{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox publisher | image = | parent = | status = | founded = 1973 | founder = [[Tom Dawe]], [[Al Pittman]], Clyde Rose, Pat Byrne, and Richard Buehler | successor = | country = Canada | headquarters = [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]] | distribution = [[University of Toronto Press Distribution]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/UTP_Distribution/publishers.php?section=Publishers&sectionID=2&subsectionID=1&pageID=1# |title=Client Publishers |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202070109/http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/UTP_Distribution/publishers.php?section=Publishers&sectionID=2&subsectionID=1&pageID=1# |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | keypeople = | publications = Books | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | numemployees = | nasdaq = | url = {{URL|www.breakwaterbooks.com}} }}{{Short description|Canadian publishing company}} '''Breakwater Books Ltd.''' is a Canadian publishing company based in [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]. Although the company began as a way for local authors in Newfoundland and Labrador to publish their work without leaving the province,<ref name="The Breakwater Story">{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Deborah|title=The Breakwater Story: Thirty years of Newfoundland publishing|newspaper=The Newfoundland Herald|date=March 16, 2003}}</ref> Breakwater now publishes works from authors throughout Canada and the UK.<ref name="Breakwater Books Ltd.: About">{{cite web|title=Breakwater Books Ltd.: About|url=http://www.breakwaterbooks.com/about.php|publisher=Breakwater Books|accessdate=March 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113212036/http://www.breakwaterbooks.com/about.php|archivedate=January 13, 2013}}</ref> The company places a strong emphasis on publishing books that preserve and celebrate the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, although they publish books in many different genres.<ref name="Breakwater Books Ltd.: About" /> The company is also known for its publication of educational materials for schools,<ref name="Breakwater Books Ltd.: Mission">{{cite web|title=Breakwater Books Ltd.: Mission|url=http://www.breakwaterbooks.com/mission.php|publisher=Breakwater Books Ltd.|accessdate=March 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113212049/http://www.breakwaterbooks.com/mission.php|archivedate=January 13, 2013}}</ref> and was the first company in Atlantic Canada to do so.<ref name="Publish that Pride">{{cite news|last=Langor|first=Nicholas|title=Publish that Pride|newspaper=The Independent|date=August 31, 2007}}</ref> As of 2004, Breakwater had published over 600 titles, releasing between 10 and 15 titles every year.<ref name="Beating the Odds">{{cite news|last=Delong|first=Jodi|title=Beating the Odds|newspaper=The Sunday Herald|date=May 23, 2004}}</ref>

== History == On March 22, 1973, five professors at [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]] – [[Tom Dawe]], [[Al Pittman]] (d. 2001), Clyde Rose (d. 2023), Pat Byrne, and Richard Buehler – determined that the access to Newfoundland and Labrador learning materials was far too limited for their liking. At the time, Newfoundland writers either had to go to mainland publishers, or take on the financial burden of publishing their works themselves.<ref name="The Breakwater Story" /> It was at this time that the five men decided that something must be done. So, through that sense of frustration, Breakwater Books LTD. was formed.<ref name="The Breakwater Story" /><ref name=theglobeandmail>{{Cite news|title=Nfld. poet, playwright Al Pittman dead at 61|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/nfld-poet-playwright-al-pittman-dead-at-61/article4152183/|website=Theglobeandmail.com|date=August 28, 2001|access-date=2020-11-14}}</ref> With an initial mission to publish materials that would preserve the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, the men began publications.<ref name="Breakwater Books Ltd.: About" />

The early years of Breakwater were spent in Clyde Rose's basement. The five men worked as a team, initially publishing educational materials. However, the interest in Breakwater soon grew, and the part-time operation flourished into a full-time business. It was at this time that Clyde Rose stepped in as full-time manager of Breakwater Books, which Pat Byrne has said was "a risky move".<ref name="The Breakwater Story" />

Since the early years of Breakwater, the business has grown under Rose's management. Recently, the company has expanded its horizons to publish works from various genres, most notably children's literature, fiction, and poetry.<ref name="Breakwater Books Ltd.: About" /> As of 2003, Breakwater had published over 500 titles,<ref name="The Breakwater Story" /> a number which has only grown substantially since that time.

== Ownership == Breakwater Books was founded in 1973 by Richard Buehler, Pat Byrne, [[Tom Dawe]], [[Al Pittman]], and [[Clyde Rose]].<ref name="Beating the Odds" /> In 2009, Rose retired from his position as president of the company, passing ownership on to his daughter, Rebecca Rose.<ref name="Quill & Quire">{{cite web|title=Breakwater Books founder charged with sexual assault|url=http://www.quillandquire.com/google/article.cfm?article_id=11368|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630050713/http://www.quillandquire.com/google/article.cfm?article_id=11368|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2013|publisher=St. Joseph Media|accessdate=March 10, 2013}}</ref> Rebecca Rose had already been employed by the company and handling its day-to-day operations since 2000.<ref name="Breakwater Unbroken">{{cite journal|last=Clare|first=Stephen|title=Breakwater Unbroken: A father and daughter discuss the ling-in-coming handover of St. John's publishing house Breakwater Books|journal=Quill & Quire|date=May 2009|volume=75|issue=4}}</ref> She is also the president of the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association, and was named Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs.<ref name="Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador">{{cite news|last=Furst|first=Bojan|title=Publishing in the Family|newspaper=Gazette|date=June 4, 2009}}</ref>

== Awards == The following books published by Breakwater have won awards:<ref name="Industry Canada">{{cite web|title=Breakwater Books Ltd|url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/ccc/srch/nvgt.do?lang=eng&prtl=1&sbPrtl=&estblmntNo=295367110000&profile=cmpltPrfl&profileId=501&app=sold|publisher=Government of Canada|accessdate=March 11, 2013}}</ref> *''Voyages: Canada's Heritage Rivers '' – National Resources Council of America Award for Best New Environmental Publication *''Waiting For Time '' – Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction *''January, February, June or July '' – Young Adult Canadian Book Award *''Sooshewan, Child of the Beothuk '' – [[Canadian Children's Book Centre]] Choice Award *''Wind Over Dark Tickle '' – Canadian Children's Book Centre Choice Award *''Fanny For Change '' – Canadian Children's Book Centre Choice Award *''Ray Guy's Best '' – [[Stephen Leacock]] Award for Humour *''Down by Jim Long's Stage '' – Canadian Association of Children's Libraries Award *''Soe Longe as There Comes Noe Women: Origins of English Settlement in Newfoundland '' – [[Canadian Historical Association]]'s Regional History Certificate of Merit *''Borrowed Black '' – The Alcuin Citation for Excellence in Book Design in Canada

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Book publishing companies of Canada]] [[Category:Companies based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]] [[Category:1973 establishments in Newfoundland and Labrador]] [[Category:Publishing companies established in 1973]]