La Pastèque has been acquired by publishing and media company Bayard Canada.

The Montreal-based publishing house, which has been a mainstay of Quebec’s comics and children’s literature scene for nearly 30 years, becomes part of Bayard Canada in a deal both parties emphasize is a strategic alliance “to ensure the long-term sustainability of La Pastèque,” according to Bayard’s communications advisor Myriam Lefebvre. The announcement of the deal, finalized on March 2, states the partnership “will enable the publishing house to continue its growth by drawing on the expertise of Quebec-based Bayard Canada.”

Founded in Montreal in 1998, La Pastèque has published local authors and illustrators, as well as voices from abroad, including Michel Rabagliati, Jean-Paul Eid, Guillaume Perreault, Geneviève Godbout, Isabelle Arsenault, Jacques Goldstyn, among others. The partnership will allow the publishing house to increase the distribution of its books in Canada and abroad, which includes plans to expand its sales in France where it currently generates nearly 40 per cent of its sales.

La Pastèque will retain its editorial autonomy, and the team, led by Frédéric Gauthier and Martin Brault, will maintain its responsibilities. “We wanted to plan for the future of La Pastèque while we are still actively involved,” said co-founders and publishers of La Pastèque, Gauthier and Brault in the press release. “The partnership with Bayard Canada quickly became the obvious choice, both because of our shared values and because of the complementary nature of our expertise and networks. We are very much looking forward to joining the Bayard Canada team and opening this new chapter in La Pastèque’s history together with them.”

Bayard Canada, headquartered in Montreal and with a team in Toronto, was founded in Quebec over 30 years ago. Bayard Canada publishes both English- and French-language children’s books through Owlkids Books and Bayard Canada Livres, and religious resources through Novalis, the magazines Chirp, Pomme d’Api Québec, Prions en Église, and Le Bel âge, and mobile apps for children, teens, adults, and religious communities.

“La Pastèque is a legendary publishing house in Quebec, with a strong identity and a valuable connection to both its authors and its readers,” said Sylvain Lumbruso, general manager of Bayard Canada in the press release. “Bayard Canada’s magazines, books, and educational apps speak to both French- and English-speaking communities throughout Canada and internationally through its various distribution channels, and we look forward to leveraging those channels to help bring the works in La Pastèque’s catalog to new audiences.”