Summary
With a rich background in writing, Jil McIntosh has contributed to renowned publications in both Canada and the United States. Her expertise includes new-vehicle reviews, automotive history and vintage cars, automotive news, and informative “How It Works” columns, which dissect vehicle features and technology.
As a respected member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003, Jil serves as a voting member for the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards and a juror for the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards.
Education
Jil McIntosh completed her education at East York Collegiate in Toronto before immersing herself in the School of Hard Knocks. Her early career involved driving a taxi in Toronto and working in warranty administration at a new-vehicle dealership. During her time there, she conducted information classes, educating customers on the intricate mechanical workings and features of vehicles.
Experience
Jil McIntosh has been honing her writing skills for Driving.ca since 2016, solidifying her status as a well-respected freelance writer. However, her passion for writing began when carbureted engines were still the norm. In fact, at just eleven years old, she had a story published in the now-defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, receiving a payment of $25. Considering the story’s brevity and the currency’s value at the time, it stands as one of her most highly compensated pieces.
As an enthusiast of vintage automobiles, Jil kicked off her writing journey by crafting stories for magazines dedicated to antique-car and hot-rod car clubs. When Old Autos, a newspaper centered around the antique-car hobby, launched in 1987, she became a columnist starting with its second issue. She still contributes to the publication, which remains active today. In 1986, Jil also joined the Toronto Star’s Wheels section, becoming one of its regular writers. She initially focused on feature stories and later added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her impressive resume in 1999. Jil stayed with Wheels, transitioning from print to digital, until the publication decided to downsize its freelance writers. The very next day, she enthusiastically joined the team at Driving.ca.
In addition to her work for Driving.ca, Jil writes for industry-focused publications such as Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Her automotive expertise has been showcased in esteemed publications like Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. She has also ventured into non-automotive writing, covering topics ranging from travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, to celebrity interviews. Her non-automotive pieces have been featured in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.
Major Awards Won by the Author
Over the course of her career, Jil McIntosh has been recognized with prestigious awards. Some notable distinctions include being named the 2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year, winning the Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013, and receiving runner-up status in 2021. Additionally, she earned the Pirelli Photography Award in 2015, the Environmental Journalism Award in 2019, the Technical Writing Award in 2020, and the Vehicle Testing Review award in 2020, with another runner-up honor in 2022. Lastly, Jil was proudly inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.
Contact info
Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilmcintosh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JilMcIntosh
