Until December 15 Opening hours: 8:30 am — 10 pm Livres rares et collections spéciales400, rue Sainte-Catherine Est Pavillon Hubert-Aquin (A), A-R120 Montréal, QC Photo by Nathalie St-Pierre The Alcuin Book Design Awards winning books return to UQAM, displayed at the Centre for Rare Books and Special Collections until December 15, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 10 pm, room A-R120. The exhibition was designed by guest professor Mélissa Pilon, in collaboration with Louise Paradis, the professor of the École de design. The graphic identity of the event was developed by Mélissa Pilon, Félix Ric ..read more

Written by Chester Gryski Since 2006, The Alcuin Society and the Arts & Letters Club have together annually celebrated the winners of Awards For Excellence In Book Design in Canada. This year we added an addition celebration. The Robert R. Reid Award was presented to Michael Torosian of the Lumiere Press. One room on the main floor of the Club was dedicated to a display of the winning books laid out on tables for the visitors to pick up and peruse and understand the judge’s reasoning. The exception to the rule about handing the books was the winners in the Limited editions category. Thes ..read more

Thursday, October 24th 20245:00 pm: Exhibition 6:30 pm: Dinner The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto14 Elm St, Toronto, ON M5G 1G7 The Alcuin Society and The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto will host a joint Ceremony on October 24th: The presentation of the Robert R. Reid Award to Michael Torosian of the Lumiere Press in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the book arts in Canada the presentation of the awards to the winners of the Alcuin Society Design Awards For Excellence in Design in Canada.   EVENT The event opens with an exhibition of the winning books published in 20 ..read more

September 18, 2024 – January 26, 2025 Bill Reid Gallery639 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G3   The upcoming exhibition featuring printmaker, designer, calligrapher, and Alcuin’s friend Robert R Reid and a famous Bill Reid and their creative relationship. Guest curated by Dr. Martine Reid, it features both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works by the two artists. The exhibition focuses on their collaborative works but will also feature Bill Reid’s writing and other archival materials. Martine Reid highlights the artists’ shared understanding of the “well-made” concept in their respec ..read more

Written by Ralph Stanton   As the new Chair of the Alcuin Society, I would like to record some of the contributions of my immediate predecessor, Spencer Stuart. As Chair of the Board from 2019 to June 2024, Spencer worked to maintain the society through the COVID-19 crisis. By initiating and expanding the society’s web based education activities, he helped secure the society’s connections with its membership and expand the reach of the society across Canada and around the world. He also dealt with the inflationary situation and helped ensured the financial health of the society. Under his ..read more

Following our last AGM meeting, there’s been a small change to the Alcuin Board of Directors. We’re joined by two new directors: Jocelyn Godolphin, a retired Associate University Librarian for Collection Services at Concordia University, steps into the Publications Chair role. Also joining us as Publications Director is Alexandra Weiland, Archivist at the Special Collections and Rare Books at the Simon Fraser University. Spencer W. Stuart steps down after 5 years as a Chair and is replaced by our long-standing member Ralph Stanton, while Chester Gryski takes up an additional mantle of Boo ..read more

The latest edition of Amphora, No. 193, is now in print. This issue explores the work of wood engraver George A. Walker while the Montreal bookbinder Odette Drapeau sums up her life at the top rung of art bookbinding and Toronto bookseller David Mason dives into the murkier depths of dealing with book collections. A new membership in the Society will get you this and at least 2, perhaps 3 more issues of Amphora this year ..read more

We’ve received news that the Gaspereau Press will change ownership at the end of 2025. Please find the announcement here, written by Andrew Steeves: At the end of 2025, Gary Dunfield and I will be leaving Gaspereau Press after 28 years as printers and publishers. With our departure, the offset printing and trade bindery activities of Gaspereau Press will effectively come to a conclusion, but we are pleased to announce that the literary publishing program and the Gaspereau Press name will continue under the ownership of Keagan Hawthorne. Keagan is presently the proprietor of Hardscrabble Press ..read more

Gerard Brender à Brandis, a Canadian wood-engraver and bookwright of almost sixty years has retired and is selling his finished books. Gerard started making books in 1969 and has since done everything from engraving, design, illustration, typesetting, printing on his Albion Press, binding, papermaking, weaving and dying covers by hand. All of his books are limited editions and make beautiful gifts or precious additions to private collections. We invite you to take a look at the books available on his website: gerardbrenderabrandis.ca/books A Pebble's Journey (2010) View this post on Instagram ..read more

One of our Vancouver Island-based Alcuin members has the following books for sale: Science and Civilisation Joseph Needham Vol I 1954, Vol II 1956, Vol III 1959, Vol IV- 1 1962, Vol IV-2 1965, Vol IV-3 1971, Vol V-2 1974 British Columbia Historical 1914 FW Howay & FOS Scholefield Vol I, Vol II, Biographical Vol III, Vol IV International Textbook Company: 148C Alternating Currents I.C.S. Staff 1942 235 Formulas-Cube Root-Logarithms I.C.S. Staff 1925 236 Geometry and Measurement I.C.S. Staff 1923 238B Elementary Architectural Drawing William Lowndes 1934 239C Architectural Drawing William ..read more