In many ways fall is the beginning of a new year.  Students head back to

school, (at least in most provinces,) and in the book business we eagerly

await the fall releases while getting ready for the winter season.  This fall marks a new beginning

for Munro’s Books in Victoria as founder Jim Munro retired September 1st.   Jim gave me

my first job in the book business.  I worked in the original location, a much smaller store with a

more bohemian atmosphere – one which very much suited the late 70’s.  Since that time I have spent

many hours at Munro’s as a sales rep and publicist while shepherding around authors such as

Farley Mowat,  Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Jean Chretien, David Suzuki and of course

Allan Fotheringham who deemed Munro’s  “the most magnificent bookstore in Canada.”  That was

after they moved from the bohemian location and renovated an old bank!  Jim gave a lot of people their

start and welcomed innumerable authors and customers into his store over his 51 years as a bookseller.

To ensure that tradition continues he has passed the store on to four long-time

employees:  Jessica Walker, Carol Mentha, Ian Cochrane and Sarah Fry.  It’s both a happy

ending and new chapter for us all.

Lorna