It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dennis Johnson, former publisher of Red Deer Press. Dennis began his career in 1979 as a lecturer at Red Deer College teaching English and Communications. By 1981 he was appointed Managing Editor, and later Publisher, of Red Deer College Press, later named Red Deer Press (RDP). In 2005, RDP was sold to Ontario-based publisher Fitzhenry & Whiteside and Dennis stayed on as publisher before leaving the company in June 2007. Dennis’ energy, imagination and determination gave Red Deer Press a national profile as a publisher in poetry, fiction, drama, cooking, gardening, and travel – but especially children’s literature. During his reign at RDP, Dennis served on the CCBC board of directors from 2001-2007. Look for a tribute to Dennis Johnson in the Winter 2011 edition of Canadian Children’s Book News.