About
Mandate
The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) was founded in 1975 to support the development of a thriving provincial publishing industry, away from Canada’s traditional book publishing centres. Today one of the strongest communities of regional publishers in North America, the BPAA has 23 member publishers that are owned and operated in Alberta. Our members publish books by local, national and international authors and provide significant cultural and economic benefits to this province. They work with writers, printers, artists and other creative people to produce high quality books that are sold in Alberta and throughout the world.
Territorial Acknowledgement
Anti-Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct
On February 21, 2019, the BPAA board adopted the following documents, outlining the anti-harassment policy and code of conduct for members and staff of our organization.
Anti-Harassment Policy
Code of Conduct
Accessibility Policy
The
BPAA is a signatory of the Accessible Books Consortium’s Charter of Accessibility, which contains eight aspirational principles that publishers should follow to make their digital publications accessible to persons with print disabilities. On November 20, 2024 the BPAA board adopted the following accessibility policy.
Staff & Board
BPAA Staff
- Kieran Leblanc, Executive Director
- Megan Bishop, Project Manager
- Justin Pitt, Project Coordinator
- Candace Schiebelbein, Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant
BPAA Executive Board 2024-25
- Matt Bowes, President
- Netta Johnson, Vice President
- Kelsey Attard, Treasurer
- Kathy Killoh, Secretary
- Glenn Rollans, Member-at-large
- Alexander Finbow, Past President
Member Services
Advocacy
The BPAA undertakes various advocacy initiatives to raise awareness – among government agencies and the public – of the depth and breadth of the book publishing industry in Alberta, of its ongoing need for predictable, sustainable funding, and of the contribution book publishers make to their communities. The association has been involved in discussions surrounding copyright legislation (Bill C-11), and participated in the review of Foreign Ownership as part of the Association of Canadian Publishers’ submission on behalf of their members. The BPAA meets with municipal, provincial and federal government representatives, along with other cultural industries, to promote the book publishing industry and raise the profile of the industry in Alberta and Canada.
Information
Information sharing is a central benefit of membership in the BPAA. Our bi-weekly newsletter, Books, updates our members on marketing opportunities, new releases, events, employment opportunities, association business, awards, program deadlines, and other late-breaking news. Open to all members, our board meetings provide an invaluable window on the industry. The BPAA Office responds to all enquiries on publishing from its members, the public, the media, and industry representatives.
Member Directory
We maintain an online directory of member publishers. We also distribute it in print to booksellers, schools and libraries, throughout western Canada and at the many displays and exhibits we attend.
Professional Development
Our professional development program offers seminars and workshops that help keep our members informed about new developments in publishing, technology and management. Some PD sessions may be open to non-members who are interested in learning about the book publishing industry, please see the individual session announcements for more information.
Alberta Book Publishing Awards
The BPAA hosts the annual Alberta Book Publishing Awards, honouring excellence in writing and publishing in all genres.
Marketing
Read Alberta Books
This online and print marketing campaign profiles Alberta-published books. Advertising features run in select issues of Alberta Views, a magazine with national distribution.
Trade Shows
The BPAA participates in events – including book fairs and booksellers’ conventions, library events, teachers’ conventions and public festivals – to promote Alberta’s books. Full and associate members’ current titles are displayed. Individual members are welcome to work from our booths.
Marketing Info
Our staff members attend seminars and meetings related to marketing Alberta books, and pass this information to members.
Funding Resources
The BPAA provides timely information for members about funding opportunities for the book publishing industry. See our Funding Resources section.
Members Only Resources
Along with all of the above, the BPAA maintains a page of resources specifically curated for current members. This page is password protected. If you are a member and have lost the password please contact us (info[@]bookpublishers.ab.ca).
Read more about the BPAA’s programs.
Related Organizations
- Access Copyright
- Alberta Magazine Publishers Association
- Alberta Partners for Arts and Culture
- The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia
- Association of Canadian Publishers
- Book and Periodical Council
- BookNet Canada
- Calgary Arts Development
- Canadian Children’s Book Centre
- Canadian Copyright Institute
- Canadian Independent Booksellers Association
- Canadian Publishers’ Council
- Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers
- Cultural Human Resources Council
- eBound Canada
- Editors’ Association of Canada
- Edmonton Arts Council
- Freedom to Read
- Library Association of Alberta
- Livres Canada Books
- Indexing Society of Canada
- The League of Canadian Poets
- Literary Press Group
- Magazines Canada
- Markets Initiative
- Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton
- Publishers Association of the West
- Retail Council of Canada
- Saskatchewan Publishers Group
- Young Alberta Book Society
- Writers Guild of Alberta
- The Writers’ Union of Canada
With thanks to our funders
