It is with sadness that the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) shares news of the passing of Jim Douglas, who died September 24 in Vancouver. We extend our condolences to Douglas’ family, and the many friends and colleagues who worked with him over the course of his storied career.
Douglas was a pioneer of Canadian publishing, working first as a sales rep and later as a distributor and publisher. He founded J.J. Douglas in 1970, and the company became Douglas & McIntyre in 1979. In partnership with Scott McIntyre, the firm enjoyed great success across Canada and around the world, and became known for its high quality books and exceptional editorial program.
Active in industry initiatives, Douglas was president of the Independent Publishers’ Association, ACP’s predecessor, at the time of ACP’s incorporation in 1976, and again served as ACP president from 1983-84. He also served as president of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. ACP honoured Douglas for his many contributions to the association and Canadian publishing in 2008, when he was the recipient of the ACP President’s Award, presented that year in Vancouver.