informed, objective feedback on your work to guide improvements.
  • Enhance the clarity, consistency, coherency, and correctness of your writing while saving time and frustration.
  • Rectify any issues with overall structure, flow, grammar, mechanics, and word choice.
  • Increase the likelihood of publication and broader readership.

Our editors specialize in different types of writing in numerous genres. Let us help you find just the right local editor for your important project:

  • Email us to have your request broadcast to our 150 twig members. Any interested, qualified, and available editors will respond, and from there you can pick the person best suited to you. Please include as much detail as possible about your project, the type of editing you’re looking for, your manuscript length, and preferred deadline.
  • If you don’t need a local editor, you can also search Editors Canada’s Online Directory of Editors and contact the candidates you’re interested in directly.

For more advice on hiring an editor, please visit Editors Canada’s Hire an Editor page.

Looking to join Editors Canada?

Editors Canada welcomes professional editors, students, and anyone interested in the broader industry of writing, editing, publishing, indexing, and translation. If you’re not sure where to start, contact us or come to one of our many events open to nonmembers. Member benefits at the branch and twig level include discounted rates on professional development and some member-only programming. Members can also receive editing job alerts.

To learn what Canadian editors are thinking and writing about, read The Editors’ Weekly blog.

Not an Editors Canada member yet?

No problem. All Calgary-area editors are welcome to attend our events and meetings.


Upcoming meetings and events

July Coffee & Convo: Summer Planning
Friday, July 11| 2:00 pm–3:00 pm | Free for members and non-members
How do you make the most of the summer months, personally and professionally? Do you catch up on reading or training? Take time away to recharge? Join us for an informal conversation to get ideas, recommendations, and motivation! Registration is open.

July YYC Webinar Club
Friday, July 18 | 1:00 pm–4:00 pm | Free
This month’s pick is Kristen Tate’s presentation “Sharpen Your Editing Skills by Studying Fiction.” Kristen is an experienced fiction editor and the author of the book Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction. In this webinar, she shares how to diagnose plot problems, identify why a scene isn’t working, and recognize when authors are successfully breaking “rules” with their own craft choices. Kirsten will also demonstrate how to build your own Novel Study toolkit to improve your editorial instincts and better assist your authors. Registration is open!

July Shop Talk: PerfectIt Presentation
Tuesday, July 22 | 10:00 am–11:00 am | Free for members; $20 for non-members
Have you considered adding PerfectIt (a consistency tool that saves time on large documents) to your editing toolkit? Would you like to see it in action first? In this presentation, Brigitte Phillips, a customer success manager, will demonstrate how to use PerfectIt and answer any of your questions. (Editors Canada members get a 30% discount on a PerfectIt subscription.)  Please register here. The event will be recorded.

August: When Words Collide Merchants’ Corner Table: Looking for Volunteers
Friday, August 15–Sunday, August 17, 2025 | Sheraton Cavalier, Calgary | Free for volunteers
When Words Collide is a festival for writers, readers, artists, and publishers of commercial and literary fiction. It is a fantastic opportunity to connect with local writers. If you would like to volunteer at the Editors Calgary table, please contact Jackie. We are looking to cover the following shifts:

  • Saturday, August 16 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
  • Saturday, August 16 | 3:00–6:00 pm
  • Sunday, August 17 | Anytime between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm

August #Stetwalk + Picnic
Monday, August 18 | 7:00–9:00 pm | Free for members and guests

Mark your calendars! Let’s have a walk and talk to share our summer stories, hear about When Words Collide, and bask in the awesomeness of being around other editors. Registration coming soon.

Summer Book Club
In Person: Thursday, August 21 | 7:00–8:30 pm MT | Free for members and non-members
Virtual: Monday, August 25 | 7:00–8:30 pm MT | Free for members and non-members

Romance, Eh? 
Saturday, October 24–October 25, 2025 | Holiday Inn Conference Center, Edmonton South | Member only

Are you a romance editor? Editors Calgary is sponsoring this romance author event. We will be featured as a sponsor in their social media posts and on their website. Each attendee will also receive a tote bag with our logo printed on it. We are excited for this opportunity to raise our profile among local writers.

We have been given a few free tickets for some of our editors to attend and network. If you edit romance and are interested in participating in this event, please contact Marlies.

 

News and updates

Editors Canada Discord Server
Editors Canada now has a Discord server. The Discord server is a place for members to connect, share resources and referrals, discuss all things editing, or take a break from work and just chat. The server has a dedicated channel for Editors Calgary and Edmonton, in which you can connect with local editors. Join the Discord server.

Get Involved
Volunteering for a director a committee chair position is a great way to learn more about the organization, shape projects that will benefit members, network, and build your skills. For information or to express interest, please reach out to Alex Benarzi or Suzanne Aubin.

In case you missed it: June e-news update

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