The Association of Canadian Publishers is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Margaret Bryant. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her daughter, husband, family, friends, and colleagues at Orca Book Publishers and throughout the Canadian publishing community.
Margaret was a dedicated and highly respected member of the Canadian publishing community whose career spanned decades and many facets of the industry. She began her career as a field trade representative for John Wiley & Sons, covering Eastern Canada, before moving into sales management at Stoddart Canada and category management at Chapters/Indigo. She went on to marketing at Firefly Books, where her promotions earned two Libris Awards, followed by sales management with the Literary Press Group and a long tenure at Dundurn, where she worked across sales, marketing, and acquisitions. She brought that wealth of experience, knowledge, and care to her final role with the team at Orca Book Publishers.
Margaret’s contributions to Canadian publishing extended well beyond the roles she held. Throughout her career, she was a knowledgeable and generous colleague, bringing a deep understanding of the business of publishing and a genuine commitment to the books and people at its heart. In June 2025, Margaret was honoured with the Association of Canadian Publishers’ President’s Award in recognition of her contributions to the Canadian publishing community.
Margaret leaves behind a lasting legacy in the many people and publishers she supported throughout her career. She will be remembered for her expertise, resilience, warmth, and the considerable mark she made on Canadian publishing.
On behalf of the Association of Canadian Publishers and its members, we extend our deepest sympathies to Margaret’s family and loved ones, and her many friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are especially with those who were fortunate enough to know and work alongside Margaret throughout her remarkable career.
For more information, contact:
Laura Rock Gaughan, Acting Executive Director
Association of Canadian Publishers
laura_rock_gaughan@canbook.org