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Announcing the Greg Younging Undergraduate Award in Publishing Studies at SFU

August 6th, 2020

The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia, in partnership with the Publishing Program at Simon Fraser University, is pleased to announce the launch of the Greg Younging Undergraduate Award in Publishing Studies, which will help support the training of emerging Indigenous publishers in Canada.

The award was established in memory of Dr. Gregory Younging (1961–2019), publisher at Theytus Books and a member of the ABPBC board of directors at the time of his death. Greg graduated from the SFU Master of Publishing Program in 2000 and later taught as adjunct faculty.

A member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba, Greg was Assistant Director of Research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and led the Canadian publishing industry in responding to their calls to action, advocating for Indigenous editorial agency and serving as a trusted resource for publishers of Indigenous texts. He was the author of The Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing by and about Indigenous Peoples (2018), now considered an indispensable resource for North American publishers. The ABPBC honoured him in 2018 with the Gray Campbell Award Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of his work as an advocate for Indigenizing Canadian publishing.

At least one award, valued at a minimum of $1,000, will be granted annually in any term to an undergraduate student who meets the following criteria:

  • is enrolled full-time during the term of eligibility;
  •  has declared a minor in Print and Digital Publishing;
  •  is in good academic standing;
  •  is Indigenous; and
  •  has been actively involved in community service.

“We appreciate the support of Greg’s family for this initiative, in particular his parents, George Ing and his mother, the late Dr. Rosalyn Ing,” said Heidi Waechtler, executive director of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. “We are proud to be able to recognize Greg’s life and legacy in this way, and to help carry on the work he did to support emerging publishing professionals.”

Suzanne Norman, lecturer and industry liaison for the Publishing Program at SFU, commented,  “Greg’s contribution to publishing education and his work around Indigenous editorial protocols, have been pivotal in establishing a larger space for Indigenous writers, designers, publishers, and editors in Canada. He would be so proud of this new scholarship. His work with SFU may have begun in 1997, but his contributions continue and his work will always play a large role in the future of the SFU Publishing Program.”

Additional donations to the Greg Younging Undergraduate Award in Publishing at SFU can be made through Simon Fraser University’s Advancement Department. 

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