Hurtig, Melvin Gordon
Publisher, Politician
1932-

Mel Hurtig was born and raised in Edmonton. In 1956 he opened a
small bookstore which grew into one of the largest retail book
operations in Canada. Hurtig sold the bookstores in 1972 to
concentrate on publishing. Hurtig Publishers produced many titles
which have won numerous awards and prizes including the
Governor General's Award.

In 1980 Hurtig launched the largest and most ambitious project in
the history of Canadian publishing, The Canadian Encyclopedia
which was published in 1985 with a new and substantially expanded
edition in 1988.

Over the past twenty-five years Mel Hurtig has spoken all accross
Canada about economic, social, political and cultural matters. A
founding member of the Committee for an Independent Canada and
the Council of Canadians, Mel Hurtig has been particularly dedicated
to the preserving of Canadian sovereignty against the perceived
threat of continentalism. In 1992 Mel Hurtig was elected leader of
the National Party of Canada and led it in the 1993 federal election.

Multiple media, 1967-1996, 28.40 m    

Committee for an Independent Canada
Correspondence, press clippings, and reports mostly relating to
foreign ownership of the Canadian economy.

Council of Canadians, 1971-1993
Articles, briefing notes, correspondence, financial records,
speeches, and other documents relating to the Council of
Canadians.

National Party of Canada, 1991-1994
Material relating to the establishment of the National Party and the
1993 federal election.

Personal records, 1967-1996
Personal correspondence, documents relating to Mr. Hurtig's
campaign in the 1972 federal election, personal material relating
to Hurtig Publishers, The Canadian Encyclopedia, The Junior
Encyclopedia of Canada, and drafts of his memoirs, At Twilight
in the Country.

Access: Restricted
See also: New Canadian Encyclopedia Publishing, Ltd.