John Gordon “Jack” McClelland Canadian Publishing giant

On a walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came upon the grave of one of Canada’s most influential cultural figures—publisher Jack McClelland.

Before making his mark in publishing, Jack served his country. At just 19, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941, and before long, he was commanding a torpedo boat in British coastal waters during WWII. A leader from an early age.

In 1946, Jack joined McClelland & Stewart, the publishing house founded by his father. By 1961, he was president, and from that position, he transformed the Canadian literary landscape.

Jack McClelland was more than a publisher—he was a champion of Canadian voices. Under his guidance, McClelland & Stewart nurtured and promoted some of this country’s most iconic writers: Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Leonard Cohen, Marian Engel, Farley Mowat, and Mordecai Richler, to name just a few.

Jack with Farley Mowat.

His career was defined by a fierce commitment to Canadian stories and authors. He didn’t just publish books—he built a national literature.

Jack McClelland died in Toronto on June 14, 2004. He was 81.

1922-2004