Mother Tongue Talk
May 06th, 2026
“It all started in 1989 after I had attended an international PEN Canada conference in Toronto and Montreal that blew my mind,” recalls Mona Fertig, co-founder of Mother Tongue Publishing.
On May 21, Fertig joins Peter Haase for an online lecture hosted by the Alcuin Society, tracing the history of their Salt Spring Island–based press from its beginnings as a basement private operation to its development into an award-winning independent publisher.
The talk will explore the philosophy that has guided Mother Tongue Publishing for more than three decades, rooted in a belief that books are not simply commodities but vehicles for artistic expression and cultural value. Fertig and Haase will discuss the press’s growth within Canada’s independent publishing landscape, as well as its commitment to craft, design and literary quality.
Presented as part of the Alcuin Society’s programming, the lecture offers insight into the evolution of small press publishing and the role of independent publishers in sustaining literary culture. The event is free and open to the public, with advance registration required.
It will take place online on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. PDT.
Get your ticket here: The History of Mother Tongue Publishing
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