It is with deep sadness that we announce that after a long battle with cancer Claire Mackay passed away on August 11, 2013. Growing up in Toronto, Claire was painfully shy and turned to books for comfort and friendship. At the age of eight, she started her own newspaper and spied on her neighbours for news items. Claire’s writing career began with a story she wrote for her 11-year-old son. She figured that nothing would come from it, but after seeing an ad in a magazine, she sent in her story. It turned out that Scholastic liked the manuscript and in 1974 Mini-Bike Hero was published. Claire went on to publish a number of books for children including The Toronto Story.

One of the founding members of CANSCAIP, Claire was an integral part of the growth of children’s books in the country, a mentor to many other writers and a very funny person who delighted many thousands of readers. She will be missed by her husband, Jack, her three sons, her daughter-in-laws, her grandchildren, and by the Canadian children’s literature community.