Kirk Howard, founder of publishing house Dundurn Press, dies at 80

TORONTO – Kirk Howard, founder of the quintessentially Canadian publishing house Dundurn Press, has died.

The publisher confirms Howard died on June 30 at age 80.

Howard established Dundurn Press in 1972 and remained at its helm for 47 years, before selling it in 2019.

Dundurn Press started as a publisher of books on Canadian history, but expanded over the decades.

Among its notable releases are the series “Amanda Doucette Mysteries” and “Inspector Green” by Barbara Fradkin and two works by Steve Paikin: “Bill Davis: Nation Builder, and Not So Bland After All” and “Paikin and the Premiers.”

Howard also served at various times as president of the Association of Canadian Publishers and the Ontario Book Publishers Organization, as well as treasurer of Livres Canada Books.

In 2019, he was invested into the Order of Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version carried an inaccurate age based on information provided by the publisher.

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