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Dear Donor, Thank you sincerely for your support through the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Opportunities Support Fund, which allowed me to complete my summer internship. This summer, I was grateful to receive the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Opportunities Support Fund, which allowed me to work with Véhicule Press in Montréal. As an English student with a keen interest in independent literary publishing, this opportunity not only gave me hands-on experience but also opened new doors for my academic and professional future. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the donors who made this experience possible. Their support allowed me to explore the inner workings of Canadian publishing from within a press I’ve long admired.

Currently entering the final year of my BA Honours in English (Cultural Studies) with a Minor in Statistics, I plan to write my honours thesis in the fall and am exploring graduate programs in English or publishing. I’ve always loved reading and writing, and over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly involved in Montréal’s independent literary scene. I was drawn to Véhicule Press because of its strong roots in the city’s cultural life and its long-standing commitment to publishing Canadian and Québécois voices across fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. I hoped to learn not just about the editorial process, but about the full trajectory of a book: from manuscript to typesetting, to launch, to distribution. I was also interested in developing a clearer picture of the literary ecosystem in Canada — the magazines, reviewers, and institutions that support contemporary writing.

Véhicule Press was founded in the 1970s and has since become a cornerstone of Canadian literary publishing. It remains small, independent, and highly respected. I worked closely with its founder and publisher, Simon Dardick, as well as with marketing director Jennifer Varkonyi. Other team members included fiction editor Dimitri Nasrallah, poetry editor Carmine Starnino, and admin assistant Patrick Goddard. While most of my work was remote, I had the chance to attend several book launches in person, and Simon generously invited me to visit the press’ physical office (which also happens to be his home).

My internship was both editorial and logistical. My primary responsibilities included proofreading and copyediting forthcoming titles—including Fan Mail by Jason Guriel, Private Number by David Homel, and Dismantling Colonialism by Zebedee Nungak—as well as writing the monthly newsletters via Mailchimp. I indexed over 100 references for Fan Mail and keyboarded a previously print-only manuscript (Morgan’s Castle) into digital format. I also attended weekly staff meetings and used Adobe Acrobat and InDesign for markup and typesetting. At book launches, I manned the bookselling table and chatted with readers and writers, many of whom were eager to talk about the press’ work.

My academic background, especially in Canadian and Inuit literature, gave me a solid foundation for many of these conversations, both casual and professional. I had also recently taken a course in literary sociology, which came up often in discussion with my supervisors. This internship helped me see how my academic training (close reading, contextual thinking, and editorial judgment) can translate into a practical publishing environment. It also clarified my next steps: I’m now seriously considering pursuing the Master of Publishing program at Simon Fraser University after graduation.

There were many high points. The launch for Quietly, Loving Everyone at the Cardinal Tea Room was a huge success. In addition to selling all fifty copies of the short story collection, it was very moving to witness the warmth and enthusiasm of the crowd. Simon also took me under his wing in an unexpected way, offering generous, candid advice about editing practices that aren’t standard across the profession but are deeply appreciated by publishers. His mentorship has left a lasting impression on me.

That said, remote work posed a challenge at times. I missed the casual, in-person conversations that are such an important part of literary life. To address this, I reached out to Simon, who invited me to visit the press office. We had lemonade in the garden, browsed backlisted books, and talked about publishing as a long-term career. I left with a few titles of my choice and a renewed sense of connection to the work.

I’m immensely grateful for this opportunity, and for having received the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Opportunities Support Fund. The experience has given me both practical skills and a clearer sense of where I’m headed. It’s one thing to study literature in the classroom; another entirely to help bring it into the world. This summer, I got to do both.
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