Karl Siegler (publisher of Vancouver's Talonbooks) Wins Award!

I just found out about this. Congrats to Karl (& his lovely wife Christy, who is as much Talon as he is)!!! Check out what their press has been doing for longer than I've been alive at www.talonbooks.com

Below is the press release:

For immediate release: August 17, 2004:from The Organization of Book Publishers of OntarioKARL SIEGLER WINS THE EIGHTH ANNUAL JANICE E. HANDFORD SMALL PRESS AWARDToronto, ON — The Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario (OBPO) is pleased to announce that Karl Siegler, publisher of Talon Books in Powell River, BC, will be presented with the eighth annual Janice E. Handford Small Press Award at the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival in Eden Mills, Ontario.The award was established to commemorate the contribution of Janice Handford, who, until her death in 1996, was a respected and beloved member of the Canadian book publishing community. As Administrative Director of the OBPO, organizer of the Trillium Awards and publicist for numerous literary events and publishers throughout the country, Janice Handford was always a passionate advocate of Canadian writing and publishing. To recognise her commitment, Janice’s colleagues and friends created an award to be presented annually to an individual who has advanced the cause of small and literary Canadian publishing.This year’s jury included Bill Harnum (founder) and three previous winners of the award, Judy Mappin, Simon Dardick, and Tim Inkster.“For over three decades, through his involvement with British Columbia’s Talon Books and the Canadian publishing industry, Karl Siegler has made an unparalleled commitment to Canadian literature and Canadian-owned publishing,” said jury member Simon Dardick. “He has contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of this country.”Karl, with his wife Christy, continue a Talon Books tradition of publishing excellence in poetry, fiction, non-fiction (including environmental and social issues, and literary criticism), drama, and works in translation by writers like bill bissett, Marie-Claire Blais, George Bowering, Frank Davey, Roy Kiyooka, Mary Meigs, bpNicol, Jane Rule, George Ryga, Audrey Thomas, and Michel Tremblay. The Talon vision encompasses a serious commitment to new writing in all genres, and the translation of the plays and novels of Québecois writers.Karl Siegler co-founded the Literary Press Group of Canada and was a founding member of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. He has been chair of the LPG and president of the Association of Canadian Publishers. Karl was also involved in the creation of Simon Fraser Centre for Studies in Publishing and its Masters in Publishing Program. His policy work – research, position papers, and lobbying – on behalf of Canadian-owned publishers, particularly literary publishers, has been exemplary.“Karl has been a mainstay of literary press publishing in Canada for thirty years,” said jury member Bill Harnum. “In addition to publishing some of our most important serious fiction, poetry, and plays, he has also served as the intellectual godfather of independent publishing in Canada.”The presentation will be made on Sunday, September 12th at the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, an event for which Janice Handford worked each year. The prize is a piece of Canadian craft art, another of Janice’s great passions. Her husband, Bill Harnum, Senior Vice President of University of Toronto Press, will introduce the award and David Caron, Executive Director of the Literary Press Group of Canada, will introduce Karl as the recipient.Past winners of the Janice E. Handford Small Press Award include Jack David (of ECW Press, 1997), Roy Macskimming (of Association of Canadian Publishers, 1998), Angela Rebeiro (of Playwrights Canada Press, 1999), Judy Mappin (of Double Hook Book Shop, 2000), Simon Dardick (of Véhicule Press, 2001), Tim Inkster (of The Porcupine's Quill, 2002) and David Caron (of Literary Press Group of Canada, 2003).For more information, contact:Julie Ford, OBPO Executive Directort: 416.536.7584, obpo@interlog.com