WordCamp Montreal, a small conference about the popular blogging software WordPress, is taking this coming weekend at the Society for Art and Technology.
Event: WordCamp Montreal
When: July 11th and 12th
Where: 1195 Saint-Laurent Blvd. (Saint-Laurent metro station)
Contact: 514-844-2033 or here
Admission Fee: 30$ (25$ for students)
The annual Canadian Aid Literary Award Contest is looking for entries. Basic details are below, and some additional information is contained in this PDF. Good luck!
CONTEST PRIZE:
The 2009 Canadian Aid Literary Award Contest winning author will receive a TRADE BOOK PUBLISHING CONTRACT with publishing sponsor of the contest.
CONTEST JUDGES:
- Anthony Dalton, National President of the Canadian Authors Association (CAA)
- Lori Schubert, Executive Director of the Quebec Writers’ Federation
- Sylvia Taylor, President of the Federation of BC Writers
- Donna Allard, President of the Canadian Poetry Association
- Anne Millyard, Co-Founder of Annick Press
- Robert Morgan, Publisher of Bookland Press
- Deb Loughead, President of the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office or visit our websites www.canadianaid.org, www.canadianaid.com.
Each year, the Professional Writers Association of Canada presents its most dedicated national-level volunteer with the Lawrence Jackson Outstanding Achievement Award, named after late-PWAC President Larry Jackson. On June 4, the 11th anniversary of Larry’s passing, that honour went to the Quebec chapter’s favourite firebrand, Tracey Arial. Few members are as dedicated to the cause and as knowledgeable about PWAC and government policy as this past president.
So congratulation Tracey! We’re a better organization because you’re in it.
Our much-loved web maven, Marijke Vroomen-Durning, was awarded PWAC’s Quebec region volunteer award at last week’s national conference for her many contributions above and beyond her duties as this chapter’s membership coordinator. Congratulations!
PWAC Quebec Regional Director (and all-around fancy dresser) Craig Silverman was twice honoured over the weekend: his co-written book, Mafiaboy: How I Cracked the Internet and Why It’s Still Broken, won an Arthur Ellis award for best non-fiction; and his Maisonneuve magazine article, My Life In Dépanneurs, won a silver National Magazine award in the humour category.
Fellow PWAC Quebec member Alex Roslin received an honourable mention at the NMAs in the investigative reporting category for his Georgia Straight article, The Pill Pushers.
Congratulations to both of them!
The Globe and Mail has an article on the latest casualties of CBC’s budget shortfall. It’s retirement for Brian Stewart and Don Newman, and by this fall, goodbye to CBC News: Sunday Night (Evan Solomon and Carole MacNeil, its host aren’t retiring, as far as I can tell).
Interesting op-ed piece on the Christian Science Monitor website by media economics professor Robert G. Picard, who expounds on why most journalists, as they currently ply their trade, “deserve” low pay.
Before you shoot the messenger, please read the article. Comments are more than welcome.
(Hat tip to Gawker.)
THE 9TH ANNUAL YES SELF-EMPLOYED ARTISTS’ CONFERENCE:
BUSINESS SKILLS FOR CREATIVE SOULS
Monday, June 8, 2009 (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Centaur Theatre 453 St. François-Xavier
Montreal
Click here for details.
TICKETS:
$30.00
$25.00 Early Bird Registration (before May 15, 2009)
AGENDA
9:00 AM Registration
9:30 AM Welcome
9:45 AM MORNING KEYNOTE: Liane Balaban
10:30 AM ARTISTS’ PANEL: Creation and Inspiration: How They Made It!
12:00 PM Lunch Break
1:15 PM Show Me The Money!Panel discussion
2:15 PM YES Montreal’s Artists Project Plan ContestAnnouncement of contest winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd place)
2:30 PM Pause
2:45 PM Networking Your Way To Success
3:30 PM AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: Andy Nulman: POW! Right Between The Eyes! Profiting From the Power of Surprise
4:30 PM Closing Remarks
5:00 PM Networking Event
CONFERENCE PANELS
Creation and Inspiration: How They Made It!
A panel discussion with local artists and industry professionals who have distinguished themselves in their field.
Moderated by: Andy Nulman – President, Airborne Mobile
Featuring
Alan Handel – Producer, Documentary Film-Maker,
Juliana España Keller – Interdisciplinary artist (video, digital photography, sculptural installation and performance art),
Andrea Kenyon – Casting Director, Andrea Kenyon Casting Associates Inc.,
Dulcinea Langfelder – Dancer, Comedienne, Singer, Mime, Performance Artist,
Dawn Tyler Watson – Musician and Actor,
Joel Yanofsky – Author, Literary Journalist, Book Reviewer, Concordia Professor
Show Me The Money!
A topical panel discussion of the various ways artists can support themselves and their creative practice, including: grants, foundations, sponsorships and sales.
Presented by:
Dave Cool – Sponsorship Coordinator, McAuslan Brewery,
Jane Needles – Arts Administrator; Executive Director QDF,
Nancy Rosenfeld – President, Stephen R. Bronfman Foundation,
James Simon – Visual Artist, Illusionary Success Inc.
Networking Your Way To Success
Learn how to make the most of your networking skills to build a supportive community for a sustainable and successful career in the arts.
Presented by:
Alyssa Kuzmarov – Founder/Director, Oracle Productions
Peter E.H. Palmer – Vice President, Dale Carnegie Business Group
Networking Schmoozer
YES, ELAN and QDF invite you to join us for a post-conference schmoozer in the Old Port. A perfect way to wind down the day and meet artists and cultural industry personalities alike in a convivial and casual atmosphere.
Last Saturday, The Globe and Mail and The National Post published a “Notice of Hearing to Propose Settlement of Class Proceeding Heather Robertson v. Thomson and Others.” If you missed the long form you can read it by clicking here (Note: opens PDF file).
Details of the proposed settlement can be found on the website of Ms. Robertson’s law firm, Kloskie, Minsky LLP. Click here to access further information.
PWAC will be informing you on how to apply for a share of the settlement (if you are eligible) if and when the settlement is approved by the Superior Court of Ontario. In the meantime, if you are a potential claimant, and after reviewing the settlement you have any objections to the agreement you must submit them in writing to Kloskie, Minsky by June 8th, 2009.
Derek Finkle, former editor of Toro magazine, officially launched his freelance writer agency earlier this week. Details can be found here. (Hat tip to Fagstein for the heads-up.)
PWAC Quebec wishes the group success in raising freelance writer rates beyond the arbitrary and antiquated ceiling of $1 per word.
If you are a member and require the password for our members only section, please email us and we will send it to you.
