Madeline Neill, who founded a family-run, independent bookstore mini-chain in the Greater Vancouver area, has died. She was 96.

Neill was born in Brandon, Manitoba, in 1926, and opened the first Black Bond bookstore there in 1963, naming it for her grandmothers Celia Black and Catherine Bond. She was inspired by Manitoba bookseller Mary Scorer, and was mentored by the eponymous Winnipeg bookseller before opening her first location in Brandon.

Black Bond Books was a success, with people lining up around the block in the snow in Brandon to get their hands on a signed copy of one of Pierre Berton’s titles, Neill’s daughter Cathy Jesson recalls.

In 1972, Neill moved to White Rock, British Columbia, where she opened the second Black Bond store in the mid-1970s. Jesson ran the Brandon store for five years before the location was sold and Jesson, too, moved west. A second outpost followed in Langley, B.C., in 1977, followed by a store in Maple Ridge, B.C., and others.

Neill saw an opportunity for bookselling in the small communities outside of Vancouver that lacked bookstores of their own, Jesson says.

In addition to Jesson, who worked closely with Neill for many years and took over the business after her retirement in 1994 – and now runs the chain with her daughter, Caitlin Jesson – Neill’s other two children also worked at the store for various periods of time. Her son, Michael Neill, is now the owner of Bookmanager and with his family owns Mosaic Books in Kelowna. Despite the fact that she retired more than 30 years ago, Neill had conversations about the business with Jesson right up until the end of her life. She loved hosting authors and book events at Black Bond and remained a passionate reader.

Black Bond Books continued to grow over the years – at its height operating 10 locations. The chain now also includes what was the Vancouver flagship of Book Warehouse, acquired in 2012, and Vancouver neighbourhood bookstore Hager Books, acquired in 2022.

Neill died in White Rock, B.C., on Nov. 1.