Laurie Greenwood

Life-long Edmontonian Laurie Greenwood has been in the business of books for 30 years.  A voracious reader all her life, her first venture into the business of books was at the University of Alberta Bookstore while studying psychology at the U of A.

Bitten by the bug, she and members of her family started Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe in 1979, an initiative destined to become one of Canada’s largest and most successful independent bookstores.  In 2000 Laurie sold her shares in Greenwoods to her brother and sister and bought what became Volume II Books, a thriving cornerstone in Glenora’s High Street neighbourhood.

During her career, Laurie has been involved in all aspects of the book business. She was a member of the Jury for the Canada Council of the Arts Publishing Program in 1988, 1993 and 2002 and in 1990 Greenwoods’ was named Canadian Bookseller. Laurie sat on the Senate at the University of Alberta from 2000 to 2006.  She was recently shortlisted for the Grant MacEwan Literary Arts Award.

Increasingly in demand as a public speaker, Laurie currently averages about 25 speaking engagements each year to both educational and community organizations including literacy organizations, Rotary Clubs and annual Alberta Teachers’ Conventions.  In addition, Laurie has been a weekly book columnist with CBC’s Radio Active for nearly 25 years and is also a weekly book columnist on Global TV’s First News morning show.

Married for 27 years, Laurie and her husband Doug Dawson have two daughters Megan, 24 and Kelly, 21.  All are avid readers.

       

laurie’s book company