Virginia Davis, one of the leaders in advocating the reading and writing of Canadian children’s books over the last several decades, has died. Virginia won the 1994 Claude Aubry Award, after a career of passionate promoting Canadian children’s books. She headed School Library Services for the Department of Education in Manitoba (1977 to 1981) before serving as one of the early executive directors of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (1981 to 1984). For many years Virginia reviewed children’s books and videos for CM and as a panelist on CBC Radio’s Morningside. She was Vice-President of Marketing and Development for National Book Service (a library wholesaler previously known as the Learning Tree and Maclean Hunter Library Services) before moving to S&B Books, another book wholesaler. Virginia has been a past president of the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians and a past president of IBBY Canada. She was a mentor to librarians, teachers, writers, booksellers and many others who were bringing Canadian books to children. She was dynamic, intellectually brilliant, always curious about what was happening in the industry even after her final retirement (and there were several retirements), and always the life of the party. She will be sorely missed.
Last Updated: February 23, 2016 by Admin
Virginia Davis
Virginia Davis, one of the leaders in advocating the reading and writing of Canadian children’s books over the last several decades, has died. Virginia won the 1994 Claude Aubry Award, after a career of passionate promoting Canadian children’s books. She headed School Library Services for the Department of Education in Manitoba (1977 to 1981) before serving as one of the early executive directors of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (1981 to 1984). For many years Virginia reviewed children’s books and videos for CM and as a panelist on CBC Radio’s Morningside. She was Vice-President of Marketing and Development for National Book Service (a library wholesaler previously known as the Learning Tree and Maclean Hunter Library Services) before moving to S&B Books, another book wholesaler. Virginia has been a past president of the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians and a past president of IBBY Canada. She was a mentor to librarians, teachers, writers, booksellers and many others who were bringing Canadian books to children. She was dynamic, intellectually brilliant, always curious about what was happening in the industry even after her final retirement (and there were several retirements), and always the life of the party. She will be sorely missed.
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