Head of Canada Council magazine and books office, Melanie Rutledge, leaving post

Melanie Rutledge, who has held the position since September 2003, is leaving December 19 as head of writing and publishing for the Canada Council for the Arts. She will be joining the lobbying company Everson Public Affairs in the new year.

For many small literary and cultural magazines, Canada Council support is important, not only in terms of annual operating funding and project support but also because the council is a focus for advocacy about the issues that matter most to them. The position as head of writing and publishing is symbolically and practically important. Who replaces Rutledge, and how quickly, is therefore important, too.

Rutledge came out of the book trade (John Wiley & Sons Canada Limited) and had previously worked as an account executive at Arts & Communications, an agency that put together sponsorships between arts organizations, businesses and government. So her move into working for a public affairs and lobbying business is not a stretch. The good news for the magazine industry is that one of Everson's clients is Magazines Canada. So it seems likely Rutledge will have some continued input on the magazine industry file.

There is no word on who will fill her job, although an item in the Globe and Mail confirmed that she will be replaced.