The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala, 26 May 2017, Arcadian Court, Toronto (Photo by Steven Goetz for the NMAF)
The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards are in the books, and the NMAF would like to thank all of the amazing contributors, sponsors, partners, and everyone else who helped make this year’s awards program a successful and poignant celebration of Canadian magazine creators.
Thank you to Vanessa Wyse, Nicola Hamilton, and their team at Studio Wysefor creating and executing the look and feel of this year’s National Magazine Awards–including the gala program (right), tickets, stage design, and our social media design. We loved working with you!
Thank you to our three wonderful co-hosts–Kim Pittaway, Michael de Pencier, and D.B. Scott–for leading the show and delighting the audience with their wit and honouring the nominees and winners with such grace.
Thank you to our Special Guests at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala and those who sent special video messages to our nominees and winners:
Sally Armstrong, UNICEF Special Representative to Afghanistan, Amnesty International-recognized human rights journalist, and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
James Ireland, legend of Canadian magazine design and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
Ken Rodmell, legend of Canadian magazine design and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
Lynn Cunningham, Ryerson University Journalism School instructor and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
Stephen Trumper, Ryerson University Journalism School instructor and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner (and his daughter Hannah);
Al Zikovitz, CEO of Cottage Life Media and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
Paul Jones, long-time Maclean-Hunter and Rogers publisher, and former Outstanding Achievement Award winner;
Desmond Cole, 3-time National Magazine Award winner and Newstalk 1010 host;
Jennifer Varkonyi, publisher of Maisonneuve;
Peter McNeill, national director of KPMG Enterprise;
Hon Lu, National Magazine Award-winning writer;
Min Gyo Chung, National Magazine Award-winning illustrator;
Gilbert Li, award-winning art director and NMA judge;
Arjun Basu, senior vice president of Bookmark Content, NMA judge, and former NMAF president;
Marcel Courville, senior vice president of marketing at TC Transcontinental Printing;
Anna Principe, business development manager at Rolland Enterprises;
Jack Illingworth, literature officer at the Ontario Arts Council;
Laurie Smith, customer marketing manager at CNW, a Cision Company.
Thank you to our Judges–the 112 individuals who volunteered their time as peer experts in Canadian magazines, serving on our juries for the 40th anniversary awards.
Thank you to all our contributors to the 40th anniversary gala:
Program Editor: Richard A. Johnson Program & Gala Art Direction & Design: Studio Wyse Printing: Transcontinental Printing Paper: Rolland Enterprises Translation: Sophie Lecomte, Émilie Pontbriand Copy Editing: Leah Edwards, Krista Robinson Volunteer Coordination: Leah Jensen Audiovisual Production: CCR Solutions Nominees Montage: Very Good Studios Production Interns: Eny Kuen, Leah Edwards Outstanding Achievement Award Photography: Daniel Ehrenworth Event Photography: Steven Goetz News Release Distribution: CNW, a Cision Company Chartered Accountants: Beckett Lowden Read, LLP Caterer: Oliver & Bonacini Venue: The Arcadian Court, Toronto
Special Thanks:
To our 40th anniversary Program Advisory Committee: Curtis Gillespie, Danielle Groen, and Kim Pittaway
To the Town of Huntsville, where Roy MacGregor’s original 1978 NMAF President’s Medal is now on display at the Canada Summit Centre Sports Memorabilia Collection.
Penny Caldwell, publisher of Cottage Life, accepts the 2017 Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala in Toronto, 26 May 2017 (Photo by Steven Goetz / NMAF)
We asked Penny to compose a message to the industry, which was presented in the 40th anniversary NMA gala program and comprised the basis of her acceptance speech at the gala. Here are Penny Caldwell’s complete remarks.
The Space Between
Our urgent need for innovative ideas and talented creators
by Penny Caldwell
I am honoured to receive this award and extend my sincere thanks to the National Magazine Awards Foundation, to my colleagues who nominated me, and to the many people who have contacted me since the news was announced.
Recently, a student at Cottage Life asked me what I have learned over the nearly forty years that I have worked in publishing. The best advice, I told her, was to manage your expectations but keep dreaming, work hard, be patient, and be adaptable.
That advice came to me from Doug Creighton, the founding publisher of the Toronto Sun when, fresh out of university, I was looking for a job. A family friend had arranged the interview, and Doug said he could probably get me a job on the copy desk working the night shift. What a thrill to imagine being part of a big daily newspaper, even as a proofreader on the night shift. Then he advised me not to take the job. Go out, he said, and find a place at a small newspaper where you will learn to do everything. So I went home and applied to every community newspaper across Canada, and I got a job as a sports reporter and columnist at the Whitby News Advertiser in Ajax.
The newspaper’s editor and senior reporters taught me a lot about crafting compelling stories. When one of the girls on the basketball team was fatally attacked by another student, I even covered a murder. But I recall the day I heard some surprising news: that the purpose of the stories we poured our hearts into was to fill the space between the ads.
If only it were that simple.
Fast forward. Most of us here tonight are still inescapably seduced by the power of storytelling. And while we can’t lose sight of the reality that, yes, in our legacy business the stories have traditionally been what fill up the spaces between the ads, we comfort ourselves that good content comes out on top. Content is king. Our readers pay for the content. Our advertisers pay to be close to the content. How close? Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
Ads are no longer simply adjacent to content,. Now they pop up in the middle of the stories—online and on our TV screens. Not that this is new. Who here remembers the issue of Saturday Night magazine in the late ‘90s, in which an excerpt of Mordecai’s Richler’s “Barney’s Version” was typeset to wrap around a vodka bottle? “Absolut Mordecai.”
While the business model for paid advertising evolves, so does our distribution method. Our world now includes an audience that doesn’t expect to have to shell out for content. And so, in an effort to attract the big numbers—not to mention big data—we give away our valuable content for free on our websites, on other digital channels, and in e-newsletters. Our advertising partners, who in the past clamoured to be close to the content, now want to be the content. Our industry has survived the inventions of radio and television, but I don’t know of a time in which magazines have been under more pressure to reinvent themselves—because with new technology we can, and because with new technology we have to. We now compete in more places and in more ways than ever for our customers’ time and money.
My twenty-year-old, idealistic, sports-reporter self says, what has the world come to? My present, practical business self says disruption happens, get on with it. The magazine industry must adapt—all of us here—in order to keep growing. We are going to have to find new sources of revenue, new innovative ways to engage our audiences that they will pay for. And that means learning everything possible about our customers. We’re going to have to find out what’s important to them, and tap into that passion.
My optimistic self says, we can do this. Yes, because we don’t have a choice if we want to survive. But also because as magazine creators we are very, very good at captivating audiences with compelling stories. Magazines are still a highly authentic, trusted platform whose halo has already enabled our industry to expand far beyond print into mega media brands comprising digital, social, video, audio, events, stores, merchandise, and even restaurants. If we continue to tell compelling, relevant stories, in whatever form, the audience will be there and they will pay. We still need good, high-quality content and the talented creators behind it. We still need to recognize its value in our business.
Tonight, we celebrate excellence. Tonight, we celebrate the creators. And tonight, I offer congratulations to those of you—editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, and publishers—who know how to tell the powerful Canadian stories that have such a profound influence on our society.
Finally, I would like to end with a thank you to Cottage Life, and particularly to Al Zikovitz, my mentor, friend, and long-time boss, who every day teaches me something new about hard work, being adaptable, and chasing your dreams.
Thank you.
Penny Caldwell (@PennyCaldwell) is the publisher and vice-president of Cottage Life Media. At this year’s 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards she was presented with the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement. Read her complete National Magazine Awards bio here.
ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The NMAF’s most prestigious individual prize is the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, an award that recognizes an individual’s innovation and creativity through contributions to the magazine industry.
The award is open to circulation experts, editors, marketing, sales and promotion professionals, publishers, creators, designers, production managers – in short, to everyone in the industry. It cannot be given posthumously. The annual deadline for nominations is March 1.
Host Kim Pittaway (right) greets Alicia Elliott on the stage of the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards in Toronto, 26 May 2017 (photo by Steven Goetz / NMAF)
The NMAF is very grateful to Ms. Elliott for accepting this invitation and addressing the 300 guests gathered at the NMA gala on Friday. Here are Alicia Elliott’s complete remarks, published with her permission:
She:kon.
Don’t worry, everybody. I promise I’m not here to take away your free speech. I’ve got maybe a handful and a half of publications, so I’m pretty sure I don’t have that kind of power. But you’re all writers, editors and publishers with some of the most prestigious publications in Canada. You have considerable power: to say what you want and know people will listen, to amplify any voice or perspective you want, to edit out or repress any voice or perspective you want. I hope after the past few weeks, you’ve all been reflecting on that responsibility.
This is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Once a citizen reaches adulthood, Canada officially washes its hands of educating them. Your magazines are what fill that void. Each and every page of your publications are like classrooms: sometimes teaching readers new ideas, sometimes reinforcing old ones. Take a moment and think about that. What are you teaching Canadians? What are you refusing to teach Canadians? And who are you letting do that teaching?
The fact is many marginalized communities do not feel you’re doing a good enough job telling their stories. I know there have been efforts at diversifying the workplace to counteract this. People from many more identities and cultures are part of newsrooms and magazines than twenty years ago. There’s some progress. But are they in leadership positions? Are they listened to by their leaders? Are they supported by those leaders when fighting for their right to speak, to exist?
I’m sure many of you would like to think the establishments you work at are safe havens for marginalized writers. Otherwise, why would they work there, right? But I’d like to share with you a quote from journalist, activist, novelist and all-around bad ass James Baldwin. In his introduction to his essay collection Nobody Knows My Name, he wrote, “Havens are high-priced. The price exacted of the haven-dweller is that he contrive to delude himself into believing that he has found a haven.”
As many have pointed out, and as the continued ignorance displayed in national political cartoons and columns have shown, the media and literary communities in Canada are not havens. We are collectively deluding ourselves to believe otherwise. It only took the smallest pushback from indigenous people for those who have always had access to free speech to derail conversation, shake off all accountability and put us back in our place. When you exalt their voices by publishing their articles and columns, what are you teaching Canada? What are you saying to marginalized communities about their issues and your coverage of them? What are you saying about yourself?
Because it’s not just the marginalized who are searching for havens. Those in power are searching, too. Sometimes they want a haven from criticism and accountability, from hard questions and harder answers. And for some, when that haven is snatched away and the full extent of their responsibilities is made crushingly apparent, it’s too much. They don’t reflect and make real change. They search out the closest haven and run.
I’m here tonight to ask you NOT to run. I’m asking you to do hard work, to examine your own complicity in perpetuating these problems, to be vulnerable with us, to have difficult conversations with us, to offer us a hand up instead of another push down. I’m here tonight to ask you to admit you don’t know it all, to ask questions, to learn and to do better.
We’re currently creating the world our children and grandchildren will grow up in, which means all of our actions and our inaction carry immense weight. Are you going to make future generations proud? Or are you going to make their work harder? Ultimately, that decision is your responsibility. There is no haven from that.
Nya:weh’kowa.
Alicia Elliott is a Tuscarora writer from Six Nations currently living in Brantford, Ontario. Her writing has most recently been published by CBC Arts, Room, Grain, The New Quarterly and The Malahat Review. She’s on Twitter @WordsandGuitar.
The National Magazine Awards Foundation (NMAF) has presented the winners of the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards at a gala this evening in Toronto at the Arcadian Court. Nearly 300 of Canada’s top magazine writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers, and other guests representing 75 nominated magazines gathered to recognize and celebrate excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines in 2016. Gold and Silver medals were presented in 25 categories recognizing Canada’s best in magazine writing, art, and design.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a welcome message to the audience via video, congratulating the nominees and winners and praising the important work of Canada’s magazine creators.
The Foundation presented Gold and Silver Medal awards in 25 categories at a ceremony co-hosted by Kim Pittaway, Michael de Pencier, and D.B. Scott—three of Canada’s most respected journalists and publishers, and all former winners of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement. Indigenous writer and Gold Medalist in the Essays category, Alicia Elliott, delivered the keynote address, urging all Canadian magazine creators and publishers to recognize their role in educating and informing the public about the complex social and cultural issues of our time, including empowering Indigenous voices and perspectives in the media.
Penny Caldwell, publisher and vice-president of Cottage Life Media, was presented with the 2017 Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, the highest individual honour in the Canadian magazine industry, which recognizes an individual’s innovation and creativity through contributions to the magazine industry.
Canada’s 2017 Magazine of the Year is Cottage Life. The award for magazine of the year goes to the publication that most consistently engages, surprises, and serves the needs of its readers. The award is judged according to four criteria—overall quality, impact, innovation, and brand awareness—and success relative to the magazine’s editorial mandate.
With a clear and creative editorial strategy that is loyal to their brand, audience, and business, Cottage Life continues to diversify its mandate, grow its readership, and excel at publishing. The magazine’s tone is perfectly playful, its stories educate and delight, and its story packaging is alluring. Cottage Life has demonstrated creativity and excellence in evolving its brand through events, shows, and multimedia—reinventing itself again and again. And throughout its evolution, the magazine itself remains fresh and fascinating.
—The National Magazine Awards Jury
INTEGRATED AWARDS
Best Magazine Cover
GOLD MEDAL: “General Dynamics” (Report on Business) Domenic Macri, art director Gary Salewicz, editor Brennan Higginbotham, contributor
This is a beautiful execution of a well-thought-out idea, from its concept right down to the smallest detail. Report on Business’s “General Dynamics” cover is a masterful example of having graphics work harmoniously with type to create the impression of a must-read story within. It’s engaging and unexpected—the forbidden, blacked-out words suck you in immediately. A truly remarkable and successful magazine cover.
—The National Magazine Awards Jury
GOLD MEDAL: « Nordicité » (Caribou) Tania Jiménez, directrice artistique Audrey Lavoie, Véronique Leduc, Geneviève Vezina-Montplaisir, rédactrices en chef
This Editorial Package from Caribou is a delicious invitation to the table set around the concept of Nordicité, where a meal of uniquely Québécois flavour is served. On the menu are cozy stories and tasteful photography of matsutake mushrooms, maple syrup, boreal spices, and wild berries. The package has the benefit of relying almost wholly on the support of readers and presents them with a carefully thought out series of articles that complement the topic and each other—all editorially handpicked and beautifully plated for our enjoyment.
—The National Magazine Awards Jury
GOLD MEDAL: “Breast of Luck” (Today’s Parent) Ariel Brewster, editor Stephanie Han Kim, art director
Contributors: Vivian Rosas, Katie Dupuis, Karen Robock, Louise Gleeson, Kara Aaserud, Sasha Emmons, Kate Lunau
“Breast of Luck” from Today’s Parent epitomizes service journalism. The team approached the issue from various perspectives, offering up multiple entry points. It feels exceptionally relevant—these are the real questions people ask about breastfeeding. It’s beautifully designed, very well written, funny, informative—the practical information is hands-on and useful. Whether you read it closely or simply skim, it has something for every reader.
—The National Magazine Awards Jury
GOLD MEDAL: “Rosemont Petite-Syrie” (Nouveau Projet) Judith Oliver, rédactrice en chef adjointe Jean-François Proulx, directeur artistique Félix Beaudry-Vigneux, auteur Maxime Roy de Roy, illustrateur
Beautifully drawn, informative, and concisely written, “Rosemont Petite-Syrie” is a powerful and graphic way to show the response of two families to the Syrian refugee crisis. The piece seamlessly weaves text and illustrations that speak to one another and the reader without seeming redundant. It’s an exemplar of the comic-book genre—and bilingual, to boot.
—The National Magazine Awards Jury
Forty years ago the NMAF set about building a coalition of institutions to form the foundation of what would become the National Magazine Awards. The goal was to create a truly national program that would recognize individual excellence in the many aspects of the magazine industry. Forty years later that legacy has endured. Tonight we have recognized the outstanding work of Canada’s magazine creators. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners—you have truly inspired the future of great journalism in this country. —Nino Di Cara, President, NMAF
GOLD MEDAL “Issue 22: Secrets” SAD Mag Pamela Rounis, art director Sara Harowitz, editor Katie Stewart, Michelle Reid Cyca, contributors
SILVER MEDAL “87: Le Vivant / The Living” esse Arts + Opinions Studio FEED, direction artistique Sylvette Babin, rédactrice en chef
Art Direction of a Single Article
GOLD MEDAL « Le politique est personnel » Nouveau Projet Ping Pong Ping, direction artistique Miriam Fahmy, rédactrice en chef
SILVER MEDAL “Give Peas a Chance” Today’s Parent Mandy Milks, art director Lauren Ferranti-Ballem, editor Anthony Swaneveld, illustrator Roberto Caruso, photographer
SILVER MEDAL “Move or Improve?” MoneySense Steven P. Hughes, illustrator John Montgomery, art director
Photojournalism & Photo Essay
GOLD MEDAL “South of Buck Creek” Geist Terence Byrnes, photographer Syd Danger, art director AnnMarie MacKinnon, Michal Kozlowski, editors
SILVER MEDAL “Canada’s Oldest Profession” The Walrus Tyler Anderson, photographer Brian Morgan, art director Jonathan Kay, editor Conrad Black, text
Portrait Photography
GOLD MEDAL “Marina Abramovic” Corduroy Magazine Peter Ash Lee, photographer & art director Tim Chan, editor
SILVER MEDAL “Love Your Body” NOW Magazine Tanja-Tiziana, photographer Troy Beyer, art director Susan G. Cole, editor Taylor Savage, hair & makeup
Lifestyle Photography
GOLD MEDAL “Different Strokes” Globe Style Advisor Riley Stewart, photographer Benjamin MacDonald, art director Andrew Sardone, editor Odessa Paloma Parker, fashion editor, stylist Vanessa Jarman, makeup / hair stylist Wendy Rorong, manicurist James Reiger, model, NEXT Models Canada
SILVER MEDAL “Tan Lines” Globe Style Advisor Renata Kaveh, photographer Benjamin MacDonald, art director Andrew Sardone, editor Odessa Paloma Parker, fashion editor, stylist Robert Weir, grooming Connor, model, Elmer Olsen Model Management
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Writer Nancy Macdonald won two awards: A Gold Medal in Profiles for “This is How I’m Going to Die” (Maclean’s), about the Leviathan II disaster, and a Silver Medal in Investigative Reporting for “Justice Is Not Blind” (Maclean’s), about the bias against Indigenous Canadians in the judicial system.
Mary Rogan won the first NMA Gold Medal for Long-Form Feature Writing, for her story “Growing Up Trans” (The Walrus). It’s Rogan’s third National Magazine Award and first since 1999.
Art director Domenic Macri of Report on Business won the Gold Medal for Best Magazine Cover (“General Dynamics”), his and the magazine’s fifth gold medal in this category since 2006.
Pierre Fortin (L’actualité) won the Gold Medal in Columns, for his Québec « Économie » coverage. This is Fortin’s fourth gold medal in Columns since 2003.
Indigenous poet Selina Boan won the Gold Medal in Poetry for a suite of poems in The New Quarterly, including “Meet Cree: A Practical Guide to the Cree Language.” This is her first National Magazine Award.
Richard Kelly Kemick won the Gold Medal in Fiction for “The Unitarian Church’s Annual Young Writer’s Short Story Competition” (The New Quarterly), his second NMA after winning gold last year in One of a Kind. Kemick also received an Honourable Mention in Fiction and in One of a Kind this year.
Don Gillmor won his twelfth National Magazine Award since 1997, a Silver Medal in Essays for “A Poet Self-Destructs” (The Walrus).
Joe Castaldo won the Gold Medal in Investigative Reporting for “The Last Days of Target” (Canadian Business). He won the Silver Medal in the same category in 2015.
In Personal Journalism, Edmonton writer and visual artist Benjamin Hertwig won the Gold Medal for “The Burn” (Prairie Fire). The story of the late John Hofsess, “By The Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead” (Toronto Life), about assisted dying and preparing to take his own life, won the Silver Medal.
Photographer and art director Peter Ash Lee won the Gold Medal in Portrait Photography (“Marina Abramovic” Corduroy), his fourth National Magazine Award.
Andrew Braithwaite won the Gold Medal in Service Journalism for “Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2016” (Air Canada enRoute), marking the second consecutive year he and the magazine have won gold for their annual feature on Canada’s newest culinary hotspots.
Ray Ford won his eighth National Magazine Award since 2000 with a Silver Medal in Short Feature Writing for “The Cutting Edge” (ON Nature).
MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS
L’actualité led all magazines with 3 Gold Medals, winning the top prize in Feature Writing, Columns, and Illustration.
The Walrus led all magazines with 6 awards (2 Gold Medals and 4 Silver Medals). This is the tenth time in the magazine’s history that The Walrus has won the most total awards at the NMAs.
Report on Business won 3 awards, including a Gold Medal for Best Magazine Cover (“General Dynamics”) and Silver Medals in Best Service Editorial Package and in Profiles.
The New Quarterly won the Gold Medal in Fiction and in Poetry, marking the second time that the Waterloo, Ontario literary magazine has swept both awards (also doing so in 2003 at the 25th anniversary National Magazine Award).
NOW Magazine’s “Love Your Body” issue was a double winner, taking the Silver Medal in Portrait Photography and the Silver Medal in Best Words & Pictures.
Globe Style Advisor swept the Gold and Silver Medals in the category Lifestyle Photography.
Nouveau Projet won 2 Gold Medals, in Art Direction of a Single Magazine Article (« Le politique est personnel ») and in Words & Pictures (“Rosemont Petite-Syrie”). Nouveau Projet won Magazine of the Year in 2015 and was a finalist this year.
The online magazine Hazlitt won 2 Silver Medals, in Fiction and in One of a Kind.
Today’s Parent won 2 medals: Gold in Best Service Editorial Package (“Breast of Luck”) and Silver in Art Direction of a Single Magazine Article (“Give Peas a Chance”).
7 magazines won a National Magazine Award for the first time: Atlantic Business Magazine; Caribou; esse Arts + Opinions; Hakai Magazine; Jeu, Revue de théâtre; Listed; and SAD Mag.
Magazines winning 1 Gold Medal: Air Canada enRoute; Caribou; Corduroy; Cottage Life; Geist; Hakai Magazine; Jeu, Revue de théâtre; The Malahat Review; Prairie Fire; Precedent
Magazines winning 1 Silver Medal: Atlantic Business Magazine; Châtelaine; esse Arts + Opinions; Listed; MoneySense; New Trail; ON Nature; PRISM International; Toronto Life.
The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala, 26 May 2017, Arcadian Court, Toronto (Photo by Steven Goetz for the NMAF)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a welcome message to the audience via video, congratulating the nominees and winners and praising the important work of Canada’s magazine creators.
Toronto Mayor John Tory also addressed the gathering via video to offer his congratulations to the nominees and winners and offer his support for Canadian magazine creators.
Alicia Elliott delivered the keynote address. Alicia is a Tuscarora writer from Six Nations, currently living in Brantford, Ontario. Her writing has most recently been published by CBC Arts, Room, Grain, The New Quarterly and The Malahat Review. Later in the evening she won the Gold Medal in Essays for “A Mind Spread Out on the Ground” (The Malahat Review).
For the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards, the NAMF welcomed a number of its former winners of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, led by Kim Pittaway, Michael de Pencier, and D.B. Scott, who co-hosted the event.
Also attending and presenting awards as former winners of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement: James Ireland, Sally Armstrong, Ken Rodmell, Lynn Cunningham, Stephen Trumper, Al Zikovitz, and Paul Jones.
Other special guest presenters included award-winning illustrator Min Gyo Chung, award-winning writers Hon Lu and Desmond Cole, award-winning art director Gilbert Li, and former NMAF president Arjun Basu.
ABOUT THE 40th ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS
Nearly 300 members of the Canadian magazine industry—publishers, editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, circulators and more—joined esteemed sponsors and other guests at the Arcadian Court for the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala.
This year, 197 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—entered the best of their editorial and design to the National Magazine Awards, submitting the work of more than 2000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators. The NMAF’s 112 volunteer judges nominated a total of 202 submissions from 75 different Canadian magazines for awards in 25 written, visual, integrated and special categories.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The NMAF gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
The NMAF gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors and table patrons:
Access Copyright,
Alberta Magazine Publishers Association,
Bookmark,
Canadian Media Guild,
Content Writers Group,
CDS Global,
CNW, a Cision Company,
ExpertWomen.ca,
Goetz Storytelling,
Impresa Communications,
Oliver & Bonacini,
Ricardo Media,
Rolland Enterprises,
Ryerson University School of Journalism,
Studio Wyse,
TC Transcontinental Printing,
University of King’s College School of Journalism,
Very Good Studios, and
Vividata.
The NMAF gratefully acknowledges its 112 Judges who volunteered their time and their expertise to serve on the juries for the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards.
ABOUT THE NMAF
A charitable foundation, the NMAF’s mandate is to recognize and promote excellence in content creation of Canadian print and digital publications through an annual program of awards and national publicity efforts.
The Foundation produces two distinct and bilingual award programs: the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. Throughout the year, the Foundation undertakes various group marketing initiatives and professional development events.
Tonight we honour and celebrate Canada’s top writers, artists, and other creators at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards.
Where: The Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto [MAP] When:
6:00pm Reception
7:30pm Awards presentation
8:30pm Dinner
9:45pm Dessert reception Why: To recognize and celebrate excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines. And to acknowledge the outstanding work of Canada’s top creators and the significance of great journalism.
Have a ticket?
If you purchased a ticket and did not request it to be mailed, you can pick up your ticket at the Will-Call tables at the top of the elevators at the Arcadian Court. Judges may also pick up their tickets here.
Need a ticket?
Tickets are available for purchase at the door: $150 (+HST) for regular tickets (includes dinner); $75 (+HST) for show-only tickets. Cash or Credit Card accepted.
What about the rest of the nominees?
Check out all the nominees for the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards, or read the PDF for a quick reference.
Not able to come?
Follow our twitter handle @MagAwards and #NMA40for a cascade of exciting live tweets throughout the show. Keep it right here on this blog for a full recap of the awards and all the winners (sometime after 10pm ET).
10 Tips for a Successful #NMA40 Gala
Doors open at 6pm.
No need to buy drink tickets this year. Cash bar will accept cash or card. (However, drink tickets are available at the bar if you’d like to purchase and treat your team or guests.)
Hors d’oeuvres will be served during the reception (6pm-7:15pm). There will be a 30-minute break in the awards ceremony for dinner (approximately 8:30pm).
Washrooms are through the foyer and to your left as you exit.
Gold winners: Come to the stage to accept your award (prep your speech now!).
Silver winners: Your awards will be brought to your table later in the show.
All other nominees: Please contact us next week to request your Honourable Mention certificates.
The upstairs Gallery is closed during the show, but join us there afterwards for dessert and drinks.
Celebrate each other. Get to know a magazine you’ve never seen before. Meet new writers, editors, art directors and other new colleagues. Enjoy the moment. (And get home safely.)
Forty years ago a gentleman by the name of Andrew MacFarlane, who was Dean of Journalism at the University of Western Ontario, set about building a coalition of institutions to form the foundation of what would become the National Magazine Awards. The goal was to create a truly national program that would recognize individual excellence in the many aspects of the magazine industry.
Forty years later that legacy has endured. As one creator told me, winning a National Magazine Award is regarded as the pinnacle of professional achievement in our industry.
Friday evening we will welcome many of Canada’s top creators to the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards to recognize the phenomenal achievements of this year’s nominees and winners. As we pay tribute to the outstanding effort, professionalism, and raw talent of the individual creators, it is also a celebration of the broader magazine community and a nod to the people who trained the winners, mentored them, inspired them, gave them opportunities and, in many cases, took a chance on them. Our ability to nurture great Canadian creators reflects on us all.
It would have been hard for the NMAs’ founders to imagine the changes faced by the magazine industry in recent years and the impact that technology and data would play. Consumer audiences are being asked to be more savvy about the source and integrity of the media they consume, and there has never been so much competition for their time. But the principles of quality journalism and compelling art endure. All the while, magazines and the craftspeople who create them have been at the forefront of our society and culture. The diversity and breadth of this year’s nominees are a tribute to the role they play as the tastemakers, opinion-formers, trendsetters, style-shapers, curators, investigators, and artists who help to shape our national narrative and our identities as Canadians.
On the topic of change, this year’s program represents a significant renewal for the NMAs. In response to our industry consultation, we revised the categories to be much more focused on the craft that goes into creating work for a magazine and less focused on the subject matter. This enabled us to reduce the number of awards by 30 percent (making winning one an even tougher feat!). Although, with 25 awards, we still have almost double the 14 that were presented in 1977! Among other changes we have introduced, it’s exciting to think that the winners tonight were judged in part by judges from Yellowknife to St. John’s, San Francisco to New York, London to Paris—proudly elevating Canadian work on the global stage.
An enormous thank you to our sponsors and the hundreds of people who have helped bring this year’s awards to life, from the entrants to the volunteer judges and the board of directors. I’d like to add special thanks to the NMAF executive team who bring such rigour and passion to making the awards happen—Barbara Gould, Richard Johnson, Émilie Pontbriand, Leah Jensen, and Krista Robinson.
Enjoy the show! If you can’t join us, follow all the action on Twitter @MagAwards.
The NMAF is excited to announce that this year’s 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala, on May 26, will be co-hosted by three previous winners of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement—Kim Pittaway, Michael de Pencier, and D.B. Scott—with special guest appearances by other winners including James Ireland, Sally Armstrong, Ken Rodmell, Lynn Cunningham, Stephen Trumper, Al Zikovitz, and Paul Jones.
The NMAF is also delighted to announce that Indigenous writer and 2017 nominee in Essays, Alicia Elliott, will deliver a keynote address to the gathering of more than 250 nominated writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers, and more.
As we celebrate 40 years of achievement in Canadian magazines and honour the outstanding work of the past year, we also acknowledge the strength, excellence, and diversity of Canada’s storytellers, whose creativity and passion are the bedrock of Canadian magazine journalism, today and tomorrow.
Kim Pittaway is the executive director, MFA in Creative Nonfiction, at University of King’s College. A freelancer writer and former editor of Chatelaine, she is an eight-time National Magazine Award nominee and was the 2016 recipient of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Michael de Pencier was the founding president of the National Magazine Awards Foundation in 1977, and was publisher of Toronto Life from 1971 until 2002. He founded Key Publishers, which published Canadian Geographic, Quill and Quire, Where Magazine, Fashion Magazine, Gardening Life, Canadian Business, and many other titles. In 1991 he was the recipient of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.
D.B. Scott is the president of Impresa Communications Ltd, publisher of the Canadian Magazines blog. He is a magazine and media consultant, writer, teacher, market researcher, publisher, and editor. He served on the NMAF Board of Directors for eight years and was president in 1990. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala is Friday, May 26, 2017, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto. View all nominees.
ABOUT THE 40th ANNIVERSARY NMA GALA The NMAF will welcome Canada’s top writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers and other creators to the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala. Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be announced at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on May 26. Tickets are on sale at magazine-awards.com.
A limited number of tickets for nominated freelancers are available at the discount rate of $35, thanks to the support of our Table Patrons, including Access Copyright, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, Bookmark, Canadian Media Guild, Canadian Writers Group, CDS Global, ExpertWomen.ca, Ryerson University School of Journalism, and University of King’s College School of Journalism.
Gold winners in writing and visual awards categories receive a cash prize of $1000. Silver winners receive an awards certificate. All other finalists receive Honourable Mention. View all nominees.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT Since its debut in 1990, the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement has been the highest individual honour bestowed upon members of Canada’s magazine community. The award recognizes an individual’s innovation and creativity through contributions to the magazine industry. The NMAF accepts submissions for the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement throughout the year, with an annual deadline of March 1. The award is open to circulation experts, editors, marketing, sales and promotion professionals, publishers, creators, designers, production managers; in short, to everyone in the industry. It cannot be given posthumously.
Previous winners include:
2016 Kim Pittaway
2015 Michael Fox
2014 Kim Jernigan
2013 Stephen Trumper
2012 Heather Robertson
2011 D.B. Scott
2010 Terry Sellwood
2009 Cynthia Brouse
2008 Charles Oberdorf
2007 Neville Gilfoy
2006 John Macfarlane
2005 Paul Jones
2004 Stephen Osborne
2003 Sally Armstrong
2002 Al Zikovitz
2001 Ken Rodmell
2000 Peter C. Newman
1999 Lynn Cunningham
1998 Robert Fulford
1997 James Ireland
1996 Catherine Keachie
1995 Jean Paré
1994 Don Obe
1993 Barbara Moon
1992 Lloyd Hodgkinson
1991 Michael de Pencier
1990 Prue Hemelrijk
This year’s recipient will be Penny Caldwell, publisher and vice-president of Cottage Life Media.
ABOUT THE NMAF A charitable foundation, the NMAF’s mandate is to recognize and promote excellence in content creation of Canadian print and digital publications through an annual program of awards and national publicity efforts.
The Foundation produces two distinct and bilingual award programs: the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. Throughout the year, the Foundation undertakes various group marketing initiatives and professional development events.
Are you ready to honour Canada’s most exceptional magazine writing, photography, illustration, and design? We are preparing a wonderful celebration of Canadian magazine creators for this year’s 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala on May 26, with a nod to the history and great tradition of Canadian magazines, and also a look to the future.
The Early Bird deadline on “Dinner & Show” tickets is Friday May 5. Save $15 of the regular price of $150 by booking your ticket soon.
The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala is just three weeks away. The nominees have been announced, and we are excited to welcome Canada’s best writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers, and more to the gala on May 26.
The nominees have been announced and Canada’s top writers, photographers, illustrators, editors, art directors, and more will gather at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards on Friday May 26 in Toronto.
Early Bird Tickets: Tickets including the reception, dinner, show and dessert are $135 for all other guests until the Early Bird deadline of May 5. After that, tickets are $150.
Show Only: A limited number of Show-Only tickets are available for $75. Show-Only tickets do not include dinner.
This year, 197 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—entered the best of their editorial and design work to the National Magazine Awards, submitting the work of more than 2000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators.
The NMAF’s 112 volunteerjudges have nominated a total of 202 submissions from 75 different Canadian magazines for awards in 25 written, visual, integrated and special categories.
Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be announced at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on May 26, at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala. Gold Awards in most categories include a cash prize of $1000.
The NMAF is excited to announce the nominees for the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards, including five finalists for the prestigious Magazine of the Year Award.
This year, 197 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—entered the best of their editorial and design work to the National Magazine Awards, submitting the work of more than 2000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators.
“We’re thrilled to announce the nominees for the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards. More than 200 Canadian creators—writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, poets, and more—are up for awards in 25 categories. My thanks to our judges who have done a rigorous job over the past few months evaluating the best work in the country. It’s been a significant year for Canadian storytelling, as the impressive caliber of the nominees attests. We’re looking forward to celebrating the best of Canada’s creative talent together at the Gala on May 26.”
—Nino Di Cara, President, NMAF
Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be announced at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on May 26, at the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala. Gold Awards in Writing and Visual categories include a cash prize of $1000.
Tickets are on sale now. A limited number of tickets for nominated freelancers will be available at the discount rate of $35, thanks to the support of our Table Patrons.
TOP NOMINATED CREATORS
Edmonton freelance writer Omar Mouallem leads all creators with 4 nominations for 4 different stories published in 4 magazines (Avenue, Hazlitt, Sharp, University Affairs).
Writer Richard Kelly Kemick is nominated 3 times—twice in Fiction and once in One of Kind, which he won last year—for stories in 3 magazines (Geist, Maisonneuve, The New Quarterly).
Quebec writer Catherine Perreault-Lessard is also nominated 3 times for 3 stories published in Châtelaine, L’actualité and Ricardo.
Maclean’s writer Nancy Macdonald is also nominated 3 times for 2 different stories.
The Walrus writer/editor Katherine Laidlaw is nominated twice as a writer, and she is also the handling editor on 6 other Walrus stories nominated for National Magazine Awards.
Other writers nominated twice include Bruce Livesey (Report on Business), Jason McBride (Canadian Art, Toronto Life), Mark Pupo (Toronto Life), and Naël Shiab (L’actualité).
Illustrators Byron Eggenschwiler (Vancouver Magazine) and Gérard DuBois (L’actualité) are each nominated twice.
Photographers Peter Ash Lee (Corduroy), Chris Nicholls (FASHION Magazine) and Virginia Macdonald (Air Canada enRoute) are each nominated twice.
The five finalists for Magazine of the Year—given to the magazine that most consistently engages, surprises, and serves the needs of its readers—are:
Cottage Life, published by Blue Ant Media
Explore, published by My Passion Media
Nouveau Projet, published by Atelier 10
Ricardo, published by Ricardo Media
The Kit Compact, published by Star Media Group
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BEST NEW MAGAZINE WRITER
The five finalists for Best New Magazine Writer—given to the individual whose early work in magazines shows the highest degree of craft and promise—are:
The 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards honour the best in Canadian magazine journalism from 2016. Some of the most frequent topics that our judges saw among this year’s entries include:
Among this year’s nominees, some of the top stories include:
“Justice Is Not Blind” (Maclean’s)—a nine-month investigation by Nancy Macdonald and the Maclean’s team looking at the ways in which Canada’s justice system is biased against Indigenous people. Nominated in Longform Feature Writing and Investigative Reporting. .
“Company Province, Provincial Company” (Report on Business)—journalist Bruce Livesey’s investigative profile of the Irving family and the politics of New Brunswick’s energy sector. Nominated in Longform Feature Writing and Investigative Reporting. .
“The Fighter” (United Church Observer)—a stirring portrait of Willie Blackwater, a B.C. Indigenous man who survived a residential school and then led the fight for justice, written by journalist Richard Wright. Nominated in Longform Feature Writing and Profiles. .
“Love Your Body” (NOW Magazine)—a series of bold photographs by Tanja-Tiziana accompanying a set of profiles on the issue of body shaming. Nominated in Portrait Photography and Best Words & Pictures. .
“Whatever Happened to Michael Bryant?” (Precedent)—writer Daniel Fish investigates the life and times of the former Ontario Attorney General, whose involvement in the killing of a cyclist led to PTSD, years out of the spotlight, and finally a path to redemption. Nominated in Professional Article and Profiles. .
“Canada’s Best New Restaurants” (Air Canada enRoute)—the annual guide to Canadian culinary innovation by Andrew Braithwaite and the enRoute team is nominated in Service Journalism and Best Editorial Package. .
“Shocking Tax Tips You’re Missing Out On!” (MoneySense)—the annual tax guide by Bryan Borzykowski and the MoneySense team is nominated in Service Journalism and Best Service Editorial Package.
TOP NOMINATED MAGAZINES
FIRST-TIME NOMINEES
Magazines nominated for their first National Magazine Award include:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The NMAF gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation. We are also thankful for the support of Access Copyright, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, Bookmark, Canadian Media Guild, Canadian Writers Group, CNW, ExpertWomen.ca, Goetz Storytelling, Impresa Communications, Rolland Enterprises, Studio Wyse, TC Transcontinental Printing, and Very Good Studios.
For sponsorship enquiries please contact NMAF Managing Director Barbara Gould at staff@magazine-awards.com.
GALA TICKETS
The NMAF will welcome Canada’s top writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers and other creators to the 40th anniversary National Magazine Awards gala. Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards will be announced at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on May 26. Tickets are on sale at magazine-awards.com.
A limited number of tickets for nominated freelancers will be available at the discount rate of $35, thanks to the support of our Table Patrons, including Access Copyright, Bookmark, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, Canadian Media Guild, Canadian Writers Group, CDS Global, and ExploreWomen.ca.
Gold winners in Writing and Visual Awards categories receive a cash prize of $1000. Silver winners receive an awards certificate. All other finalists receive Honourable Mention.
CREDIT CHANGES
The deadline to make any changes to nominations credit is Friday April 28. Email staff@magazine-awards.com to make any credit changes to your nomination.
A charitable foundation, the NMAF’s mandate is to recognize and promote excellence in content creation of Canadian print and digital publications through an annual program of awards and national publicity efforts.
The Foundation produces two distinct and bilingual award programs: the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. Throughout the year, the Foundation undertakes various group marketing initiatives and professional development events.
The National Magazine Awards Foundation wishes to thank Gilbert Li, Vicki Lam and their team at The Office of Gilbert Li for creating and executing the look and feel of this year’s National Magazine Awards–including the gala program (right), tickets, stage design, and our social media design.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, CDS Global, for their support of the National Magazine Awards gala. CDS Global has been a proud sponsor of the National Magazine Awards since 1989.
Thank you to our special guests at the 39th National Magazine Awards gala and those who sent special video messages to our nominees and winners:
Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Hon. Adam Vaughan, MP, Spadina-Fort York
Hon. Elizabeth May, MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands
Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary
Carolyn Vesely, Director of Granting, Ontario Arts Council
Matt Hilliard-Forde, Program Consultant, Ontario Media Development Corporation
Gillian Deacon, CBC Radio
Natalie Turvey, Executive Director, Canadian Journalism Foundation
Karen Luttrell, President, Professional Writers Association of Canada (Toronto)
Derek Finkle, Founder, Canadian Writers Group
Hon. Adam Vaughan, MP, Spadina-Fort York, addresses the audience at the 2016 National Magazine Awards
Carolyn Vesely of Ontario Arts Council with MC Chris Turner, presenting the award for Fiction at the 2016 National Magazine Awards
Matt Hilliard-Forde of OMDC presenting the award for Best Magazine Cover at the 2016 National Magazine Awards
Thank you to all our sponsors and partners for their enthusiastic support of the NMAs and Canadian magazine creators.
Thank you to the team at Very Good Studios for their production of the gala including the multimedia show and the popular Smash Reel of nominated Canadian magazines, which you can view on our YouTube channel.
Thank you to the National Magazine Awards judges, our peers in Canadian magazines and media, more than 230 who volunteered their time and expertise to evaluate the submissions this year.
Emily M. Keeler, NMA judge and founding editor of Little Brother Magazine, presents the award for Humour
NMA judge Carmine Starnino with poetry nominee Michael Prior
NMA judge and 4-time NMA winner Danielle Groen presents the award for Best Short Feature
Thank you to our incredible Master of Ceremonies–Chris Turner–for an entertaining evening and a masterful performance on stage.
Thank you to our wonderful staff and our Board of Directors for their hard work and guidance.
Thank you to Steven Goetz, our event photographer for this year’s National Magazine Awards. Check out the 2016 NMA photo gallery on our Facebook Page.
Thank you to all who supported the 39th National Magazine Awards:
Program Editor: Richard A. Johnson Campaign Art Direction & Design: The Office of Gilbert Li Campaign Photography & Styling: Vicki Lam Printing: Transcontinental Printing Paper: Rolland Enterprises Translation: Émilie Pontbriand Copy Editing: Leah Edwards, Kira Wronska Dorward, Éloïse Pontbriand Multimedia Production: YellowHouse Events Volunteer Coordination: Leah Jensen Audiovisual Production: CCR Solutions Smash Reel Montage: Very Good Studios Multimedia Assistants: Eny Kuen, Olesya Zimina Outstanding Achievement Award Photography: Aaron McKenzie Fraser President Photography: Jared Sych Master of Ceremonies Photography: Ashley Bristowe Event Photography: Steven Goetz News Release Distribution: CNW Group Chartered Accountants: Beckett Lowden Read, LLP Caterer: Oliver & Bonacini Venue: The Arcadian Court, Toronto
Special thanks to our hardworking event volunteers.
It was a night to remember! The NMAF has announced the winners of the 39th annual National Magazine Awards, concluding an exciting evening celebrating Canadian creators at the Arcadian Court in Toronto–hosted by author Chris Turner–with more than 400 of Canada’s best writers, artists, editors, art directors, publishers and others in attendance. The NMAF presented Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards in 39 categories. More than $50,000 in cash prizes has been awarded to Canadian creators.
Jennifer Varkonyi, Publisher Haley Cullingham, Daniel Viola, Editors Anna Minzhulina, Art Director
Published by Maisonneuve Magazine Association
Maisonneuve fulfills its bold mandate of “banishing boring,” clearly striving to engage, inform and inspire. From its refreshing and imaginative art direction to its passionate editorial voice, the magazine feels like its constantly evolving, yet at the same time seems to connect with a sense of familiarity with its readers.
–National Magazine Awards jury
Best New Magazine Photographer Marta Iwanek The Maidan Maisonneuve
Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement Kim Pittaway
Renowned journalist, editor, teacher and mentor Kim Pittaway is the recipient of the 2016 Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, recognizing career excellence and service to the Canadian magazine industry. For her enduring dedication to the Canadian magazine industry, for the principled leadership and mentorship that has impacted the careers of many, and for her unfailing support of magazine creators, the NMAF is proud to recognize Kim Pittaway with its highest individual honour.
Words & Pictures Sponsored byCDS Global Our Ever-Changing Moods The Walrus Jillian Tamaki, Author & Illustrator Jonathan Kay, Editor Brian Morgan, Art Director
Single Service Article Package VÉGÉ Inspiré Ricardo Brigitte Coutu, Editor Caroline Blanchette, Art Director Mélanie Roy, Émilie Folie-Boivin, Sarah Lalanne, Authors David de Stefano, Photographer Caroline Nault, Heidi Bronstein, Contributors
Infographics David Chau, Creator Craig Battle, Editor GR!#K Sportsnet
“The most important mission of the National Magazine Awards is to celebrate Canadian creators. And tonight we have reached a new milestone in recognizing and rewarding excellence to more than 300 nominees and 70 gold and silver winners at the 39th annual NMA gala. The National Magazine Awards are one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions, and even as we celebrate our 39th year we are looking forward to our 40th anniversary and beyond.”
—Joyce Byrne, president of the NMAF
Fashion For my 10th birthday… ELLE Canada Owen Bruce, Photographer Brittany Eccles, Art Director Juliana Schiavinatto, Stylist Contributors: Denis Desro, Liisa Winkler, Stella Winkler, Juliann H, Hannah D, Sam F, Judith Maria Bradley, Susana Hong, Simone Otis, Suzanne Campos
Homes & Gardens Martin Tessler, Photographer Paul Roelofs, Art Director Nicole Sjöstedt, Stylist The Comeback Western Living
ABOUT THE 39th ANNUAL NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS More than 400 members of the Canadian magazine industry—publishers, editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, circulators and more—joined esteemed sponsors and other guests at the Arcadian Court for the 39th annual National Magazine Awards gala, presented by CDS Global.
Special guests were in abundance at the 39th annual National Magazine Awards. Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly delivered a tribute via video to the evening’s nominees and winners, acknowledging the important role of Canadian magazine creators in nurturing Canadian culture. Member of Parliament Adam Vaughan of Toronto attended and delivered a welcome message to the guests, celebrating the nominees in attendance. And Member of Parliament and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, radio host Gillian Deacon and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi each delivered messages via video congratulating the nominees and winners.
The NMAF was also honoured to welcome Carolyn Vesely of Ontario Arts Council, who presented the award for Fiction; Matt Hilliard-Forde of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, who presented the award for Magazine Covers; Natalie Turvey of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, who presented the award for Investigative Reporting; Karen Luttrell of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, who presented the award for Society; and Derek Finkle of the Canadian Writers Group, who presented the award for One of a Kind.
This year, 184 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—entered the best of their editorial and design to the National Magazine Awards, submitting the work of more than 3000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators. The NMAF’s 232 volunteer judges nominated a total of 309 submissions from 84 different Canadian magazines for awards in 39 written, visual, integrated and special categories. A record 12 magazines were nominated for the first time. More than $50,000 in cash prizes has been awarded to Canadian creators.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The NMAF gratefully acknowledges the support its sponsors, partners and suppliers.
THANK YOU CHRIS TURNER! The NMAF (and all guests of the National Magazine Awards) are grateful to Chris Turner for his wonderful performance tonight as host of the 39th National Magazine Awards!
Chris Turner is the author of five books and one of Canada’s leading writers and speakers on energy and sustainability. His bestsellers The Leap and The Geography of Hope were both National Business Book Award finalists. His most recent book is How to Breathe Underwater, an essay collection, which won the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Prize. His feature writing has won nine National Magazine Awards.
PHOTOS, VIDEOS, INTERVIEW & MORE Check back next week for photos, videos and more from the 39th annual National Magazine Awards gala.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS FOUNDATION The National Magazine Awards Foundation is a bilingual, not-for-profit institution whose mission is to foster, recognize and promote editorial excellence in Canadian publications. The annual awards are presented in June and are followed by a year-long national publicity effort and professional development opportunities. Our mandate is to support Canadian creators. Since 1977, the NMAF has helped build and sustain the careers of thousands of creators—the writers, editors, creative directors and visual artists who contribute to the vast ecosystem of Canadian culture. On June 9, the NMAF presented the first annual Digital Publishing Awards recognizing excellence in Canadian digital publications. Discover more at magazine-awards.com.
What: The 39th National Magazine Awards Where: The Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto [MAP] When: 6:00pm (Reception); 7:30pm (Awards presentation) Why: To recognize and celebrate excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines.
Have a ticket?
If you purchased a ticket and did not request it to be mailed, you can pick up your ticket at the Will-Call tables at the top of the elevators at the Arcadian Court. Judges may also pick up their tickets here.
Need a ticket?
Tickets are available for purchase at the door: $165 (+HST) for regular tickets (includes dinner); $75 (+HST) for show-only tickets. Cash or Credit Card accepted.
Not able to come?
Follow our twitter handle @MagAwards and #NMA16for live tweets throughout the show. Keep it right here on this blog for a full recap of the awards and all the winners (sometime after 10pm ET).
11 Tips for a Successful #NMA16 Gala
Drink tickets are available for purchase in the main foyer during the show.
Dinner will be served during the Smash Reel.
Washrooms are through the foyer and to your left as you exit.
The biggest week in Canadian magazines is finally here, and between now and the exciting grand finale–Friday’s National Magazine Awards–there’s a lot going on for Canada’s top magazine publishers, editors, art directors and creators who are gathering from all over the country here in Toronto for a big week ahead: Canadian Magazine Week. #CdnMagWeek#NMA16
MagNet Marquee Time: 5:30pm Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St. About: Canada’s annual magazine conference–MagNet–kicks off with the afternoon marquee. This year’s keynote speaker is digital revenue maestro Jay Lauf, SVP of Atlantic Media and President/Publisher of Quartz.
62nd annual Canadian Business Media Awards In Memory of Kenneth R. Wilson Time: 6:30pm Place: Grand Banking Hall, Hotel One King West About: Join Master of Ceremonies D.B. Scott for the annual celebration and recognition of the best in Canadian Business-to-Business media. Top nominees include CPA Magazine, University Affairs, Marketing, Professionally Speaking, Precedent, The Medical Post, and Foodservice & Hospitality. The finalists for Magazine of the Year are BC Business, Marketing, and The Medical Post. Tickets.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 8
MagNet Conference Time: All Day Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St. About: Canada’s annual magazines conference, presented by Magazines Canada, launches its first of two full days of sessions.
CDS Global Circulator & CMC Awards Time: 5:00pm Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St. About: Presented by the Circulation Management Association of Canada (CMC) following its AGM, with the generous support of CDS Global, the “Circulator” is the perfect time to relax and talk about the first day of MagNet. Awards will be presented in the field of circulation, including the Outstanding Achievement Award and Volunteer of the Year.
CSME Editors’ Choice Awards Time: 6:00pm Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St. About: The Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME) welcomes its members to its annual awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding work by Canada’s magazine editors. The top prize is the Editor of the Year award.
THURSDAY JUNE 9
MagNet Conference Time: All Day Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St. About: Day two of Canada’s annual magazines conference, presented by Magazines Canada.
MagNet Squared
Time: 5:00pm
Place: Marriott Courtyard, 475 Yonge St.
About: A networking reception closes out the two-day MagNet conference. Stop for a break and join MagNeteers from across all regions and sectors of the Canadian magazine media industry for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.
2016 Digital Publishing Awards Time: 7:00pm Place: Portland Room, Spoke Club, 600 King Street West About: Host Chris Frey welcomes Canada’s top digital publishers and digital media creators to the inaugural Digital Publishing Awards, recognizing excellence in 14 categories including Best Online Video, Best Podcast Series, Best Digital Design, Best Feature Story, and Best Digital Initiative. Top nominees include Maclean’s, CBCNews.ca, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Toronto Life, BuzzFeed Canada and Sportsnet. The 5 finalists for Digital Publication of the Year are Canadian Business, CBCNews.ca, L’actualite, Maclean’s and Toronto Life. Tickets.
FRIDAY JUNE 10
39th annual National Magazine Awards Time: 6:00pm Place: Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street About: Hundreds of Canada’s top magazine journalists will recognize the best in their field at the National Magazine Awards gala–celebrating Canadian creators. Master of Ceremonies Chris Turner–author, public speaker and 9-time NMA winner–will host this year’s big event, where top nominees like Toronto Life, Canadian Geographic, Maclean’s, L’actualite, Maisonneuve, Report on Business, Cottage Life, The Walrus and Eighteen Bridges as well as dozens of nominated writers and artists will be in attendance. (There’s still time to vote for the People’s Choice winner for Best Magazine Cover.) The finalists for Magazine of the Year are Canadian Geographic, Caribou, Maisonneuve and Nouveau Projet. Tickets
“I’m giddily excited to get the opportunity to host this year’s National Magazine Awards. To win an NMA is one of the great honours in Canadian media, and to be able to hand them out to deserving creators will be such an honour and delight. Plus, as a freelancer and a western Canadian, I rarely get the chance to attend the country’s best magazine industry party — and this time I’m optimistic I’ll get a good seat!”
Chris Turner is the author of five books and one of Canada’s leading writers and speakers on energy and sustainability. His bestsellers The Leap and The Geography of Hope were both National Business Book Award finalists. His most recent book is How to Breathe Underwater, an essay collection, which won the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Prize. His feature writing has won nine National Magazine Awards. Turner was a 2013 Berton House writer-in-residence in Dawson City, Yukon, and a 2010 Paul D. Fleck Fellow at the Banff Centre. He lives in Calgary with his wife and two children. His book THE PATCH, the definitive story of Alberta’s oil sands, will be published in Canada and internationally by Simon & Schuster in 2017.
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Tickets are on sale now for the 39th annual National Magazine Awards gala, June 10, 2016 at the Arcadian Court in Toronto.
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The early-bird deadline for discounted ticket prices is Friday May 20.
The NMAF is excited to pass along the news that the creative design from the 2015 National Magazine Awards has won a Communications Arts Award and will be featured in the Comm Arts Typography Annual due out early 2016.
This year’s design was created by the incredible team at Monnet Design, and the NMAF congratulates and offers its sincere and enduring gratitude to Stéphane Monnet, Agnes Wong and the entire team at Monnet for their work.
The National Magazine Awards Foundation wishes to thank Stéphane Monnet, Agnes Wong and their team at Monnet Design for creating and executing the look and feel of this year’s National Magazine Awards.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, CDS Global, for their support of the National Magazine Awards gala. CDS Global has been a proud sponsor of the National Magazine Awards since 1989.
Thank you to all our sponsors and partners for their enthusiastic support of the NMAs and Canadian magazines.
Thank you to the team at Relay Experience for their production of the gala including the multimedia show and the popular Smash Reel of nominated Canadian magazines, which you can view on our YouTube channel.
Thank you to the National Magazine Awards judges, our peers in Canadian magazines and media, more than 200 who volunteered their time and expertise to evaluate the submissions this year.
Thank you to our gala Masters of Ceremonies — Lainey Lui & Jessica Allen — of CTV’s The Socialfor their witty, ebullient and otherwise unforgettable performance as hosts (and for arranging a hilarious cameo by Scott Feschuk). And thank you to our gala guests, more than 450 who enjoyed this year’s show at our new venue, the Arcadian Court in Toronto.
Thank you to our wonderful staff and our Board of Directors for their hard work and guidance.
Thank you to KlixPix, which supplied the event photography of this year’s National Magazine Awards. Here’s a sampling of their work; more is available on our Facebook Page.
Thank you to all who supported the 38th National Magazine Awards:
The National Magazine Awards Foundation (NMAF) presented the winners of the 38th annual National Magazine Awards at a gala this evening in Toronto at the Arcadian Court, presented by CDS Global, and hosted by Lainey Lui & Jessica Allen of CTV’s The Social. Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention awards were presented in 43 categories.
“Nouveau Projet is a near-perfect symbiosis of subject matter, expert writing and exceptionally original design. It sets itself apart thanks to inspiring themes and bold covers. The magazine offers a fresh take on the genre and dares to cover topics that are virtually absent in other media. The energy of the editorial team is tangible page after page. Nouveau Projet embodies the spirit of print magazines.” — National Magazine Awards jury
“Tonight the National Magazine Awards Foundation recognized the outstanding work of Canada’s magazine writers, editors, designers, photographers and illustrators. The nominees and winners of this year’s awards have set new standards of excellence in Canadian media, and on behalf of those working in our wonderful industry and magazine readers across the country, we congratulate them.” — Joyce Byrne, President, NMAF
ABOUT THE 38th ANNUAL NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS More than 450 members of the Canadian magazine industry—publishers, editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, circulators and more—joined esteemed sponsors and other guests at the 38th annual National Magazine Awards gala, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto, presented by CDS Global.
This year more than 200 Canadian magazines submitted their work to the National Magazine Awards. Magazines from all three coasts—in both official languages, print and digital—participated this year, entering work created by more than 3000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors and other creators. This year saw growth in participation from Quebec and Alberta magazines, as well as remarkable participation from Canada’s literary and arts magazines through the help of the NMAF’s Small Magazine Rebate program.
The NMAF’s 241 volunteer judges have nominated a total of 326 submissions from 80 different Canadian magazines for awards in 43 written, visual, integrated and special categories. More than $53,000 in cash prizes have been awarded to Canadian creators.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The National Magazine Awards Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors and suppliers.
THANK YOU LAINEY & JESS! The NMAF (and all guests of the National Magazine Awards) are grateful to Lainey Lui & Jessica Allen for their incredible performance tonight.
PHOTOS, VIDEOS, INTERVIEW & MORE Check back next week for photos, videos and more from the 38th annual National Magazine Awards gala.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS FOUNDATION The National Magazine Awards Foundation is a bilingual, not-for-profit institution whose mission is to recognize and promote excellence in the content and creation of Canadian print and digital publications through an annual program of awards and national publicity efforts. Discover more at magazine-awards.com.
What: The 38th National Magazine Awards Where: The Arcadian Court, 401 Bay Street, Simpson Tower, 8th Floor, Toronto [MAP] When: 5:30pm (Reception); 7:00pm (Awards presentation) Why: To recognize and celebrate excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines.
Have a ticket?
If you purchased a ticket and did not request it to be mailed, you can pick up your ticket at the Will-Call tables at the top of the elevators at the Arcadian Court. Judges may also pick up their tickets here.
Need a ticket?
Tickets are available for purchase at the door: $170 (table seats including dinner) SOLD OUT or $90 (show-only; excludes dinner), including HST. Credit cards or cash accepted.
Not able to come?
Follow our twitter handle @MagAwards and #NMA15for live tweets throughout the show. Keep it right here on this blog for a full recap of the awards and all the winners (sometime after 10pm ET).
The National Magazine Awards Foundation (NMAF) is pleased to announce that Lainey Lui, Co-Host of CTV’s The Social and Senior Correspondent for Etalk, and Jessica Allen, Digital Correspondent for CTV’s The Social, will co-host the 38th annual National Magazine Awards Gala on June 5 at the Arcadian Court in Toronto.
This year’s National Magazine Awards gala will bring together over 500 publishers, editors, art directors, writers, artists and other guests to recognize and celebrate excellence in Canadian magazines. Tickets are on sale at magazine-awards.com/tickets. The early-bird deadline for discounted tickets is May 18.
Tweet at us @MagAwards if you’re excited for Lainey and Jess, because we sure are!
Lainey Lui is Co-Host of CTV’s The Social, Etalk Senior Correspondent, and scribe of the immensely popular celebrity gossip blog, LaineyGossip.com, which has more than one million readers and Twitter followers. She regularly shares her gossip updates with CTV News Vancouver and CTV News Channel, and is called upon as a celebrity expert by media outlets across North America, including CNN.com and the Los Angeles Times.
Jessica Allen is the digital correspondent on CTV’s The Social where she writes for the show’s website in her column, The Jess Files. She also appears on air every Friday as the fifth chair with the co-hosts. Speaking of Fridays, that’s when her new weekly column appears in Metro. Before joining the team at The Social, Jessica was an assistant editor at Maclean’s where she wrote arts and culture-related stories for the website and magazine. Her TIFF coverage in 2011 earned Maclean’s a National Magazine Award nomination.
Jessica lives in Toronto with her partner of eleven years, Simon. After work, she maintains her personal food blog,Foodie and the Beast.
This year’s National Magazine Awards gala is Friday, June 5, at the Arcadian Court in Toronto. Tickets are on sale at magazine-awards.com.
A magazine publisher is many things, perhaps foremost among them a trailblazer. Michael Fox has built a four-decade career as an inspirational leader in the Canadian magazine industry, one which makes the NMAF truly honoured to present him with its Outstanding Achievement Award.
“Michael comes from the behind-the-scenes world of circulation. The Foundation Award is a worthy recognition of this man’s long, unusual, confident contribution to the audience development side of the business. — D.B. Scott, consultant, editor of Canadian Magazines blog and former recipient of the Foundation Award.
After joining Maclean-Hunter in 1974 as a news editor at the Financial Post, Michael swiftly earned a reputation as an innovator in audience development, one whose remarkably far-sighted vision of the broad, ever-changing landscape of the Canadian consumer market has enabled him to become a recognized leader in circulation. A big-picture thinker, his voice has been one of reason, patience and diplomacy in an era of the magazine industry that demanded nothing less of its champions.
In the early 1980s, he oversaw the computerization of the Maclean-Hunter newsrooms, including Financial Post and Maclean’s, becoming a pioneer in publishing software in the process. Promoted to vice-president of circulation in 1985, he helped take the Financial Post from a weekly to a daily in 1988. After a job move to work on consumer magazines during the growth spurt of Rogers Publishing in the 1990s, Michael established Rogers’ French-language consumer marketing group, and as vice-president of consumer marketing developed valuable partnerships with Airmiles and Aeroplan.
“It is Michael’s commitment to the industry and mentorship which I think is his most outstanding achievement. His commitment to supporting professional development reflects the very best values of the magazine media industry.” — Deborah Morrison, publisher and past chair of Magazines Canada
As the industry found itself on the shifting sands of another digital revolution, one that challenged traditional practices of circulation, Michael became the go-to expert on direct marketing and Canada Post, leading the lobbying and advocacy efforts that have been essential to maintaining a healthy environment for Canada’s magazine publishers.
In 2010, Michael and his wife, Beckie, launched Inspiring Media Inc, and began to publish from their hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake the magazine Garden Making, which has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards. He retired in 2012 as senior vice-president of Rogers Publishing and has served as chair of Magazines Canada for the 2013-2015 term.
“I can’t think of anyone else who has so seamlessly practiced the art of publishing as vocation, avocation, mentor and volunteer.” — Paul Jones, publisher and former recipient of the Foundation Award.
Michael’s passion for magazines has had a multiplying effect, touching an incalculable number of people who’ve worked alongside him and benefited from his determined pursuit of industry excellence. He has served in mentoring and volunteer leadership roles with Circulation Management Association of Canada, Alliance for Audited Media and the Direct Marketing Association of Canada. As an instructor at Magazines Canada’s School for Circulation and Publishing, Michael has helped nurture the continued professional evolution of publishers across Canada, demonstrating with a rare combination of business acumen and infectious generosity what NMAF president Joyce Byrne called “a passionate dedication to the welfare of the industry and the development of our next generation.”
Recognizing Michael Fox’s inestimable value to the Canadian magazine industry, the NMAF is proud to bestow upon him its highest individual honour, the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement.
“Michael is a tireless advocate for Canadian magazines, both big and small. He is an honest broker, a trusted friend, a man of his word. He approaches magazine publishing with a quiet, determined, passionate commitment to excellence.” — Scott Bullock, magazine circulator and editor of CoversSell.com.
Nominees will be announced on Monday, May 4, for awards in 43 written, visual, integrated and special awards for the 38th annual National Magazine Awards.
Tell us what you admire and respect about Michael Fox. Leave a comment on this blog, Twitter, Facebook or email us at staff@magazine-awards.com.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
The NMAF’s most prestigious individual prize since its inception in 1990 is The Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, an award that recognizes an individual’s innovation and creativity through contributions to the magazine industry.
The Judging Committee of the National Magazine Awards Foundation considerS the nominations from the Canadian magazine industry. The NMAF Board of Directors selects the winner.
Originally opened in 1929 and long cherished as one of Toronto’s most dazzling and dynamic event spaces, the Arcadian Court is managed by Oliver & Bonacini Events & Catering, which will cater this year’s gala, and sits in the heart of the city’s thriving Queen & Bay bustle. Featuring more than 8000 square feet of contemporary gala space, the Arcadian Court was recently named Best Ballroom in Canada at the Bizbash Event Style Awards.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Canadian magazine industry to this exquisite new venue for the National Magazine Awards. Our annual gala attracts more than 500 of Canada’s best magazine publishers, editors, artists, journalists, marketing and sales teams, and other members of our industry from across the country. We look forward to celebrating with you this year at the Arcadian Court.”
— Joyce Byrne, president of the NMAF
Tickets for the 38th annual National Magazine Awards go on sale on May 4, the date on which the NMAF will announce the nominees for awards in 43 categories recognizing the best in Canadian magazine publishing, writing, photography, illustration and design from 2014.
This year’s Master of Ceremonies will be announced in May. The date of the 38th annual National Magazine Awards gala is Friday, June 5, 2015.
Visit magazine-awards.com for information about the gala, awards and nominees.
For sponsorship inquiries please contact Barbara Gould, NMAF Managing Director, at staff@magazine-awards.com.
The National Magazine Awards Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors and partners that help us achieve our mission to recognize and promote excellence in the content and creation of Canadian magazines at the 37th annual National Magazine Awards.
Smash reel of Canadian magazines nominated for the 37th annual National Magazine Awards, June 6, 2014. Produced by Relay Experience for the National Magazine Awards Foundation. Executive Producer: Melanie Lovell. Producer: Xavier Massé. Animation by Very Good Studios. Director/Senior Animator: Matthew Henning. Production Assistants: Tim Adams, Vikas Agarwal, Jitendra Singh. Audio Mixing: Joshua Hemming. Thank you to all the creators of Canadian magazine content.