Canadian Freelance Guild

Hi CFG members and friends! Our page isn't particularly active but we pop in from time to time to share our most important and pressing news... including things like this: It's election season at the CFG! If you're interested in being our next president, treasurer, or member-at-large, you can find all the info in our most recent newsletter, along with lots of other updates about our April events.

April at the CFG: It's election time! Candidates and volunteers needed. With the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Freelance Guild just months away, now is the time to prepare for elections to our Board of Directors.

Hi CFG members! We don't spend much time on the 'Book anymore, opting instead for LinkedIn, Discord, and our monthly CFG newsletter. But we like to pop in from time to time to make sure you aren't missing out on any of our great events.

This March, we have two Freelance Friday social hours (including a special movie-themed one this week!). Our next event is on March 20th and it's all about publishing your first book. The spring Board of Directors meeting is on April 6th and all members are welcome to attend. Finally, the video for our blockbuster Freelancing For The CBC panel is now available in our library and is free for all members.

You can see our event calendar here. All events are free for members. The general public is welcome at $25 and members of partner organizations enjoy big discounts.

Calendar | Canadian Freelance Guild Building a new union movement

*Canadian Freelance Guild Celebrates 15 Years of The Story Board, Canada’s Longest-Running Blog for Freelancers*

Please help us celebrate by sharing this release:

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Canadian Freelance Guild Celebrates 15 Years of The Story Board, Canada’s Longest-Running Blog for Freelancers

Halifax, NS — [Nov 19 2025] — The Canadian Freelance Guild (CFG), the country’s largest organization representing media freelancers, is marking a major milestone: the 15th anniversary of The Story Board, its in-house blog. First published on November 22, 2010, The Story Board has become one of Canada’s longest-running—and likely the oldest continuously published—blogs created exclusively for freelance media workers.

Over the past 15 years, The Story Board has built a reputation for its frank, practical coverage of freelancing in Canada, including contract negotiation, client management, rate transparency, and work-life balance. Its longevity is especially notable in an era when many blogs fade quickly.

“The Story Board stands apart because it’s built entirely by freelancers, for freelancers,” says editor Robyn Roste. “It’s one of the few places in Canadian media where independent workers can speak honestly, share hard-won lessons, and know they’re not alone.”

Its earliest advice remains strikingly relevant. “The very first Story Board article on November 22, 2010, titled ‘Tips for negotiating a contract with an engager,’ correlates perfectly to our current environment in four short points: Get it in writing, demand equitable rates, you own the work until you agree to relinquish copyright, and selling the fruits of your labour constitutes a business,” says George Butters, president of the CFG. “Fifteen years since those launches, we’ve seen the erosion of traditional media, massive expansion of social media and smartphone use, the disruptive emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence, and 15 years of The Story Board offering vital advice to professional freelancers.”

To celebrate the November 22 anniversary, the CFG is hosting several special events, including its popular Freelance Fridays social hour and a live pitching workshop featuring editor Robyn Roste. The Guild is also launching a full rebuild of The Story Board, bringing a fresh look and modernized design to the long-standing publication.

“Blogs come and go,” says Roste. “The fact that The Story Board has thrived for 15 years speaks to how deeply freelancers value community, mentorship, and shared knowledge.”

About the Canadian Freelance Guild (CFG)

The CFG is Canada’s largest organization for freelance media workers, including writers, editors, podcasters, photographers, videographers, illustrators, and digital creators. The Guild provides advocacy, professional development, and community for Canada’s growing independent workforce.


Media Contact:

George Butters

President, Canadian Freelance Guild

http://CanadianFreelanceGuild.ca

email: [email protected]

phone: 1 888 279 9014

Canadian Freelance Guild Building a new union movement

While we mostly post over on LinkedIn these days, we're dropping in to say that November marks the 15th anniversary of the Story Board, the CFG's online magazine. We hope you'll join us in the celebrations!

Coming up next week: On November 18th Story Board editor Robyn Roste leads a live workshop on pitching and the art of follow up.

Sign up here. It's free for all CFG members! https://canadianfreelanceguild.ca/en/page/page-content/calendar-2/

Hey CFG members! We mostly post on LinkedIn these days but every now and then we pop by to make sure you know about something awesome we're working on. You are going to LOVE our next event! Join us on October 15 for what might be one of our coolest webinars: How To Teach What You Know.

This panel brings together CFG members who’ve taught everywhere from high school to universities to adult ed — plus freelancers who’ve built their own online courses and e-books. Whether you want to generate extra income, diversify your income, or give back to the community, you're not gonna want to miss this one. Free for members, general public welcome for $25 (and it's $10-$15 if you're a member of one of our partner organizations).

Register here:

Calendar | Canadian Freelance Guild Building a new union movement

The CFG keeps things pretty minimal on Facebook these days but every now and then we pop in to share some big news.... Our 5th Annual General Meeting is just around the corner, on June 14th. All members in good standing are welcome (that means you!) You do need to register to attend and you can do so here. Please pop by and see what we've been up to!

CFG 5th Annual General Meeting - June 14, 2025 @ 3 pm ET | Canadian Freelance Guild Building a new union movement

From the Story Board: What's at the heart of every great freelance relationship? Trust. Here's why it matters so much and how you can build trust with your clients.

https://www.thestoryboard.ca/3-ways-freelancers-can-build-trust-with-clients/

From The Story Board: Planning out your 2025 conference schedule? Eager to include some overseas adventure with your learning and networking? Here are some valuable insights on making the most of an overseas conferernce from someone who did it in 2024.

Read it here: https://www.thestoryboard.ca/3-tips-for-making-the-most-of-an-overseas-conference-as-a-freelancer/

Did you vow that THIS was the year you'd get your finances together? You're going to want to attend tomorrow's event, taxes for freelances, at 7:00 PM EST. What's changed? What qualifies for expenses? How can you get through this without setting your hair on fire?

Both CFG members and non-members welcome.
Register before noon on the 6th. https://canadianfreelanceguild.ca/en/page/page-content/calendar-2/

From The Story Board: Are you promising yourself you'll travel more in 2025? Eager to incorporate travel stories into your work? A press trip might help with that. Here's what you need to know before you go.

Read it here: https://www.thestoryboard.ca/what-to-expect-on-a-press-trip/