I was thrilled to interview Katherine McManus for our member profile column. Katherine is many things: educator, innovator, feminist, entrepreneur, textile artist, and advocate for plain language writing and editing.
As an educator, Katherine taught English and developed, then managed for many years the Writing Centre at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She left that work to do graduate work at UBC and, in 2001, she completed her PhD in Adult Education. Soon after, Katherine began working for Simon Fraser University, initially in Distance Education (converting traditional “distance” courses into online courses), then in Continuing Education. Under Katherine’s management, the Writing Program, a part of the continuing studies professional development offerings, grew to include certificates in editing, plain language writing, and public relations.
Katherine used her background in online learning to redevelop most of the certificate courses into online courses so that more people would have access to them. Katherine understood the need for the learners (primarily women) to have access to flexible adult learning programs. She ensured the integrity of the certificate programs and successfully managed the tension between academic programs (and funding) and adult and community learning programs. Many learners were able to transition and progress in their writing and editing careers because they had completed a certificate program developed by Katherine.
Katherine is recognized internationally as both an educator and plain language advocate. She started in plain language writing when she was asked to join a European team who had received a Erasmus+ grant. She travelled first to Sweden to learn from the team about plain language as it is conceived and delivered in much of the European Union. The team, formally organized as IC Clear, developed 5 Plain Language courses with the Erasmus+ grant money. From Sweden, Katherine worked in Estonia, Lisbon, Antwerp, and Vienna.
Katherine has been an active Canadian representative on the team developing the training standards to complement the (proposed) ISO standard. Although she has retired from her directorship with Simon Fraser University, she continues to teach in the Plain Language Certificate program and the Writers’ Studio. As well, Katherine is an active member of PLAIN Canada and is committed to our objectives and our growth.
Katherine highlights for me the richness of our plain language community. There are as many paths into plain language writing and editing as there are practitioners. The value of our diverse backgrounds will ensure we can eventually have practitioners in every industry.