FASHION magazine celebrates 40 years with specially commissioned "tulle" portrait cover

Fashion magazine is celebrating 40 years of style publishing with a specially commissioned cover for its November issue. It is a tulle portrait of Canadian model Amber Whitcomb by celebrated London, England, artist Benjamin Shine.

The artwork, valued at over C$30,000 is to be auctioned at a private event with the proceeds to be used to support emerging fashion design talent at Ryerson University.  

The print edition of the magazine will be on newsstands October 9 in Canada and on October 24 in the U.S. at selected Barnes & Noble locations.

The cover shoot includes access to a cinematic short film by Erik Swain. In the film, Witcomb recites Lord Byron’s famed poem “She Walks in Beauty,” which is the theme for the cover and the cover feature. A 19-page fall fashion shoot with Witcomb highlights the season’s defining looks; and a special 20-page feature includes archival images as well as interviews from past contributors. Behind-the-scenes anniversary-related content is available at fashionmagazine.com/fashioncanada40.

“This has been an epic experience,” said Noreen Flanagan, editor-in-chief of FASHION [in a release]. “I was taken with Benjamin’s work when I saw the tulle piece he created for Maison Margiela earlier this year. I was intrigued with the idea of him creating one for our cover because tulle is such a celebratory fabric. It’s traditionally worn at the most significant moments in our lives. Turning 40 is significant—whether you’re a woman or a magazine!”

Precedent marks its 10th anniversary

Melissa Kluger

There was probably some, or a lot of, scepticism out there when Melissa Kluger launched Precedent magazine, the Toronto-based lifestyle magazine for lawyers. 

Well, it is about the celebrate its 10th anniversary, which is no mean feat. For its fall anniversary issue, senior editor Daniel Fish sat down with Kluger to talk about the magazine's origins. She was working in the law, but has always wanted to be a journalist.

"During those first few years as a lawyer, I started to read the existing crop of legal magazines. None of them spoke to me. On every cover there was an old white man. And, perhaps more importantly, there was nothing in them about how to be a young professional. Something was missing. So I thought, Damn it, I have to start a magazine."

She launched a blog and quit her job as a lawyer and spent the next year planning ( working part-time on doc-review contracts for lawyers to pay the rent.) The magazine started out strong, but almost immediately met several major obstacles: a recession, a competing magazine from Canadian Lawyer, and the move of traditional advertisers to digital. She overcame them all.

DF: "One big thing that has changed at Precedent [over the 10 years] is its mandate. When I joined the magazine, four years ago, this was no longer a magazine exclusively for young lawyers. Why did you make that change?" 

MK: "I worried that once lawyers made partner, they’d put down the magazine and say, ‘That’s it! I’m done with Precedent.’ I didn’t want that to happen. I still want the magazine to skew young. It should promote emerging lawyers who wouldn’t have a place in other magazines, but the stories should appeal to everyone."

November is the 50th anniversary issue of Toronto Life magazine

Toronto Life's November issue marks 50 years of publishing with a look ahead to the next 50 years. 

LRC says these are the top 25 books of the past 25 years

The Literary Review of Canada (known commonly as LRC) has published its list of what it considers the list of the best 25 books published in the past 25 years, since LRC was launched. As with all such lists, there will be agreements and disagreements about the choices, which are drawn from the almost half a million books published in that  period. Each book in the list is accompanied by a presenter's perspective.

A Short History of Progress
by Ronald Wright
Presented by Charlie Foran

Kiss of the Fur Queen
by Thomson Highway
Presented by Margaret Atwood

Generation X
by Douglas Coupland
Presented by Adam Sternbergh

Citizen of the World and Just Watch Me:
The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau
by John English
Presented by Michael Valpy

Boom, Bust and Echo
by David Foot with Daniel Stoffman
Presented by Michael Adams

Shake Hands with the Devil
by Roméo Dallaire
Presented by Thomas Axworthy

Clearing the Plains:
Disease, Politics of Starvation and the Loss of Aboriginal Lifeby James Daschuk
Presented by Niigaan Sinclair

Shooting the Hippo: Death by Deficit and other Canadian Myths
by Linda McQuaig
Presented by Bruce Campbell

Sisters in the Wilderness
by Charlotte Gray
Presented by Alissa York
Read more »

Quote, unquote: 50 years of Toronto Life and going strong

"We've become much smarter about how we measure the effectiveness of the content we produce,The data has shown that quick, cheap stories, online quizzes and other click bait doesn't sustain audience attention; feature-length stories, particularly stories that have a strong point-of-view or unusual access to its subject, have the greatest impact, produce the most engagement, and get shared on social media. This is how we keep readers coming back."

-- Toronto Life publisher Ken Hunt, channeling Michael Lewis's Moneyball, in a press release about the magazine's forthcoming 50th anniversary. Read in print by 890,000 people monthly – the magazine's highest measured audience since 2005 and a largest measured audience in Toronto.

This magazine marks 50 years and looks forward to 50 more

Publisher Lisa Whittington-Hill

A good time was had by all at the celebration of the 50th anniversary (truly, 50!) of This Magazine held Thursday night in Toronto. 

Independent magazines have many challenges, but this one is surrounded by friends and volunteers that allows it to prevail in difficult times. It has provided the proving ground and launch pad (those are enough cliches, thank you: ed.) for many of Canada's best magazine journalists. 

Lisa Whittington-Hill (a veteran, at 12 years as publisher) didn't miss the opportunity to make a pitch for financial help to keep it going for another 50. 

Applied Arts magazine marks 30 years with new designers, logo and tagline

The redoubtable Applied Arts magazine is celebrating 30 years of publishing with a new design, a new logo and a new tagline, but with the vision of its founder, Georges Haroutiun, intact. The anniversary issue is in the mail now and the design of the has been taken over by Emily Tu and Edmond Ng of the Toronto-based studio Tung. As the magazine's blog reports, they represent the future of design in Canada, the kind that Haroutiun has championed for three decades:

"They approached our magazine with the same careful consideration that Georges did — those of you familiar with the early days of Applied Arts will see a homage in the redesign, from some of the typographic treatments (including our brand-new masthead!) to the strong editorial sensibility.

"We also have a new tagline! Create. Celebrate. speaks exactly to what we do at Applied Arts, and that is to recognize and promote the work that our creative audience makes. Our content is still very much focused on Canadian talent, but this new tagline speaks to our broader international audience.

Of particular interest in the new issue will be its look back by a variety of creative professionals at the ways in which the business -- including magazine design -- has changed in the past 30 years. Photographer George Simhoni of Westside Studio, for instance, reflects on how, in 1986, photography was still analogue and involved camera, file, processing, dye-transfer, retouching and so on and setups often took days to complete.

"Thirty years later, and the whole process is now so much more immediate. Everything is digital. As we shoot the different plates necessary in creating the finished image, it’s possible to compose them before we leave the shoot! I can do so much more now as part of my craft. It’s mind-blowing."

Québec Franchise magazine celebrates 20 years

Spring 2015

Québec Franchise is celebrating 20 years of publication. The 3-times annual magazine has been a reference for those who wish to go into business (franchise) or be self-employed (microfranchise). Its magazine and web editions has adapted itself to not only the evolving franchise and business opportunities market but also to the changing needs of prospective entrepreneurs.

Poetry is Dead magazine celebrates fifth anniversary of celebrating verse

It's apparent that neither poetry nor magazine publishing is dead, though both are encompassed by the indy magazine Poetry is Dead, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. As reported by the Georgia Straight, the magazine is having a party tonight at 8 p.m. at the Cultch in Vancouver. 

Don’t expect hushed tones and gravity. Hosted by [editor Daniel] Zomparelli and Cynara Geissler, the show promises standup comedy by Alicia Tobin and Cass Keeley, not to mention discussions of “everything from teen angst to Tiger Beat crushes”, as well as readings and performances by Dina Del Bucchia, Sara Bynoe, Curtis LeBlanc, Shannon Rayne, and many others. For your ticket—which will also land you a one-year subscription—go to the Cultch’s website.

SkyNews celebrates 20 years of looking up

The May/June issue of SkyNews, the astronomy magazine, marks 20 years of uninterrupted publishing and does so with the biggest issue ever. Newsstand buyers will find the 72-page issue polybagged on newsstands starting April 13 along with an 8-page booklet co-published with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada called "Getting Started in Astronomy". The publishers say

"SkyNews, which describes itself as The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing, won the National Magazine Award for Best New Magazine when it was launched in 1995 by the National Museum of Science & Technology in Ottawa (now the Canada Science & Technology Museum).  When faced with government-wide budget cuts in 1999, the Museum sold SkyNews to its editor, popular science author Terence Dickinson, publisher Greg Keilty and associate publisher Colleen Moloney. 

"SkyNews has a paid circulation of 24,042 serving a niche market of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers and is able to depend heavily on its enthusiastic subscribers to remain profitable." 

Azure celebrates 30 years of covering design and architecture

It's anniversary season, it seems, and design magazine Azure is celebrating its 30th anniversary with its May issue -- a special featuring Toronto, its home -- on Canadian newsstands today.

"The world’s most livable city is on the rise: from the waterfront revitalization and the rebirth of Union Station to the next generation of design and architecture firms taking the city by storm."

Part of the celebratory mood is marked by the publication of the 30th anniversary [online] journal. It explores the designs and designers that have affected the new urbanism, architecture, furniture and product design that Azure has covered in the three decades since its founding. 

The Nation celebrates 150 years

A tip of the hat to The Nation magazine which is celebrating its astounding 150th anniversary, one of the world's oldest continually published titles with a special anniversary issue of 268 pages. It looks back at some of the best from its archives, both writing (e.g. H.L. Mencken, Langston Hughes, Emma Goldman, Norman Thomas, I.F. Stone, Hannah Arendt) and illustration (e.g. Ben Shawn, David Levine, Art Spieglman), interspersed with articles by contemporary contributors (e.g. David Korn, Calvin Trillin, Michael Moore, Noam Chomsky). 

The issue out this week was co-edited by editor Katrina vanden Huevel and her London correspondent D. D. Guttenplan and vanden Huevel encapsulated the spirit of the occasion:

"Change is inevitable, but the one constant in The Nation’s history has been a faith—not in political parties or policies, but in what can happen when you tell people the truth. This belief has sustained The Nation since its founding: that and the idea that there are always alternatives—in history, in politics, in life—that would make our country and the world a more humane, just and secure place."

A digital version of the issue is available free.

Weddingbells magazine celebrating 30 years

Weddingbells magazine is celebrating 30 years of publishing with a special invitation-only event at Toronto's Design Exchange on April 1. No fooling. The twice-annual magazine is published by St. Joseph Communications media group. 

“This event will showcase some of our incredible wedding and party ideas,” says Alison McGill, editor-in-chief. “From live performances and innovative décor concepts, to an on-trend party menu of cocktail foods, an epic candy table and a very special wedding cake; this will definitely be a celebration to remember.”

Them Days celebrates 40 years of telling Labrador's stories

Them Days, a quarterly magazine that is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary, gets by on the simple strategy of telling the stories of Labrador. What started out as a one-off anthology in 1975 now has a national and international following for its oral history. For nearly 30 years, Doris Saunders was the lynchpin of the publication and these days, Aimee Chaulk is the editor. The magazine is published out of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Volunteer Susan Felsberg told the CBC that, without Them Days, a lot of the stories would never have been told.

"They were stories that just went around the kitchen table and out the front door, but now its written and its there, and some people have a complete collection." 

As part of this year's 40th anniversary celebration, a number of special publications are planned throughout the year. 

Bloomberg Businessweek celebrates 85 years of publishing and disruptions

Bloomberg Businessweek is celebrating its 85th anniversary with (count 'em) 5 different covers, each featuring one "disruptive idea". These and 81 others are featured inside the magazine. Among the disrupters, according to a post on FishbowlNY, are the VCR, Twitter, Starbucks, GPS, gay marriage and email. Editor Josh Tyrangiel said:

"This special issue chronicles the most disruptive ideas of the past 85 years, those entrepreneurial earthquakes whose tremors are still being felt. Disruption is a trendy word, but it’s used here without endorsement. To add a little tension, we’ve gone to the trouble of ranking these 85 disruptions and counting down to an overall world-changing champion. Comparing the importance of television to the impact of the Laffer Curve or Google to the AK-47 isn’t meant to yield scientific results. It’s meant to start some interesting arguments and remind us how dramatically business can change society."

ELLE QUÉBEC marks 25th anniversary with dress line, screenings and events

ELLE QUÉBEC magazine is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this fall with a series of events in Montreal, including the 3rd annual  Bulles & tendances show, a series of film screenings selected by Quebec personalities, a free concert by ICI Musique at Club Soda and a special opening of Ogilvy department store to show off the fashions of the past 25 years. 

“We wanted to celebrate our 25^th anniversary by focusing on the five pillars of ELLE QUÉBEC: fashion, beauty, culture, lifestyle and society,” says Sandra Abi-Rashed, Brand Director at TC Media. “From the very first, we have consciously sought to reshape the boundaries of fashion in order to inspire, inform and entertain our readers. So it was natural for us to share this unique moment in the history of ELLE QUÉBEC with our readers and thank them for their loyalty by inviting them to this series of events.”

The magazine also is marking its anniversary with the unveiling of an exclusive collection of dresses for the Christmas holidays, done in collaboration with Montreal-based retailer RW&CO. Denis Desro, the fashion editor of ELLE QUÉBEC is the guest designer for the collection. 

The cover of the magazine's 25th anniversary October issue is  shot by Bryan Adams, featuring five of ELLE QUÉBEC’s models and icons representing the brand’s different eras. 

Angie Gardos marks 25 years with Toronto Life

Though she apparently didn't want a fuss made about it, Angie Gardos is marking her 25th anniversary with Toronto Life. An invitation-only event was held at the chi-chi restaurant Jump last night and praise heaped by the likes of current editor Sarah Fulford and former editor John Macfarlane. An amazing number of talented people have worked with and learned from Angie over the years. She calls being managing editor of Toronto Life the best job in the world. 

Atlantic Business marks 25th anniversary with lunches and launches

Atlantic Business magazine is marking its 25th anniversary (making it the longest-publishing regional business magazine in Atlantic Canada) with a series of concurrent luncheons in St. John's, Halifax and Moncton on Wednesday 15th. Details of the magazine's redesign will be revealed as well as the magazine's Super Start-Up Program, by which 25 aspiring Atlantic Canada entrepreneurs will be provided with start-up funding of $2,500 and 25 hours of mentoring. 

Montecristo, the Vancouver lifestyle quarterly, celebrates 5 years

The Vancouver lifestyle quarterly magazine Montecristo is celebrating its fifth anniversary covering high-end art, design, fashion, culture, food and wine, travel and business. The cover story in the winter 2013 issue is about actress Kristin Lehman and features, for the first time in print, the private collection of furniture and interior design items of design guru Nancy Bendtsen. 

A release quotes editor Jim Tobler:

"Montecristo is a magazine that has, both in its print version and in its online version, been an erstwhile, dedicated, energetic, participatory member of our community. I can recall, without effort, how this magazine began, and the people who facilitated it along the way;Douglas Coupland, Sarah McLachlan, Parviz Tanavoli, Pino Posteraro, Chan Hon Goh, Mario Gutierrez, and so many more."

Founder and publisher Pasquale Cusano maintains,

"Our vision is to highlight the many artisans and individuals that do great work but go unnoticed. Many of them make their home here in Vancouver but affect culture, design, and decisions around the world."

The magazine, which is a slick credenza or coffee table item that is distributed in upscale hotels and through select Vancouver retailers, says that it reaches about 100,000 readers per issue. Among other things, it prides itself on only taking full-page ads (or spreads) and giving advertisers right hand positions, separated from each other. As a result it carries ads from clients such as Ferragamo USA, Maserati, Mercedes and Michael Kors. The magazine sells a three-year subscription for $65, which comes with a 70-minute massage. One year costs $25 (but no massage).

Nuvo magazine celebrates 15 years of publishing

Nuvo magazine, the Vancouver-based oversized lifestyle quarterly, is celebrating 15 years of publishing with a winter issue that has a cover profile of the well-known architect Moshe Safdie. 

Founder and publisher Pasquale Cusano said this of his 15 years of publishing: 

"I have made it our mandate to consistently give young people with little formal experience the opportunity to work at NUVO. As I tell the team, NUVO is the stage—now how are you going to perform? We laugh, we fight, we eat, we share espressos, we create, we experiment, but only together can we send each issue out."

Editor Claudia Cusano says that, while the magazine showcases a 10-page retrospective of portraiture,

"We decided that the magazine's 15 years should be reflected in this issue but that it should not dominate it."

NUVOmagazine.com will feature a weekly anniversary series and she said the anniversary issue has a new look as art director Mark Reynolds has reinterpreted the NUVO package.

"The bones are as strong as ever, the skin refreshed and revitalized with an envious glow".