Recent Events
Tech Comm Café: August 17 recap; next meeting Oct. 19
The August meeting had a good turnout for a sunny summer day, though smaller than our usual numbers. We noted that attendance is down for all sorts of groups and events, even when people can join in at no cost from the comfort of home. Nevertheless, one person...
Tech Comm Café: June 15 recap; next meeting August 17
The meeting began with an observation that some tech companies, such as Amazon, are laying off employees, and fewer companies are looking for senior technical writers. A shrinking job market is a good reason to build one’s résumé by volunteering. STC Canada West Coast...
Webinar: Talk to Technical Writers
September 28, 2022 Are you considering working as a freelance technical writer and have questions? In the session, we will hear from three panelists why they choose to work as a technical writer in a permanent employee role or as an independent contractor and what...
Tech Comm Café: May 18 recap; next meeting June 15
We found lots to talk about when a newer writer asked about editing etiquette. She’d written a blog post and was surprised to see it published with changes she’d never seen and didn’t necessarily agree with. Should the editor send a revised version back to the author...
Tech Comm Café: April 20 recap; next meeting May 18
Résumé tips and opinions about social media filled the bulk of our conversation at April’s Tech Comm Café. In attendance were several human resources veterans, and we kicked things off when one student asked about résumés for new writers. Which is more important:...
Event report: Policies and employee engagement
On March 23, 2022, policy writer Murray Whitby shared his insights in a webinar, “How Policies Can Undermine Employee Engagement and How to Fix It.” Murray is the president of Policy Protec, the company he founded in 2018, and a member of CPHR (Chartered...
Tech Comm Café: March 16 recap; next meeting April 20
Most people at the March meeting were repeat visitors, mainly experienced writers but some students as well. It was good to see familiar faces as well as new ones. We began with a spirited discussion of robocalls (especially the ones that wake us before dawn)...
Webinar report: Building a portfolio
On February 15, 2022, technical writer and Mount Royal University instructor Lyndsay Steffler outlined what a portfolio is, pieces to include, portfolio types, and format options. Composed of a collection of “artifacts” that demonstrate skills and experience, a...
Tech Comm Café: February 16 recap; next meeting March 16
The February meeting focused on proactive steps that technical communicators can take to secure work. This was timely, as it took place the day after the chapter’s Building a Portfolio webinar. The webinar was so well-received that chapter president Joel Basart...
Tech Comm Café: January 19 recap; next meeting February 16
This was the first meeting of the Tech Comm Café in 2022. The group opened with personal introductions and a discussion about the upcoming open house and portfolio webinars. New guests were welcomed, as were returning guests from the technical writing field. Someone...
Chapter welcomes five student membership award winners in 2022
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) Canada West Coast chapter is pleased to announce the award of five STC student memberships during 2022. Two students are currently enrolled at Mount Royal University, Ruth-Anne Klassen and Tomas Remington; Two other...
Open House: Learn More About the STC Canada West Coast Chapter!
The STC Canada West Coast chapter held a virtual open house through Zoom. Our chapter board was in attendance, along with other STC members, and provided opportunities to ask questions about the chapter and STC overall. The session provided an...
Event report: What is digital accessibility?
On November 13, senior content designer Helen Glavina presented the webinar “What Is Digital Accessibility — and Why Should You Care?” Digital or online accessibility means that people with disabilities can interact equally with website content and tools. Over a...
Tech Comm Café: November 17 recap; next meeting January 19, 2022
There were several first-timers at this meeting, new to technical communication, excited by it and eager to glean nuggets of the latest industry intel. So, after the initial introductions, the conversation was a Q&A with the attendees who brought decades of...
Event report: Beyond Editing — Smarter Solutions for Fixing Legacy Content
Is the thought of wading through legacy content giving you a headache? Updating old documentation is a familiar challenge for many technical communicators, but fortunately one that can be interesting to tackle. On October 16, 2021, Leah Guren of Cow TC presented...
Webinar: A Future-Proof Approach to Content
Microcontent will open new channels for our content while improving delivery across existing channels. The path to intelligent microcontent is the next step in our journey in structured authoring. AI-powered cognitive content solutions perform best with content...
Tech Comm Café: September 22 recap; next meeting November 17
This was the first meeting of the fall season and the group opened with personal introductions and tales of summer trips, or trips that were not taken due to the wildfires and COVID-19 that have sadly ravaged our province. After welcoming a first-time guest from...
Tech Comm Café: August 18 recap; next meeting September 22
At the August 18 meeting we discussed how to manage some risks and maximize the rewards that come with technical writing jobs, with ideas from both technical communication professionals and students. We exchanged ideas about what to include in a portfolio, which can...
Tech Comm Café: July 21 recap; next meeting August 18
The July 21 Tech Comm Café discussed interesting topics for aspiring technical communicators. In attendance were technical writing students, a technical writing business owner, a college English teacher who is also studying for a technical writing certificate, and...
Tech Comm Café: June 23 recap; next meeting July 21
Although a small gathering, it made for relaxed conversation, and after personal introductions the group was delighted to welcome a technical writing student from Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, attending the Café for the first time. Despite the stereotype...
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