Book day celebrates publishing industry
Some publishers call on province to provide support, funding increase
Tuesday marked the first Alberta Book Day, celebrating the bookpublishing industry ’s cultural and economic contributions.
“Our government recognizes the importance of Alberta’s bookpublishing industry,” Tourism and Culture Minister Ricardo Miranda told a crowd of publishers, editors, authors and politicians gathered in the foyer of the Federal Building. “All of you make important contributions to independent Canadian publishing, as well as positively influence the economic, academic as well as cultural life in our province.”
In 2016, the book-publishing sector accounted for more than $18 million in provincial GDP and employed more than 170 people.
“To be recognized at this level alongside with all the other industries that have those accolades and status is important because the book- publishing industry is an important part of the Alberta economy and the cultural fabric of our landscape,” said Alexander Finbow, president of the Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA), after the announcement.
He said Albertan publishers are “a pipeline for our culture.” Finbow also operates his own publishing house, Renegade Arts Entertainment.
Throughout the foyer, publishing booths were set up to talk shop and offer free books to visitors.
Although it was a day of celebration, some publishers still feel the provincial government’s industry funding is inadequate, especially when compared to other provinces.
Lorene Shyba of Durvile Publications said she is grateful for the amount she receives from the Alberta Media Fund, but “it would be nice to have a bit more support in Alberta.”
“There’s nobody in this room that’s getting rich from (publishing),” she said. “We do it because we love to build knowledge.”
The Book Publishers Association of Alberta, founded in 1975, has campaigned for a dedicated fund for more than a decade. In the early 2000s, the proposal made it before cabinet, but was not funded.
Last year, the 31-member BPAA released a renewed proposal calling for $15 million over three years, but it was not included in the 2018 budget.
“Part of creating awareness and understanding and appreciation of the industry leaders to further discussions down the road as to how we can better support the industry,” said Miranda after the announcement. “And I look forward to having those discussions.”
According to Statistics Canada, 69 per cent of book publishing sales were in Ontario in 2016. Quebec followed at 25 per cent of industry revenue, with British Columbia in a distant third at 3.5 per cent.