Welcome!
Hello!
We are excited to have started 2024 with our online conference, Language by Design. We’ve summarized the presentations below, and we encourage members to review the recordings on our website after they are posted. Those who registered for the conference should have received links to the recordings.
Conference registrants were also eligible for a one-year Plain Canada Clair membership. While our bylaw prevents us from offering full membership to those who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents, we are offering registrants from outside of Canada a one-time (only for 2024) affiliate membership with access to member services, but no voting rights.
We’ll share more information about the benefits of Plain Canada Clair membership over the next few months. If you didn’t register for the conference, we’ll also explain how you can become a member, too.
In addition to the conference summary, this issue includes a feature article by Katherine McManus about the International Plain Language Federation (IPLF) committee giving guidance on plain language training and education. Katherine summarizes the results of the IPLF survey on plain language training. Thank you to all who took the time to complete the survey in 2023!
As always, we want to provide you with useful programming and resources. Over the past year we have heard many great ideas about what you need to enhance your work as plain language practitioners. We encourage you to contact us to learn about ways you can help us deliver on your ideas—even a few hours a month would be helpful!
Please email comments and questions to [email protected].
Thank you
Jocelyn Pletz and Chantale Audet
2024 Events
English language presentation, French language presentations, participatory conference, and a social event.
Language by Design Conference Summary
Our virtual conference on January 22, 2024, began with Michelle Boulton who welcomed participants and set our agenda for the day.
Feature Article: The International Plain Language Federation and You: Plain Language Training and Education
Plain language is worldwide. Three main organizations comprise the formal international plain language network.
Center for Plain Language ClearMark Awards
The ClearMark Awards recognize excellence in plain language communication—in English, French, and Spanish—in North America.
Our New Website
For months now, we’ve been busy working on our new website. It’s almost ready, and we can’t wait to show it to you!