I just wanted to drop in and let you know that the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards are chugging along quite swimmingly. We have a healthy jury, there are about three days left in the nominations phase, and we're heading into the the final two months of our inaugural awards year!

Before we head into this final stretch, though, I wanted to do a bit of housekeeping:

1. Nominations end at midnight on October 31st, so if you have weblogs that you would like to nominate, get on it! I am working my way through entering the new nominations, so if you nominated a weblog that has not yet shown up on this website, rest assured that it will be entered in time for judging.

2. I have not yet contacted the jurors with their assigned weblogs, but I will, so don't be concerned if you applied to be on the jury and have not yet heard from me.

3. This point directly relates to points 1 and 2: I will be speaking at the BlissDom Canada conference in Toronto (Oct. 27-29) and will be away from some of my online work, which means that I will require a little extra time to enter nominations and organize jurors. Everything should continue to hum along according to schedule early into November, though, once I play a bit of catch up.

I can't believe that we are nearly ten months in already, and it is exciting to see this whole thing coming together the way it has. We wouldn't be here without your participation through nominations, weblog entries, tweets, and general enthusiasm since January 1st. The level of support and excitement has been sustaining both to me and this project, and I want to thank you, whether you have been following along quietly or have been a vocal participant, for being here for the awards over this first 2010 season.

Now, I have to go put together my conference wardrobe (i.e. make sure that I have enough socks washed to make it through the next few days) and pray for this ridiculous winter weather to die down so that the Palinode, who is also speaking at BlissDom, and I can make it out of the Regina airport in decent time tomorrow morning.

Wish us luck!

Labels: CWA business

Help!

Are you fluent in French? Yes? The 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards and our 55 French weblogs need your help!

We are presently gathering a jury together first to choose our five finalists and then to rank our top three weblogs in each category between November 1st and December 21st, and, although we have a number of English language jurors, not a single French language or bilingual person has signed up.

If you are fluent in French and would like to make the French end of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards possible – yes, POSSIBLE – please fill out our handy dandy juror application form and help to make this inaugural Canadian Weblog Awards an event that encompasses both of Canada's official languages.

Thank you!

Labels: CWA business, outreach

The 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards needs you!

I can hardly believe that nine-and-a-half months have already passed since I announced the creation of the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards. There are now approximately 400 weblogs nominated across 37 categories, which is a phenomenal turnout, and with October 31st, the deadline for nominations, fast approaching, we need some discerning individuals to help us find the best of the best. This is where you come in.

Are you a blogger, or are you a blog reader? Are you Canadian, or are you from another country? Whether you blog or just love reading blogs, whether you are Canadian or not, the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards might have a spot saved just for you. We need people of all ages, genders, education levels, and professions, so if you are wondering if you have what we are looking for, don't worry. You do.

Please fill out the juror application form below and pass it along to anyone you know who might be interested by October 21st!

I feel like this baby's really getting up and walking. Aw. *sniff*

Labels: CWA business, outreach

The 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards nominees of the day today are from the Gardening category.

Apartment living means that I only get to dream about having my own garden, and these blogs have turned into my wish books. I've learned that gardening is a going concern year round, even if we are heading into the chill of fall. Check out our Gardening weblogs, start planning your spring garden or take up indoor container gardening, and say hello in the comments:

Bloomingwriter
Canoe Corner
Gardening with Latitude
Greens & Berries

If you know of another Canadian gardening weblog, nominate it for a 2010 Canadian Weblog Award. Help us grow the Gardening category!

Labels: categories, Gardening