Patrick Walsh of Outdoor Canada named volunteer of the year

It has been announced that Patrick Walsh, Editor of Outdoor Canada, has been named Magazines Canada's volunteer of the year for 2008.

"Pat Walsh is the quintessential industry volunteer," said Mark Jamison, CEO, Magazines Canada in a release. "He is generous with his time and his expertise, and he is curious, always willing to wade into areas that enhance his understanding of the entire magazine business."

Walsh will receive his award at the Magazines Canada Annual Luncheon on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at MagNet, Canada's Magazine Conference at 89 Chestnut in Toronto.

(That's Patrick holding a 16-lb. lake trout; seemed only fitting pic for the editor of Outdoor Canada.)

Walsh sits on two Magazines Canada committees and has been on the board of the National Magazine Awards Foundation for many years and is now its chair.

As chair of the Magazines Canada membership committee, Walsh has presided over a period of great growth and change. He also sat on the MagNet curriculum development committee participation has increased multifold over the years.

Walsh began in magazines 26 years ago as assistant editor of Muskoka Life. He has since worked for a variety of media, both in Canada and abroad, earning numerous writing and editing awards. He is perhapsknown to many for having been editor of Masthead magazine. In 2005, Walsh was named editor of the year by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, and Outdoor Canada was honoured as magazine of the year.

The volunteer of the year award is made annually by Magazines Canada to one individual whose outstanding volunteer contributions have had a national impact on the Canadian magazine industry.