thestar.com

IN 1993 Toronto's Dundurn Press marks its 20th anniversary, something of a milestone in Canadian publishing. The respected press specializing in Canadian history, biography and politics, including an extensive list of regional history, was founded by Hamilton native Kirk Howard, 50. He began his career teaching English at Lambton Community College in Sarnia but after seven years decided it was time for a change and a move to Toronto.

Last year Dundurn published Greatcoats And Glamour Boots: Canadian Women At War (1939-1945) by Carolyn Gossage, which has sold almost 5,000 copies. It also led to their lead 1992 title Double Duty, which contains sketches and diaries by Molly Lamb Bobak, Canada's first woman war artist. In December, The Anniversary Compulsion on Canada's centennial celebrations by Peter Aykroyd, father of celebrated comic actor Dan Aykroyd, was launched with great fanfare by his devoted son.

Ryerson, since 1990, has offered evening courses to people with a B.A. or equivalent who want to acquire publishing skills. Malcolm Lester of Lester Publishing teaches one course and administers the award honoring his late partner [Eve Orpen], who died in 1978. Other lecturers in the program organized by Rosemary Shipton and Mary McDougall Maude include such distinguished editors and publishers as Jan Walter, Jennifer Glossop and Kathy Lowinger.