50th Anniversary Edition

In Recognition

In 1957, Oxford University Press Canada (OUP Canada) published the first Canadian Oxford School Atlas (COSA). The original idea had been proposed by an editor named Ivon Owen, who spent several years developing it. Although all of the cartographic work and even the printing was done in Britain, the atlas was tailored to the specifications of the Ontario Ministry of Education, and soon became a staple in the classrooms across Canada.

By 1960, it was being printed and bound in Canada, and today—in its ninth edition—is still OUP Canada's all-time bestseller.

The first three editions of COSA were edited by E.G. Pleva with assistance from Spencer Inch. In 1971, OUP Canada asked Quentin H. Stanford to fill the role of Geography consultant on the third edition. Since then, he has been an invaluable resource in the adaptation process.

The ninth edition of COSA is the fifth version for which Stanford has served as General Editor. He previously worked on the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth editions.

Stanford also edited The Oxford Regional Economic Atlas of the United States and Canada, 2nd ed. (with J. Chapman and J. Sherman, 1975); Canadian Oxford Intermediate Atlas (1993); Canadian Oxford Junior Atlas (1998); and The Canadian Oxford World Atlas, 3rd ed. (1992), 4th ed. (1998), 5th ed. (2003), and 6th ed. (2008).