Though this recent clip only popped up on my Facebook feed the other day, it did remind me of my time in Alberta (2001-2004) when I worked with the Writers Guild of Alberta where part of my work included helping jointly plan the annual Alberta Book Awards with the Book Publishers Association of Alberta.
Haven’t watched it yet but I suspect a lot of issues that existed back then – lack of government support, lack of skilled staff willing to work for low wages, lack of consumers buying local books (though perhaps this has changed a bit with the recent “Elbows Up” movement?), growth of self-publishing and vanity publishing options, competition from new entertainment options such as at-home streaming services and so on.
Ironically, a few years later, I’d find myself back in Saskatchewan, working in libraries but also serving on the Board of Coteau Books. And ten years after joining that board, being one of the two Board Members who most directly dealt with the bankruptcy of the organization once that became an unavoidable reality.
But that’s a story for another day…