Founded in 1979 by Anna Porter, later well known as a writer, the company specialized in Canadian non-fiction, although it published some fiction too.
Key Porter published books by authors including Farley Mowat, Claire Mowat, Allan Fotheringham, Conrad Black, Erika Ritter, Pamela Wallin, George Bowering, Diane Francis, Joan Barfoot, Maude Barlow, Stevie Cameron, Brian Lee Crowley, Dennis Lee, Mark Bourrie, Paul Cellucci, Jean Chrétien, M.A.C.
Porter sold her stake in 2004[citation needed] and a controlling interest was acquired that July by the Canadian publishing company H.B.
[2] The head office was located on the 10th floor of the historic Lumsden Building at 6 Adelaide Street East[citation needed] in downtown Toronto until September/October 2010, when Key Porter laid off 11 of 17 employees and relocated to a commercial business park in Bolton, Ontario[2] (in the northwest of Greater Toronto).
On 7 January 2011, Key Porter publisher Jordan Fenn announced the suspension of operations and laid off the remaining staff.