Dorothea Helms

Professional Affiliations, Awards And Acknowledgements

  • 2nd Place in Gene Perret’s “Words to Live By” one-liner contest. August 2014.
  • Ascent Aspirations Anthology of the Bizarre Anthology Contest, Second Place in the Flash Fiction category. $50 an one copy of the anthology. August 2014.
  • Whitchurch-Stouffville Grimm Fairy Tale Short Fiction Contest. First Place. $100 and 5 copies of anthology. October 2012.
  • Semi-finalist in the 2012 Robert Benchley Award for Humour. The only Canadian out of the 10 semi-finalists.
  • The 7th Annual Accenti Writing Contest – 3rd Place. Short Fiction, “Traditions.” $100 and publication in Winter 2013 Accenti magazine.
  • The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region Member 1999 to present. Board of Directors, Public Relations (www.wcdr.info) 2000 to 2004; Breakfast Coordinator 2009-2010; Public Relations 2010-present. Member of the Year 2004
  • 2007 Suburban Newspapers of America Advertising and Promotions Contest, Metroland Media Group, Ltd. – Dorothea Helms was contributing editor for all four of these first-place wins: Best ROP Advertising Section for Giftcard – Holiday Gift Guide  2006; Best Employment Publication for Career Choices – Spring 2006 tied with Best Employment Publication for Today’s Healthcare Careers – Spring 2006; and Best Cover Design for Live It! – Spring 2006.
  • LICHEN Arts & Letters Preview – shortlisted for “One Hundred and One Words” competition, Spring 2007.
  • Erma Bombeck Writing Workshop, Dayton, Ohio, attended 2004, 2006.
  • The Haliburton Highlands Writers’ and Editors’ Network and The Agnes Jamieson Gallery 3rd Annual Writing Contest (2005) – tied for first place in non-fiction category with essay “Shelf Life”
  • Periodical Writers Association of Canada (now Professional Writers Association of Canada) – winner of the 2005 Barbara Novak Award For Excellence In Humour and/or Personal Essay Writing for “The Gift of Words,” which appeared in the January 7, 2003 Globe and Mail Facts & Arguments. Member 2002-2011
  • American Women’s Club of Toronto, Member April 2005 to 2007
  • Editors’ Association of Canada, Voting Member, July 2004 to July 2007
  • Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association (Write Stuff Writing Services), 2002 to 2003
  • Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest (The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region) 3rd Place
  • Winner in Adult Category 2003 for the poem “Missing Heartbeats”
  • Ongoing membership in Durham Write-on and Northword Edition (local writers’ circles)
  • Nominated for a 2001 Rotman Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the “Innovative” category
  • Runner-up in “Favourite Freelance Writer” category in Write Magazine’s 2000 Reader Poll
  • Judge – The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region Wicked Words Contest 2009
  • Judge – The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region 24-Hour Non-Fiction Contest 2004
  • Judge – The Writers’ Circle of Durham Region Short Fiction Contest 2004
  • Judge – Canadian Authors’ Association Short Story Contest 1994 to 2002
  • Judge – Canadian Authors’ Association Personal Essay Contest 1998 to 2000
  • Member, Canadian Authors Association, June, 1998 to June, 1999