Toronto, ON. The Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario (OBPO) is pleased to announce that Karl Siegler, publisher of Talonbooks, will be presented with the eighth annual Janice E. Handford Small Press Award at the Eden Mills Writer's Festival. The award was established to commemorate the contribution of Janice Handford, who, until her death in 1996, was a beloved member of the publishing community and a passionate advocate of Canadian writing and publishing. To recognise her commitment, Janice's colleagues and friends created an award to be presented annually to an individual who has advanced the cause of literary Canadian publishing. "For over three decades, through his involvement with British Columbia's Talonbooks and the Canadian publishing industry, Karl Siegler has made an unparalleled commitment to Canadian literature and Canadian-owned publishing," said jury member Simon Dardick. "He has contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of this country." Karl, with his wife Christy, continue a Talonbooks tradition of publishing excellence in poetry, fiction, non-fiction (including environmental and social issues, and literary criticism), drama, and works in translation by writers such as bill bissett, Marie-Claire Blais, George Bowering, Frank Davey, Roy Kiyooka, Mary Meigs, bpNichol, Jane Rule, George Ryga, Audrey Thomas, and Michel Tremblay. The Talon vision encompasses a serious commitment to new writing in all genres, and the translation of the plays and novels of Québécois writers. Karl Siegler co-founded the Literary Press Group of Canada and was a founding member of the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia. He has been chair of the LPG and president of the Association of Canadian Publishers. Karl was also involved in the creation of Simon Fraser University's Centre for Studies in Publishing and its Masters in Publishing Program. His policy work & research, position papers, and lobbying on behalf of Canadian-owned publishers, particularly literary publishers, has been exemplary. "Karl has been a mainstay of literary press publishing in Canada for thirty years," said jury member Bill Harnum. "In addition to publishing some of our most important serious fiction, poetry, and plays, he has also served as the intellectual godfather of independent publishing in Canada." The presentation will be made on Sunday, September 12th at the Eden Mills Writer's Festival, an event for which Janice Handford worked each year.