Local Writer Kym Wolfe Honoured at National Convention
Local writer Kym Wolfe was honoured at the annual Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) Awards Dinner Banquet held in Montreal on June 18, 2011 with the Regional Volunteer Award (Ontario region).
Kevin Glew, who nominated Kym, won this same award in 2010. This award was established in 2005 and designed to recognize the valuable contributions of members who volunteer for PWAC in their regions.
**If you are an aspiring freelance writer or if you have even published an article or two in a newspaper or magazine you should take a look at the PWAC London Chapter site to see if joining the London Chapter of PWAC could help your writing career and meet other published writers in London.
A PWAC member since 2004, Kym is one of the most energetic, devoted and respected participants in the London chapter.
During her more than five years on the chapter executive, she has served in various capacities, including vice-president, president, past-president and membership coordinator, and has evolved into an indispensable leader.
Despite working a full-time job and being a busy mother of three, Kym always finds time to support chapter events and the organization’s mission. Her tireless efforts in organizing fundraising seminars, newsletters and recruiting new members are a major reason that the London chapter has grown significantly in recent years.
An accomplished speaker, Kym has also represented PWAC at networking events and helped the chapter connect with local arts groups. Always thinking creatively, Kym has helped transform the chapter’s monthly pub nights into professional development experiences for our members.
“Kym had a lot of energy and new ideas when she was president and has always supported members in any way she could,” says Suzanne Boles, long-time London chapter executive and former national president. “She has brought potential members to many of our meetings. She embraced our chapter seminar/professional development session idea and really made it fly.”
Kym joins other professional members including Suzanne Boles, who was named the recipient of the Lawrence Jackson Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010 and Mark Kearney who received that same award in 2008. This award is presented annually to a PWAC member who has made outstanding contributions to the organization and has shown exemplary commitment and service.
“I’ve been a member of PWAC since I started freelancing in 1995 and I’ve never looked back,” said Boles. “I’ve found lifelong friends, camaraderie, and help in this profession that I took up late in life. PWAC – in its communal sense – has been my cheerleader, my shoulder to lean on, my mentor and so much more.”
“On a personal note, Kym was a mentor for me when I joined PWAC in 2007,” says nominator Kevin Glew. “Over the past four years, I’ve learned a lot about event planning and networking from Kym, but what has impressed me most is her commitment to our chapter and its members.
From my perspective, Kym is the type of person that all PWACers should aspire to be: sensitive, generous, passionate, creative, dedicated, understanding, open-minded and determined. She has been an inspiration for me in my career. I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of the Regional Volunteer Award (Ontario Region) than her.”
In addition, chapter members Ben Benedict, Dave Ferguson, Kevin Glew, Joey L. Hughes, Ute Lawrence, Brad Moon, and Victoria White each received their five-year membership pin.
The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) is a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes the careers and protects the rights of professional writers.
Founded in 1976, PWAC has grown nationally to serve more than 650 professional writers living and working across the country. PWAC London & Southwestern Ontario’s 39 chapter members, making it the second largest chapter in Ontario after Toronto, provide quality content writing and expertise to local, regional and national newspapers, magazines, corporate clients, small business, government agencies and non-profit organizations.
