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Welcome

The Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC) is a trade association, founded in 1974, whose aims are to foster an environment in which our members will flourish and to expand an awareness of the value of books in all our lives. We are a regional affiliate of the Association of Canadian Publishers.

For more information on our member-driven association go to Who We Are.

See all our members in our Member Directory

For more on what we do, see our 2023 Activities Report.

News & Events

The eleventh annual BC Book Day will be celebrated on April 15, 2025

April 2nd, 2025

The Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC) invites British Columbians to celebrate BC Book Day on Tuesday, April 15th.

BC Book Day aims to raise awareness among government officials and the public of BC publishers’ cultural and economic contributions and provides an opportunity to celebrate the province’s diverse range of independently published books and magazines.

“At a time when BC’s publishers and booksellers are feeling the threat of incoming tariffs and cross-border uncertainty, BC Book Day is a chance to raise our collective voice as well as celebrate the central role of BC’s book-related communities in highlighting our region’s most pressing stories,” says Matea Kulic, Executive Director of Books BC.

The Province of British Columbia will proclaim Tuesday, April 15th, as BC Book Day at an event to be held at the BC Legislature where over twenty independent BC book and magazine publishers will be exhibiting their titles. Remarks from The Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport will be given as part of the celebration followed by remarks from Nina Krieger, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts, Culture, and Film. BC author Sam Wiebe (the Wakeland Novels) and BC independent bookseller Kerri Doyle (Books & Shenanigans, Victoria) will conclude the remarks portion of the day.

Book lovers across the province are encouraged to celebrate BC Book Day on April 15th by posting a picture of their favourite BC book or BC bookstore using the hashtag #BCBookDay on social media and tagging @ReadLocalBC.

More information on the online campaign including downloadable campaign graphics and sample copy can be found here: https://www.readlocalbc.ca/bcbookday/

Message from Books BC Board Chair Regarding U.S. Tariffs

March 6th, 2025

Dear Books BC Members,

As you are aware, the U.S. government is proceeding with implementing tariffs on some Canadian goods after the 30-day pause since the initial announcement by the Trump Administration. While the full impact on our industry remains uncertain, these tariffs, which took effect on March 4, 2025, will make it harder for BC books to reach American readers and could lead to significant cost increases for BC publishers, making it much harder for Canadian publishers to compete in the U.S. market. 

BC’s book industry is more than just an economic sector—it is a cornerstone of our culture, a driver of tourism, and a key exporter of Canadian stories. In 2023–24 alone, BC publishers exported over $9 million in finished books to the U.S., accounting for nearly a quarter of all Canadian book exports. For many of our members, the U.S. isn’t just another market—it’s essential to the success of their business. The ripple effects of U.S. tariffs on publishers, printers, distributors, booksellers, and authors could be serious, affecting creative output and the long-term sustainability of our sector.

Though the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) through which these tariffs have been implemented expressly limits any information or informational materials, including publications from being subject to tariffs, it remains unclear whether this exemption will apply to all cross-border book shipments and how this exemption will be applied in practice.  

The events of this past week demonstrate that, even if tariffs are momentarily suspended or certain goods are made exempt, the overall chaos, unpredictability and constantly moving goal posts will lead to a broader economic fallout—rising production costs, supply chain disruptions, and border slowdowns—all of which will still impact our industry.

At Books BC, we are committed to standing with our members through the uncertainty of this challenging situation. These past three months, Books BC has continued to update provincial funders and government on the evolving situation, and to advocate for BC Publishers. Our Books BC Brief on the Impact of Tariffs on BC Publishers outlines the possible impacts, as well as both industry-led and government-funded responses that would support BC publishers through this evolving situation.

We encourage BC publishers to reach out and let us know what you are experiencing or hearing in relation to U.S. tariffs—whether it’s feedback from booksellers, conversations with U.S. partners, or concerns about supply chain disruptions. The more we share information in a timely manner, the stronger our collective response can be.

This moment is a reminder of something we already know: we must support Canadian-owned publishing. The vast majority of books found in Canadian bookstores, libraries, and schools are published by foreign-owned companies. Even when the authors, illustrators, and translators are Canadian, the profits and jobs often go elsewhere. Now, more than ever, we need to champion BC-published books in our own communities and take meaningful steps to strengthen our Canadian-owned book publishing industry.

We can do this by:

–Encouraging readers, libraries, and schools to buy and stock more Canadian-published books.

–Advocating for strong, stable support from both provincial and federal governments.

–Finding new and innovative ways to connect with Canadian readers so we are less vulnerable to disruptions in international trade.

Despite the challenges ahead, one thing is clear: BC publishers are resilient, creative, and determined. We’ve faced economic downturns, a global pandemic, and shifts in the market before—and we will find a way forward again.

At Books BC we will continue to seek out ways to support our members and to work together—through joint marketing efforts, shared resources, and new approaches to selling and distributing our books—to build a stronger, more resilient publishing sector.

Don Gorman

Publisher, Rocky Mountain Books

President, Association of Book Publishers of BC (Books BC)

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