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B.C. bookseller Jim Munro dies at 87

Jim Munro

Jim Munro (centre)‚ surrounded by staff (photo: Facebook, courtesy Munro’s Books)

Jim Munro‚ co-founder of the iconic Victoria, B.C., bookstore Munro’s Books, died suddenly on Nov. 21 among family at home. He was 87.

Munro established his eponymous store in 1963 with his then-wife, CanLit legend Alice Munro. The shop moved from Yates Street to Fort Street in 1979‚ then, in 1984, moved to its current location in a neo-classical building on Government St., which Munro bought outright. In September 2014, Munro retired from bookselling‚ leaving the store to four long-time employees:  operations manager Ian Cochran, bookkeeper Sarah Frye‚ and senior buyer Carol Mentha‚ with manager Jessica Walker taking a majority stake. The following year, National Geographic named Munro’s one of the top-10 bookstores in the world.

Earlier on the day of his passing‚ Munro had lunch downtown with friend and employee Doug Koch‚ according to a Facebook post by Munro’s staff.

The post continues:

Throughout his career, Jim delighted in discovering new books and promising writers. His importance in the world of books and literary culture was recognized with an appointment to the Order of Canada in 2014. His enthusiasm and generous spirit were the hallmarks of the business he lovingly built and tended for more than fifty years. He will be greatly missed.

Munro leaves behind wife‚ Carole‚ and daughters‚ Sheila‚ Andrea‚ and Jenny‚ as well as four grandchildren and one step-grandson.