John Gordon (Jack) McClelland

Born: July 30, 1922
Died: June 14, 2004
Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario

• Jack McClelland began working for his father's company, McClelland & Stewart, in 1946.

• He became President of the company in 1961.

• McClelland wanted to find Canadian writers, so often underexposed, and then set out to sell them.

• He was deeply worried that American interests would overtake Canadian culture.

• McClelland took risks that helped change the face of the Canadian literary scene.

• He placed much emphasis on the "original Canadian thinker" wanting to bring Canadianism to the forefront.

• On several occassions, he felt threatened by financial restraints and abusive critics.

• In 1971, McClelland threatened to sell his publishing company and the thought was met with protest across the country.

• He continued to promote Canadian authors who, in turn, created the growth of a distintly Canadian literature milieu.

• McClelland sold the publishing company in 1985 after having turned it into Canada's best known publishing house.

Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003