Mémoire - Amy HEMOND

A voice of English-Montreal: the first twenty years of Véhicule Press, 1973-1993

Amy HEMOND

Véhicule Press is a small book publishing company in Montreal that specializes in poetry, fiction, and social history and publishes in the English-language. Directed by Simon Dardick and Nancy Marrelli, the Press celebrated its forty-fifth-year anniversary in 2018. Drawing on data collected from the Véhicule Press and Véhicule Art (Montreal) Inc. fonds stored in the Concordia University Library Special Collections, this thesis explores the first twenty years (1973–1993) of Véhicule Press and follows the evolution of the company from a commercial printing operation in the back room of a gallery, Véhicule Art Inc., to a book publisher that has contributed greatly to the communities of Montreal. The thesis argues that, through the publication of poetry, artist books, and books on the history of Montreal and Quebec, a continual policy of inclusivity and diversity, and a gradually expanding outreach, Véhicule Press has sought to educate the world about the unique and diverse histories and peoples of Montreal and Quebec. The thesis also acknowledges the impact that funding, especially from the Canada Council for the Arts, has had on the publishing house over the years, as well as various other events that helped shape the press into the company that it is today.