Tom Gierasimczuk, publisher and GM Vancouver and Western Living, director of Creative BC

Creative BC, a non-profit organization launched in 2013 to promote creative industries in the province, has made a number of appointments, including selecting Tom Gierasimczuk, Publisher and GM, Vancouver Magazine and Western Living as a director. He'll be a voice at the table representing the magazine industry and, it would be hoped making sure that magazines receive their fair share of provincial funding. 

Douglas Knight elected chair of Magazines Canada board

Douglas Knight, the president of St. Joseph Media and publisher of Toronto Life and Fashion magazines has been elected chair of Magazines Canada for the next two years. He succeeds Michael Fox, publisher and CEO of Garden Making. 

The board of directors for 2015-2016:

• Douglas Knight, Toronto Life, Chair
• Patty Baxter, East Coast Living
• Lucie Dumas, Clin d’oeil
• Michael Fox, Garden Making, Past Chair
• Robert Goyette, Sélection
• Niel Hiscox, Canadian Auto Dealer, Treasurer
• Scott Jamieson, Canadian Forest Industries
• Mark Jamison, Magazines Canada CEO
• Ruth Kelly, Alberta Venture
• Samantha Legge, BC Business
• Jacqueline Loch, Style at Home
• Steve Maich, Marketing
• Ryan Sargent, Canadian House and Home
• Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, Lethbridge Living
• Kathryn Taglia, The Fiddlehead
• Jennifer Varkonyi, Maisonneuve
• Lisa Whittington-Hill, This Magazine, Secretary

Magazines Canada to host FIPP World Congress in Toronto in 2015

It was announced today in Rome that Canada and Magazines Canada, its magazine association, is to host the 40th anniversary FIPP World Congress 21-23 September 2015 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. The Congress is held every other year, and recently was in the UK, China and India -- and this year in Italy. 

It will be the first time that the International Association of Periodical Publishers (FIPP) based in London and New York, has held its marquee event in Canada.  Its members include the largest and most prominent magazine media companies and the leading national magazine media associations. 

Chris Llewellyn, president and CEO, FIPP, said: 

“2015 is a special year for FIPP, our 90th birthday, and the 40th World Congress, and it’s fitting that we continue taking the Congress to new countries. Toronto will be a fabulous host city, it’s the cultural, financial, and entertainment centre of Canada, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, and is home to our colleagues at Magazines Canada, one of the most active and creative of magazine associations representing more than 2,000 magazine media brands. All in all the 40th FIPP World Congress promises to be a very special experience and event.”

Mark Jamison, CEO, Magazines Canada, said: 

“We are pleased and privileged to welcome FIPP’s 40th World Congress to Toronto in 2015. A milestone! And like our magazines, Canada guarantees excitement. ”

The Congress is expected to bring 1,000 delegates and inject over $3 million into the Toronto and Ontario economy.  

"Loose association" of little mag publishers aims to work around "trial and error"

Here's a nifty idea; a collaboration of little magazine makers brought together to network, share resources and so on. (It's in a way what the Independent Publishers Association (IPA) used to do before it imploded.) Hope springs again although the organization hasn't yet held its first meeting (still to be announced). As reported on MagCulture:

Ralph [Emerson McGinnis] from Put A Egg On It,[a New York-based food zine he publishes with Sara Forbes Keogh] the man behind the The Little Magazine Coalition, explains,

‘It’s going to be a loose association, but with the hope of creating a professional organization that can teach and assist about things most of us have to figure out through trial and error. Even people experienced as magazine employees are often lost when figuring out how to distribute, sell ads and promote. Our first meeting is going to be a discussion about who are the best distributors for small magazines; our methods of online sales and tracking of subscribers. Practical stuff.’

PWAC offers 18 months of membership for the price of a year

The Professional Writers Association of Canada has launched a membership drive that offers new and returning freelancers 18 months of membership for the price of 12, provided signup by March 31. Plus, memberships($20 a month or $240 a year; $40 for students) give a discounted rate on the MagNet industry conference, a voucher for one free workshop and the chance to win a full MagNet package of four workshops, social events and meals.

Part of the reason for the drive is that PWAC is about t0 launch a rebooted Writers.ca 2.0, a searchable electronic marketplace connecting writers with editors and publishers and allowing online sale of new or existing work. People who sign up now get the opportunity to lock in free access.

Magazines Canada gets a shout-out with international magazine association

Magazines Canada has been profiled in the most recent quarterly issue of Magazine World from FIPP, the worldwide magazine media association, which publishes a decidedly upbeat interview with CEO Mark Jamison.
The article highlights, in addition to the MagNet conference and its recently-launched promotional magazine Canadian Magazines Canadien, the association's various programs and services on behalf of consumer and b2b titles. It reports that Magazines Canada has a strategic goal of topping 400 member titles in the next year. A digital version of Magazine World can be found here.