Word & Deed Publishing Word & Deed Publishing
Burlington, Ontario
L7L 7H7, Canada
Call Us: 1.866.601.1213
eMail Us: info @ ...

About W & D

The Word & Deed Story

Word & Deed Publishing is dedicated to providing resources and support for educators who are social justice and equity advocates in their schools and/or districts.  We see schools as places where all children must receive equitable opportunities for success and where the status quo must be challenged.  Our resources support all educators with making significant changes in the lives of students and their families.

Learners in today's classrooms face unique challenges that were unimagined even one generation ago. We publish resources for educators to address these obstacles and help every learner reach his or her full potential.

Word & Deed strives to promote equity and social justice to meet the needs of today's diverse school environments.

Meet the Team

Jim Bisakowski - Director of Design

After graduating from Dalhousie University (B.Sc. - Engineering and Math), Jim specialized in corporate planning while employed in industry as an independent consultant in Canada and abroad. During this time he also taught Business Systems Analysis at Camosun College. The large number of reports and proposals required in his work led him to the formation of a document production company, producing a variety of reports, magazines, government documents, and books.

Eventually, he turned his​ focus to books and has now produced well over 300. He is the recepient of the prestigious Corel World Design Award for book design. Jim works from his home office in British Columbia and produces books for clients throughout the world.  His company is bookdesign.ca and he recently joined the Word & Deed Publishing team.

Please contact Jim directly if you have any questions related to book design with Word & Deed Publishing. 

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Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr - Associate Editor

Dr. Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr is a writer, editor, and publisher, a part-time professor at University of Ottawa, and an independent researcher of Canadian publishing history. She teaches essay writing to first year students and has been the recipient of two blended learning grants from Teaching and Learning Support Services (uOttawa) in order to create a blended version of this mandatory course. She has been the Director of University of Ottawa Press, Managing Editor of the United Church Publishing House, Publisher of Winding Trail Press, Production Manager of Stewart House Publishing, Associate Editor of McGraw-Hill Ryerson, and Marketing Assistant for Stoddard Kids.

Her research has been supported by the Access Copyright Foundation, the Tremaine Fellowship (Bibliographical Society of Canada), the McWatters Visiting Fellowship (Queen’s University Archives), the Frances E. Russell Grant (Canadian section of the International Board on Books for Young People), and the Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies at the University of Ottawa. She is currently at work on her own book about the sale of the Ryerson Press, the Royal Commission on Book Publishing, and the development of cultural policy related to book publishing in Canada.

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Mark Cassar - Associate Editor

Mark Cassar is an inspiring leader with a gift for engaging staff, students and parents in the life of his school. Student achievement, 21st Century teaching and learning, promoting a positive school climate and parent involvement are all a part of vision for education. A dedicated principal, Mark promotes professional development for staff and is an advocate for at-risk students.

Mark obtained a B.Ed and began his career as a teacher. He later went on to receive an M. Ed and Supervisory Officer Qualifications and is now an elementary school principal in the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board. Mark’s track record of achieving dramatic results can be illustrated through collaborating with others and fostering an engaged school community. Early on he realized the importance of working with the community in promoting student success by developing links between home and school and taking a personal interest in every child to help them realize their potential and develop positive self-worth. He also champions leadership opportunities for students by supporting a strong and active Student Council, Student Faith Ambassadors and bullying-prevention teams. “Dedication to children comes first. Everything else will flow from there.”

In 2009, Mark’s school was part of a documentary called Changing Course which followed the school community as it implemented a safe schools initiative and worked with several community organizations providing services like a breakfast program, a mentoring program and homework assistance. Through this program, and an ongoing school-wide dedication to inclusive learning, there was a drop in suspension rates and behavioral issues, as well as improved relationships between parents and the school’s staff. In 2012 Mark received the Premier’s Award for Excellence in Leadership, which is presented to a leader with the ability to inspire others to get involved and take action to help Ontario students and young children realize their full potential. Recipients display a drive to modernize the learning environment, positively influence staff development and expand the school’s culture of inclusiveness.

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Darrin Griffiths - Associate Editor and Director of Acquisitions

Darrin has worked with numerous authors throughout the years and understands the publishing domain and demand for the areas of social justice, equity, leadership, and the need for a blend of theory and praxis. As an experienced school principal, Darrin knows the demands and challenges of the role of principal and the intricacies of supporting all participants. Darrin has taught Doctoral and Masters courses at Western University as well as Masters courses at OISE. He is an Assistant Professor at Western University (part-time) in all aspects of educational leadership and learning.

If you have an idea for a book please email Darrin and he will get back to you within two business days to set up a time to dialogue about your idea.

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Sandre Griffiths - Associate Editor

Sandre Griffiths is an Associate Editor at Word & Deed and has been working with us since 2021. In addition to her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, she brings extensive experience in writing and editing. Sandre brings much expertise that supports the creative process of publishing. She is passionate about all issues related to social justice and equity.    

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Cathy  Landolt - Director of Marketing

Cathy Landolt has over 25 years of marketing experience, specializing in working with small businesses, arts organizations, and entrepreneurs. She creates marketing and communication strategies, crafts email and social media messaging, and helps her clients develop their online voice and brand. A life-long learner, her passion is investigating and discovering new ways to connect with audiences using interesting facts and stories to build online communities. She runs her own digital marketing and social media agency, Blue Elephant Productions, and runs workshops on content creation.

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Steve Viau - Associate Editor

Steve brings to Word & Deed a blend of a love of words and a desire to see change in the world.  His passion for the written word was instilled early in life by his mother, who was, fittingly, a teacher.  She also instilled in him an awareness that things need to be better for both educators and students, so our focus in what books we publish is a perfect fit.  

Steve's origins as an editor go all the way back to when he majored in English at the University of Toronto, and was the Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper.  He has since taken several editing courses, and loves working with authors to shape their ideas in whatever way is needed—and authors love working with him.  

In his 'spare' time Steve also runs two companies, one doing website design where he focuses on not-for-profits and companies with a 'green' or socially-conscious approach approach (including the Word & Deed site even!), and one where he organizes events and donates the proceeds to local charities or community groups, called Paradigm Shift Productions.

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