History

SaskBooks is a member-based non-profit service organization that champions Saskatchewan book publishers and promotes Saskatchewan books. We are Saskatchewan’s Creative Industry Association for publishing. Saskatchewan publishers produce award-winning, high quality and, professionally designed and printed books by Saskatchewan, Prairie, Canadian, and International writers. Each year, more than 100 books are published, promoted, and marketed by these presses.

Our Objectives:

promote and support book publishing and Saskatchewan-published books
provide a forum for sharing information and ideas
speak for the common interests of its members
undertake specific projects, programs, and studies pertaining to the publishing industry
work closely with other publishing and cultural organisation across Canada

SaskBooks serves its members through ongoing services, including promotion of the Saskatchewan book publishing industry and books, supporting book publishers and publishing activities regardless of business model, and researching, planning and implementing joint projects. We co-ordinate joint projects such as marketing reports and databases, sales presentations at conferences, distribution of publishers’ catalogues, and book displays. We work with other Canadian publishing associations on marketing and promotional activities, on professional development, and we liaison with related associations (libraries, book stores, writers’ groups). SaskBooks supports its members and the government in the development of book publishing policy.

We also work closely with other organisations such as the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Saskatchewan Library Association, Saskatchewan Book Awards, our primary funding agency, Creative Saskatchewan, and readers everywhere to ensure that Saskatchewan people are aware of the vibrant and professional book publishing industry in their own province.

Timeline

Prior to 1989, Saskatchewan publishers had worked together on reports and with prairie-based book publishing organisations such as the Prairie Publishers Group. As more projects and opportunities of a group nature came together, the desire for an official publishers organisation grew. SaskBooks was incorporated as the Saskatchewan Publishers Group (SPG) in 1989.

The SPG participated in Words on Wheels, a travelling book store in rural Saskatchewan; a group purchase of computer equipment, and a Saskatchewan Publishers Group directory/catalogue. The SPG hired a consultant to bring together a one-day festival focussed on books by prairie publishers. The festival was held in conjunction with the Jeux Canada Games held in Saskatoon.

1989

Incorporated as a Non-profit Corporation on March 10.

1990

Commissioned Marketing Saskatchewan Books by Mary Schendlinger.
September – established part-time office and part-time Executive Director.
Led the Alliance Against Tax on Reading and negotiated a Cultural Industries Assistance Program under a newly signed federal-provincial cost sharing agreement.

1992

Began working towards a book publishing policy for the Government of Saskatchewan
Maureen Storey completed a review of Saskatchewan publishers’ books and the Saskatchewan Curriculum.
Collaborated on Prairie Festival of Books and proposed Saskatchewan Book Awards
Held a full-scale training program, designed in co-operation with the Federal Business Development Bank, and a professional development seminar, “Accessing the Secondary School Market”
SPG obtained full-time staffing

1993

The Book Publishing Policy Committee Report released
A Harvest of Books by Roland Lorimer, the first comprehensive provincial publishing industry study, was completed.
Produced and distributed the first two issues of “Prairie Books Now”, a book news tabloid, in conjunction with Book Publishers Associations from Alberta and Manitoba
Worked with Saskatchewan Writers Guild (SWG) and the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) to present Blue Sky book fair and the first annual Saskatchewan Book Awards

1994

Heather Wood conducted a School Marketing Feasibility Study
Win Sebelius completed a Curriculum Analysis of members’ books.
The Library Marketing Manual was completed
Display Program operated with a co-ordinator for the first time

1995

The Cultural Industries Development Strategy Committee was initiated
SPG published its first membership brochure and a leaflet on co-publishing as part of an Outreach program

1996

The Library Marketing Manual was promoted by the distribution of the Library Marketing Brochure and other fine publications from Prairie Publisher Associations.
The SPG logo was developed

1997

The Cultural Industries Development Strategy was written, vetted by the community, and submitted to the Government
The SPG launched its Virtual Book Festival website
SPG’s display program attended Regina’s Wintergreen Craft Fair; consignment sales were up 150% from 1996
The SPG Education Committee obtained an agreement from SaskEd for a co-operative publishing project with a commitment of $25,000
An interactive Book Map was launched on the website with the printing of the Saskatchewan Book Map

1998

SPG the Tri-Province Forum
SPG co-operated with her sister cultural industries in planning a cultural export forum, Flatland Culture Goes Global
On April 23, over 400 people celebrated Regina’s first annual Canada Book Day Fair, which SPG planned in collaboration with Regina Public Library, SWG, SLA, Saskatchewan Book Awards, Luther College, and many others.

1999

Membership doubled to 24 publishers
Request for Proposal and jury processes were implemented for the SaskEd anthology project as well as the member funding process for the first installation of the Cultural Industries Development Fund
The Book Box program expanded from schools to include libraries and tourist destinations.
SaskF@cts, the SPG’s internal member newsletter, went digital, and PaperCuts, the external newsletter, was revived and distributed in HTML format
Ben Fair prepared the Saskatchewan Sampler (Book Archive), a database of all books written and published in Saskatchewan since 1905
SPG developed an inventory database to help manage increased sales
The second annual Canada Book Day in Regina entertained 1500 visitors at the McKenzie Art Gallery

2000

SPG launched Book Map 2000, “Saskatchewan Books: Covering the Globe”, along with the Saskatchewan Sampler (Book Archive Database) at a press conference at the Dunlop Art Gallery. The conference was attended by print, radio, and television media
SPG produced a Board Manual and Membership Brochure
Membership grew to 35

2001

Developed new website
Launched “Saskatchewan Books Go Public” radio programme on 91.3FM CJTR
Developed billboard promotional campaign as part of “Saskatchewan Books Go Public” marketing project

2002

Launched a new Book Map, featuring the official provincial map with book covers superimposed in locations corresponding to some aspect of the book.
Redesigned and updated the Book Archive
Membership rose to 45

2003

PaperCuts changed formats from newsletter to catalogue of members’ books
Increased number and variety of displays

2004

Produced and distributed 2004 Book Map
Attended the Congress of the Humanities in Winnipeg as part of the Display program
Increased distribution of PaperCuts to all libraries and Universities in Canada, to Rural Municipalities, and to all levels of government

2005

Participated in 100 years of Saskatchewan Books favourite book contest
Helped produce the online educational catalogue of Saskatchewan Books (Spirit of Saskatchewan)
Launched the Saskatchewan Book Designation project with SK Libraries
Updated Inventory Database to make it ONIX-compliant

2006

Moved to a storefront, street-level office with huge windows for a rotating display of books
Book Poster, Traveling Book Box, and radio programme were suspended

2007

Books in Schools program launched
Spirit of Saskatchewan catalogue was printed and distributed to all the schools in the province
Attended Congress of the Humanities in Saskatoon

2008

SPG climbed out of deficit and produced a surplus budget, after a ‘perfect storm’ of funding cuts and project suspensions.
Saskatchewan Arts Board became SPG’s primary funder
Book Poster Program resurfaced
Distribution Feasibility Study commissioned from Dennis Johnson
Administered Creative Economy Entrepreneurial Fund provided through the Saskatchewan Arts Board
Daniel Parr joined the team as an Intern

2009

Distributed PaperCuts and produced a new Book Poster
SPG attended the Congress of the Humanities in Ottawa
Membership topped 70
Began working on a provincial Book Policy

2010-2011

Produced 2 professional development seminars per year for book publishers
Curated on average nearly 20 book displays a year, including Congress of the Humanities across Canada
Memberships stabilised at ~60
Ceased production of the Book Poster
Increased distribution of the Read Saskatchewan catalogue (which had been PaperCuts) with Western Producer
Oversaw production of a custom-built database to manage increased sales of Saskatchewan books
Website overhaul and redesign

2012-2013

Participated in the provincial Creative Industries consultations
Member of the Creative Saskatchewan Working Group whose mandate was to assist the Ministry of Culture, Parks, and Sport in the creation of a Creative Industries Agency
Underwent rebranding in 2013
Adopted “SaskBooks” as our public name, to reflect our increased role as the Industry Association for book publishers

2014-2019

The Ministry of Culture, working closely with a group of creative industry associations, developed, legislated, and established Creative Saskatchewan, which became SaskBooks’ primary funding agency.
we moved from our street-level office on 11th avenue to the Sound Stage at the corner of Broad and College in Regina, along with four other Creative Industry Associations.
SaskBooks attended an international showcase of Saskatchewan creative industries in New York.
SaskBooks sent a delegate to the London Book Fair and to Book Expo America in New York to research international rights fairs and to develop opportunities for Saskatchewan publishers to enter the international rights market.
SaskBooks co-ordinated the first official Saskatchewan Book Week, celebrating more than 40 years of publishing in the province. The Ministry of Parks, Culture, and Sport officially declared September 25 Saskatchewan Book Day, which launched a week of book-related events throughout the province. Courtney Bates-Hardy, Victoria Koops, and Reed Langen all served as Book Week Co-ordinators, although not all at the same time; that would have been very strange indeed.
SaskBooks led a delegation of publishes to Frankfurt buchmesse in preparation for FBM2020, in which Canada was to have been the country of honour at one of the world’s largest publishing rights fairs.

2020

SaskBooks mourned the loss of one of the province’s longest-running publishers, Coteau Books, as they declared bankruptcy and closed their doors in February. Coteau Books, over more than 40 years of business, published hundreds of Canadian writers and produced award-winning books. Coteau was established, at least in part, to give Saskatchewan and prairie writers a place to publish outside of Central Canada.
We said farewell to our long-serving Executive Director – Brenda Niskala retired at the end of March after more than 27 years of passion and service to the publishing industry (although we don’t think she’ll drift too far from writing and publishing). The staff and board of SaskBooks wished Brenda all the best in her future endeavours, and transitioned Jillian Bell into her new role as Executive Director, Daniel Parr as Director of Programs and Finance, and welcomed Emily Dmyterko as Communications and Events co-ordinator.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, SaskBooks offered 100% of revenue from book sales to its publisher members for the month of April, and continued to offer free shipping until the end of June when bookstores were able to open.
SaskBooks hired Savannah Kosteniuk as our Intern. Savannah produced Saskatchewan Book Week and assisted in filling book orders and with the Professional Development program.

2021

During the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, SaskBooks’ staff returned to reduced in-office work where appropriate, with a manageable schedule of one person in the office at a time during peak transmission periods. Although the number of display venues was still quite low due to the pandemic, we were able to help our books reach their readers through social media, our online bookstore, and of course through our annual catalogue.
SaskBooks gratefully accepted Canada Book Fund Digital Accessible Books project funding and was able to provide support for the production of 22 accessible audiobooks and audio-enhanced ebooks. These books were made available to the Canadian library system for users with print disability. Our Professional Development Co-ordinator, Emily Dmyterko, produced a number of one-on-one mentorships for publishers which were dedicated to digital marketing; born accessible ePub design and production; and audiobook production. We also launched a spotlight feature on skbooks.com for publishers to upload their own multimedia bumpf! Emily teamed up with Savannah to produce our Annual General Meeting & Conference program.
Intern Savannah Kosteniuk completed a book publicity program through University of Toronto, and a mentorship with ZG Communications focussing on marketing. As part of her work in social media marketing, Savannah added “BookTok” videos to our promotional wheelhouse (that’s a lot of mixed metaphors just to say “Savannah did awesome things with TikTok for our books”). Later in the fall, Savannah produced a second edition of Saskatchewan Book Week.

2022

2022 saw Savannah complete her book marketing & publicity program, a return to in-person conference (with a hybrid option for our Folks From Away), in June, complete with the popular Stakeholder supper and cultural event (a tour and activity at the Mackenzie Gallery). Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Savannah as June marked the end of her term. In July we welcomed Logan McKay as the new Intern, and Logan jumped in the deep end of production for Saskatchewan Book Week. Logan also took a keen interest in further developing SaskBooks’ BookTok highlights.
The production of 7 more accessible audiobooks was supported through funding from Canada Book Fund, and our Professional Development program featured industry updates, sessions on distribution and library marketing, and a great workshop about accessible image tagging.
2022 saw the culmination of the Publishing Sector Development work, and the economic impact assessment resulting from that work, as well as the recommendations for further sector development were presented at the annual conference. Rounding out the sector development process, our Board of Directors completed a Strategic Plan which will take the organisation to 2026.