Association of Canadian Publishers

Association of Canadian Publishers
Name	Association of Canadian Publishers
Abbreviation	ACP
Formation	1974
Type	Non-profit trade association
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Region served	Canada
Membership	Canadian book publishers
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	2020s: Jennifer Ellis

Association of Canadian Publishers is a national trade organization representing independent and scholarly book publishers across Canada. It acts as a collective voice for publishers working in English and French, liaising with cultural institutions, funding bodies, and legislative bodies such as Parliament of Canada, Heritage Canada, and provincial arts councils. The organization works alongside other sectoral bodies including Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and provincial publishers’ associations to support Canadian authors, translators, and distributors.

History

Founded in 1974, the Association emerged amid debates over Canadian content policy influenced by developments like the establishment of the Canada Council for the Arts and the expansion of cultural funding in the 1960s and 1970s. Early activity intersected with landmark initiatives such as the creation of the National Film Board of Canada and policy work surrounding the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences (Massey Commission). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the Association responded to shifts in trade and copyright law exemplified by amendments to the Canadian Copyright Act and negotiations under the North American Free Trade Agreement that affected cross-border distribution. In the 2000s the Association engaged with digital transitions linked to platforms like Amazon (company), debates involving Google Books, and transformations in academic publishing relevant to institutions such as the University of Toronto Press and the McGill-Queen's University Press. Recent decades have seen the Association confront policy issues raised by streaming content debates involving organizations like the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and renewed advocacy tied to pandemic-era relief measures discussed in contexts such as Employment Insurance (Canada) supports and federal cultural relief programs.

Structure and Membership

The Association is governed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from member houses including independent presses like Anvil Press (Canada), university-affiliated publishers such as University of British Columbia Press and University of Ottawa Press, and commercial imprints represented by groups connected to HarperCollins Canada and Penguin Random House Canada. Membership categories encompass small and medium-sized firms, not-for-profit societies, and scholarly presses affiliated with institutions like Simon Fraser University and Concordia University. The Association maintains advisory committees that collaborate with representatives from bodies like Canadian Publishers' Council, provincial arts agencies such as Ontario Arts Council, and sector partners including the Association of University Presses. Executive staff coordinate operations from offices historically located in cultural hubs like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver and liaise with legal counsel experienced in matters before tribunals such as the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.

Programs and Services

The Association administers professional development programs tailored to publishing professionals, drawing on curricula related to trade operations exemplified by training counterparts at institutions such as Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and McMaster University. It provides distribution and rights management support in collaboration with entities like Canadian Heritage, copyright registries, and law firms knowledgeable about the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Services include market research reports referencing data from organizations like BookNet Canada and partnership initiatives with booksellers such as Indigo Books and Music and independent retailers affiliated with the Canadian Booksellers Association. The Association also offers mentorship schemes connecting emerging editors and designers with seasoned staff from presses like Coach House Books and House of Anansi Press.

Advocacy and Public Policy

The Association engages in advocacy on issues including copyright reform, library access, and cultural funding, participating in consultations with bodies such as Library and Archives Canada and testifying before committees of the House of Commons of Canada. It coordinates policy submissions addressing federal statutes such as the Copyright Act (Canada) and funding frameworks administered by Canada Council for the Arts and Department of Canadian Heritage. The Association has partnered with allied organizations like Canadian Federation of Library Associations and Writers' Union of Canada to campaign for measures affecting public lending rights, legal deposit, and export assistance provided by Export Development Canada. Its advocacy has intersected with litigation and regulatory matters involving multinational platforms such as Apple Inc. and Google LLC, and with trade officials in contexts including the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Awards and Events

The Association sponsors industry awards and participates in major cultural events including the Toronto International Festival of Authors, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival (as a collaborator on publishing panels), and the Montreal Book Fair (Salon du livre de Montréal). It organizes annual conferences featuring keynote speakers drawn from institutions like Library and Archives Canada and publishing houses such as Véhicule Press and Tundra Books. Award programs have recognized achievements in editorial excellence, design, and translation alongside collaborations with prizes like the Governor General's Awards and the Scotiabank Giller Prize through panel programming and promotional partnerships.

Partnerships and International Relations

The Association maintains partnerships with international organizations including the International Publishers Association, the Association of University Presses (AUPresses), and regional bodies such as the European and International Booksellers Federation. It coordinates trade missions and representation at global events like the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair, collaborating with Canadian cultural promotion agencies such as Global Affairs Canada and provincial trade offices. Bilateral activities have engaged counterparts from countries represented by institutions like the British Council and Alliance Française, and cooperative projects have linked Canadian scholarly presses with partners at Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press on issues of open access and scholarly dissemination.

Category:Publishing organizations of Canada