Dartmouth bookstore joins initiative to highlight Canadian authors

A new bookmark helps readers identify Canadian authors.

Independent bookstores across Canada are embracing an initiative to spotlight Canadian authors and homegrown literature.

Anne Whebby, owner of Tattletales Children Toys & Bookstore in Dartmouth, N.S., said she was eager to participate.

“Sign me up!” Whebby said.

Conversations about the initiative started two years ago when Cedar Canoe Books in Huntsville, Ont., introduced a red and white maple leaf bookmark to mark every Canadian-authored book in their store. The idea took off and now any bookstore in Canada can take part.

“I was the first person to call Nimbus Publishing to get my name on the list,” said Whebby. “I think it’s a wonderful idea and probably very good timing and one we should’ve thought about doing a long time ago.”

Whebby has been providing booklists made up of mostly Canadian books that are suitable for Halifax-area school libraries and curricula. Whebby said the increased interest from educators and the public is encouraging.

“We will just highlight the books that are Canadian or Canadian-authored in each section with the bookmarks sticking out the top so they can easily identify that Canadian red flag,” she said.

The effort to promote Canadian books is part of a broader push to support local products as tensions between the U.S. and Canada continue.

Derek Johnson and his brother started a similar initiative when they launched the website, Elbows Up Deals, where people can share good deals and Canadian-made products.

“We thought it’s hard to figure out what’s Canadian and what not [so] let’s actually have a site that focuses on saving money for us, especially since we expect the tariffs to impact quite a lot of people with job losses and the economy,” said Johnson.

Johnson said he and his brother spent hours building the website. Some Atlantic Canadian businesses are listed and Johnson is calling for more.

“It’s across Canada,” he explained. “We have a search feature for locals so if you go in, you could enter your postal code and it will give you the deals that are available to you in that 20 km range.”

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