Toronto Life to celebrate 40 years

Toronto Life is holding a big celebration this month to mark 40 years in business. The bash is being held at the Carlu at Yonge and College in Toronto on October 19. (My invitiation must be in the mail.)

Michael de Pencier, the chair of Key Publishers, bought the struggling society magazine for a buck in 1972 and turned it into one of Canada's best-known and consistently most successful magazines. At that time, he had just graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in philosophy. Toronto Life has won 85 gold and 90 silver National Magazine Awards since the Awards’ were founded in 1977 (de Pencier was pivotal in starting the awards). (De Pencier sold the magazine to St. Joseph Corporation a few years ago.)

Past editors have included Thomas Hedley, screenwriter for Flashdance, Sandy Ross, founder of Canadian Business, and Marq de Villiers, noted Canadian journalist and Governor General’s award recipient for his 1999 book, Water: The Fate of our Most Valuable Resource.

The current editor, John Macfarlane (who has been editor twice)writes in his November editor's letter:

After 40 years, Toronto Life continues to flourish because it hasn’t lost its relevance. Because its mission – to give people the information they need to get the most out of Toronto – is as valid today as it was in 1966. Because we employ great people and have committed owners. And because, no matter how many awards we win, no matter how robust our circulation or healthy our bottom line, we don’t take our success for granted. It may sound trite, but around here, good enough has never been good enough.