Canadian Living
Encyclopedia
Canadian Living is a monthly Canadian
lifestyle magazine
, which publishes articles relating to food
, fashion
, crafts, and health
and family
advice.
The magazine was created by ideas man Clem Compton-Smith and his business partner, Margaret Smeeth, in 1975, with the financial backing of Labatt's. They and a tiny staff operated out of the manse of a church in Mississauga, Ont. Canadian Living began as a half-million circulation title sold exclusively through supermarkets; the gimmick was a split run that enabled the magazine to devote a full page in each issue to each supermarket chain that carried it. The first issue appeared on December, 1975, and sold for 25 cents. The cover showed a male and a female hand about to snap a wishbone; the female hand belonged to Smeeth (billed in the magazine as editor Margaret Kelly), who was at the photo session and was not impressed by the hand of the female model who had been hired for the occasion.
Compton-Smith's vision was of a Canadian-centric, general-interest magazine that would appeal to men and to women. To that end, along with the fashion and cooking sections that later became its mainstay, Canadian Living offered travel articles, wine-making tips and a woodworking column. While the third issue was at press, Labatt's acquired ownership of the magazine. A new publisher, Ken Larone, was parachuted in to replace Compton-Smith, who remained on staff until late 1976 or early 1977.
At roughly this time, the magazine was acquired by Telemedia
, which also owned a French language counterpart, Coup de pouce. Canadian Living was acquired by Transcontinental Media in 2000.
The magazine has also produced television series for broadcast on Canadian television channels such as Life Network
, HGTV Canada
, Food Network Canada
and CBC Television
.
June 2007 paid circulation was 527,017.http://www.transcontinentalpro.com/eng/pdf/canadianliving_mk_en.pdf
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lifestyle magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, which publishes articles relating to food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, crafts, and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
advice.
The magazine was created by ideas man Clem Compton-Smith and his business partner, Margaret Smeeth, in 1975, with the financial backing of Labatt's. They and a tiny staff operated out of the manse of a church in Mississauga, Ont. Canadian Living began as a half-million circulation title sold exclusively through supermarkets; the gimmick was a split run that enabled the magazine to devote a full page in each issue to each supermarket chain that carried it. The first issue appeared on December, 1975, and sold for 25 cents. The cover showed a male and a female hand about to snap a wishbone; the female hand belonged to Smeeth (billed in the magazine as editor Margaret Kelly), who was at the photo session and was not impressed by the hand of the female model who had been hired for the occasion.
Compton-Smith's vision was of a Canadian-centric, general-interest magazine that would appeal to men and to women. To that end, along with the fashion and cooking sections that later became its mainstay, Canadian Living offered travel articles, wine-making tips and a woodworking column. While the third issue was at press, Labatt's acquired ownership of the magazine. A new publisher, Ken Larone, was parachuted in to replace Compton-Smith, who remained on staff until late 1976 or early 1977.
At roughly this time, the magazine was acquired by Telemedia
Telemedia
Telemedia was a Canadian media company, which had holdings in radio, television and magazine publishing.The company was launched in 1968 by Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien.Telemedia was held privately until it became publicly traded in the late 1980s....
, which also owned a French language counterpart, Coup de pouce. Canadian Living was acquired by Transcontinental Media in 2000.
The magazine has also produced television series for broadcast on Canadian television channels such as Life Network
Life Network
Slice is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Slice is a lifestyle channel directed towards women with programming including talk shows, reality television and more.-History:...
, HGTV Canada
HGTV Canada
HGTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned and operated by Shaw Media and Scripps Networks Interactive. It consists of programs regarding home and garden...
, Food Network Canada
Food Network Canada
Food Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel with programming related to food, cooking, cuisine, and the food industry. Food Network is a joint venture between Shaw Media, Corus Entertainment, and Scripps Networks Interactive....
and CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
.
June 2007 paid circulation was 527,017.http://www.transcontinentalpro.com/eng/pdf/canadianliving_mk_en.pdf