Canadian Living team hardest hit in layoffs by new owners, TVA Group

It was predicted -- and predictable* -- that the sale of Transcontinental Media's consumer magazines to the Quebecor Media's TVA Group would result in major organizational changes. A report in Mastheadonline says that some 25 layoffs were made late last week, many of them (paradoxically, it might seem) at the flagship brand Canadian Living. The layoffs included 

• longtime executive editor Doug O’Neill
• senior web editor Jennifer Gruden
• senior features editor Robin Stevenson
• assistant art direct Aimee Nishitoba
• associate art director Shelley Frayer 

In addition, senior marketing director communications and events Tracy Finkelstein, and senior marketing specialist Erin Quinn were let go. Ray Oster was laid off from the digital team as were Melissa Morra, digital product director Andrea Kolber, digital project manager Krystal Wong, and Scott Carefoot, product manager of The Hockey News.

Transcontinental Media sold 15 consumer magazines and related websites in eastern Canada to the TVA Group and in late May sold its Western Magazine Group (Vancouver Magazine and Western Living) to Yellow Pages.  

*TVA Group made no secret that it was going to focus the brands it acquired in the digital area.