Corporate Employee Experience
Communications Officer, Toronto, 1986 to 1993
Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, Ontario Government, August 1989 - November 1992
Highlights included travelling to Moosonee, Fort Frances and Algonquin Park;
hosting a Pennsylvania radio station in the subway and at the CN Tower; writing
speeches for officials; participating in Canadian
media marketplaces in Dallas, New York, and California; holding events for 200
media in Toronto and bringing the Polka Dogs to Washington DC. I worked with
lots of great people here and left only to become a writer.
Florida Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, September 1987 - August 1989
My job as Canadian media rep. began with a week in Miami and Orlando.
Day one in the office saw editorial cartoons of gun-toting Floridians
appearing across Canada in response to the state’s new gun law.
Then travel arrangements had to be made for Canadians attending the SATW
conference in Orlando. After that, annual media events in Toronto and
Montreal had to be organized. The excitement never stopped. This was a
great job and I wouldn’t have left it for anything other than Ontario.
Lewis Carroll Public Relations, Australian Tourism Commission,
November 1986 - September 1987
The ATC took me on my first business press trip. Five journalists and I
enjoyed yachting on Sydney Harbour, koala chasing near Brisbane, snorkeling
on the Great Barrier Reef, touring through the tropical rainforest at
Silky Oaks Colonial Lodge, and following in the steps of Crocodile
Dundee through the Australian outback. The rest of the time, I
wrote press releases that appeared as is in the Globe and Mail, the
Toronto Star, the Financial Post and other daily papers throughout Canada.
I also produced the ATC’s first-ever media coverage analysis.
Other clients included a local restaurant, real estate developers and
Essilor eyeglass manufacturer.
Administration, Ontario, 1985 -1986
Canadian Federation of Students-Services, September 1985 - November 1986
Two different administrative positions at CFS-S enabled me to learn
about organizing student conferences throughout Canada and arranging for
speakers at university and college campuses.
Education
Medical Writing Mentorship, November 1997 - April 1998
Co-sponsored by the Cultural Human Resources Council
and the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC)
University of Western, Ontario, September 1982 - May 1985
- Bachelor of Arts
- French Language Diploma
Languages
- English and a working knowledge of French
Awards and Certificates
- École secondaire et alternative Le Vitrail certificat d’appréciation, 2010
- Lawrence Jackson Memorial Award of Achievement, 2009
- Canadian Vietnam Veterans Association of Quebec appreciation plaque, 1997
- Silver Ontario Government Forum Award for "Black Heritage Tour" media kit in
September 1992 (jointly with Jude Kelly)
- Florida Division of Tourism appreciation plaque, 1989
- South Western Ontario Organization of Parachutist First Jump certificate, 1985
- Certificat de L’École d’été de Trois-Pistoles, 1984
- Girl Guides of Canada, Canada Cord, 1977
Entrepreneurial Experience
Independent Writer, Montreal, 1993 to present
Books
I have written eight books, five of which have been published,
and contributed to another eight. Refer to Books
for more information.
Journalism Articles
I have published hundreds of articles, many of which have been translated into
French for several clients. They include:
- The Suburban weekly newspaper,
- Open File,
- Fulcrum Publications,
- Montreal Families; and
- University of Montreal Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Education
For references, refer to Testimonials.
A complete list of credits in portable document format is available at Credits
Corporate Projects
I can write a press release in half a day, the typical comprehensive software manual in 100 hours, and
research reports, reports to shareholders or speeches in about a week, depending on the number of interview
or information sources involved.
Past projects include:
- Development work for the Canadian Freelance Union;
- Speeches for the executive directors of the National Convenience Store
Distributors Association (NACDA) and St. John Ambulance Canada;
- Copywriting for Quebecor World, Le Windsor and others;
- Multimedia scripts for NORTEL Networks and Air Canada;
- Press releases for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and the
Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC);
and
- Software manuals for Immersion Canada (formerly Haptic Technologies),
Wyatt Ayerst and Jaykin Technologies (Gage, NBS, Locus, IVS, Mensys and Ranmar).
Social Economy Experience
School Organizations
École Le Vitrail, Montreal
- Chair of the parents' committee (OPP),
September 2010 to June 2011
- President of the governing board (conseil d’établissement),
September 2008 to June 2010
École Jonathan, Montreal
- Chair of the commivert (Green Committee), September 2008 to June 2009
- Chair of the pizza lunch committee, September 2005 to June 2009
- Member of the reflection and evaluation committee, September 2004 to June 2007
Réseau des Écoles Publiques Alternatives du Québec (RÉPAQ)
- Parent representative of École Le Vitrail, October 2009 to present
- Parent representative of École Jonathan, November 2007 to October 2009
Charitable Organizations
Professional Writers’ Association of Canada (PWAC)
- Member, December 1994 to present
- Co-chair and chair, Government Action Committee, June 2005 to present
- National executive director (past-president, president, vice-president),
May 2001 to May 2004
- Montreal AGM Organizing committee, May 1999 to May 2001
- Montreal newsletter editor (May 1999 to May 2001)
- Montreal chapter director (president, vice-president, programming),
May 1996 to May 1999
Community Organizations
Electronic Rights Defence Committee
- Executive member at large
Canadian Freelance Union (CFU)
Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF)
