The Beaver (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Canada's History is the official magazine of Canada's National History Society
. It is published six times a year, and aims to promote interest in and knowledge of Canadian history. Founded in 1920 as The Beaver by the Hudson's Bay Company
(HBC), the magazine was acquired by the Society in 1994. Subject matter includes all aspects of Canadian history.
The first issue appeared in October 1920, under the banner, The Beaver, A Journal of Progress — the "successful name" in a staff competition. Five thousand copies were printed and distributed at a total cost of $570.
According to Charles Sale, who became the 29th Governor of HBC, there was a "purely personal and domestic character" to the initial magazine. Sale felt this approach was too narrow. He envisioned The Beaver as "... one of exceeding use to ...Staff; but also a publication that could ...be distributed to customers to their benefit and is, at the same time a practical reminder (through advertising) of the Company's existence and of the goods which it offers."
Beginning with the December 1923 issue, the company began offering the magazine to non-Hudson's Bay employees at a rate of one dollar a year — a rate still in effect well into the '30s. The following year, the magazine ceased being a monthly publication and became a quarterly.
Significant changes took place in 1933 with the September issue. The original digest format
was replaced by a standard magazine design. The magazine also refocussed its content, transitioning from "A Journal of Progress" to "A Magazine of the North."
Some of Canada's leading historians have written for the magazine including:
The Beaver was one of the first magazines to publish the works of wildlife artist Clarence Tillenius
and Arctic photographer Richard Harrington
.
In 1986, The Beaver became a bimonthly magazine. The publisher also decided to break with tradition and expand the focus of the magazine to include all Canadian history. — introducing Atlantic and Central Canadian stories for the first time. This was reflected by the creation of a new masthead: "Exploring Canada's History."
While still named The Beaver, the masthead carried a new slogan: "Canada's History Magazine," and continued to publish a bimonthly mix of features, columns, reviews, notes and commentary. Under the leadership of the History Society the magazine modernized its production and promotion programs.
In 2004, the Society launched its "baby" Beaver, Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids, with a French version available quarterly as an insert in Les Debrouillards. The magazine aims to show Canadian history in a way that children find engaging, relevant and fun.
Access to the full Beaver archive was achieved through the creation of an online index. With close to 15,000 records entered, visitors can conduct searches free-of-charge and read over five decades of articles. The creation of the index made it possible to participate in the Canadian Content Online Program and use The Beaver archive to highlight Canada's fur trade history with the digital project Fur Trade Stories.
that online material by the magazine using its name in the header
is being blocked by spam filter
s. The fact that there has been some confusion by people believing that the publication is a nature magazine was also cited.
ridiculed the decision. Colbert began a campaign to sabotage the magazine's name change by encouraging his viewers to use Wikipedia-style website Urban Dictionary
to redefine "Canada's History" in "the most jaw-dropping ways imaginable." Colbert stated that "Most Canadians don’t know that here in America, the term “Canada’s History” is a euphemism for a sex act so depraved one can’t describe it on TV", and then added that it was "a depraved American sexual act involving moose antlers, maple syrup, and the Stanley Cup
". In less than 36 hours, there were over 500 definitions for "Canada's History" listed on Urban Dictionary.
Canada's National History Society
Canada's National History Society is a Canadian Winnipeg-based charitable organization founded in 1994 by the Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose of promoting greater popular interest in Canadian history principally through its publishing activities and outreach and recognition programs...
. It is published six times a year, and aims to promote interest in and knowledge of Canadian history. Founded in 1920 as The Beaver by the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
(HBC), the magazine was acquired by the Society in 1994. Subject matter includes all aspects of Canadian history.
History
The founding of The Beaver was one of the many activities in celebration of HBC's 250th anniversary. It was seen as a staff publication "devoted to The Interests of Those Who Serve the Hudson's Bay Company."The first issue appeared in October 1920, under the banner, The Beaver, A Journal of Progress — the "successful name" in a staff competition. Five thousand copies were printed and distributed at a total cost of $570.
According to Charles Sale, who became the 29th Governor of HBC, there was a "purely personal and domestic character" to the initial magazine. Sale felt this approach was too narrow. He envisioned The Beaver as "... one of exceeding use to ...Staff; but also a publication that could ...be distributed to customers to their benefit and is, at the same time a practical reminder (through advertising) of the Company's existence and of the goods which it offers."
Beginning with the December 1923 issue, the company began offering the magazine to non-Hudson's Bay employees at a rate of one dollar a year — a rate still in effect well into the '30s. The following year, the magazine ceased being a monthly publication and became a quarterly.
Significant changes took place in 1933 with the September issue. The original digest format
Digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5½ x 8¼ inches, but can also be 5⅜ x 8⅜ inches and 5½ x 7½ inches. These sizes have evolved from the printing press operation end...
was replaced by a standard magazine design. The magazine also refocussed its content, transitioning from "A Journal of Progress" to "A Magazine of the North."
From digest to magazine
The content of the new Beaver was broadened to "... include the whole field of travel, exploration and the trade in the Canadian North as well as the current activities and historical background of the Hudson's Bay Company and all its departments throughout Canada." Staff news was de-emphasized and would be handled by other company publications. Over the next fifty years, the magazine came into its stride. The Beaver came to offer a wealth of information on Canada's social, cultural, economic and commercial past.Some of Canada's leading historians have written for the magazine including:
- Pierre BertonPierre BertonPierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
- Michael BlissMichael BlissJohn William Michael Bliss, CM, FRSC is a Canadian historian and award-winning author. Though his early works focused on business and political history, he has written several important medical biographies, including of Sir William Osler...
- Donald CreightonDonald CreightonDonald Grant Creighton, was a noted Canadian historian.-Background:Born in Toronto, the son of Methodist minister, Creighton attended Victoria College, in the University of Toronto, where he received his BA in 1925...
- Desmond MortonDesmond Morton (historian)Desmond Dillon Paul Morton, OC, FRSC, CD is a Canadian historian who specializes in the history of the Canadian military, as well as the history of Canadian political and industrial relations....
- Peter C. NewmanPeter C. NewmanPeter Charles Newman, CC, CD is a Canadian journalist and writer.Born in Vienna, Austria, Newman emigrated from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee. His father, Oscar, was a self-made wealthy factory owner. Newman was educated at Upper Canada College, where he was...
- Veronica Strong-BoagVeronica Strong-BoagVeronica Strong-Boag, Ph.D, FRSC is a Canadian historian specializing in the modern history of women and children in Canada. She is currently Professor of Women's History at The University of British Columbia...
The Beaver was one of the first magazines to publish the works of wildlife artist Clarence Tillenius
Clarence Tillenius
Clarence Tillenius, is a Canadian artist, environmentalist, and advocate for the protection of wildlife and wilderness.- Early years :...
and Arctic photographer Richard Harrington
Richard Harrington (photographer)
Richard Harrington, was a Canadian photographer. He is best known for his photographs taken in the Canadian Arctic between 1948 and 1953....
.
In 1986, The Beaver became a bimonthly magazine. The publisher also decided to break with tradition and expand the focus of the magazine to include all Canadian history. — introducing Atlantic and Central Canadian stories for the first time. This was reflected by the creation of a new masthead: "Exploring Canada's History."
Acquisition by Canada's National History Society
In 1994, Canada's National History Society acquired The Beaver from the Hudson's Bay Company. (The History Society was also founded in 1994.)While still named The Beaver, the masthead carried a new slogan: "Canada's History Magazine," and continued to publish a bimonthly mix of features, columns, reviews, notes and commentary. Under the leadership of the History Society the magazine modernized its production and promotion programs.
In 2004, the Society launched its "baby" Beaver, Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids, with a French version available quarterly as an insert in Les Debrouillards. The magazine aims to show Canadian history in a way that children find engaging, relevant and fun.
Access to the full Beaver archive was achieved through the creation of an online index. With close to 15,000 records entered, visitors can conduct searches free-of-charge and read over five decades of articles. The creation of the index made it possible to participate in the Canadian Content Online Program and use The Beaver archive to highlight Canada's fur trade history with the digital project Fur Trade Stories.
2010 title change
Since the April–May 2010 issue, the magazine has been renamed Canada's History. The stated reasons are that the name has become so associated with the sexual euphemismVulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
that online material by the magazine using its name in the header
Page header
A page header or simply header in typography is text which is separated from the main body of text and appears at the top of a printed page...
is being blocked by spam filter
E-mail filtering
Email filtering is the processing of email to organize it according to specified criteria. Most often this refers to the automatic processing of incoming messages, but the term also applies to the intervention of human intelligence in addition to anti-spam techniques, and to outgoing emails as well...
s. The fact that there has been some confusion by people believing that the publication is a nature magazine was also cited.
Parody reaction
After hearing of the name change, fictional American news pundit Stephen ColbertStephen Colbert (character)
The Reverend / Sir / Dr. / Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., brain-child of Google, is the persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot", the character is a self-obsessed right-wing...
ridiculed the decision. Colbert began a campaign to sabotage the magazine's name change by encouraging his viewers to use Wikipedia-style website Urban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary is a Web-based dictionary of slang words and phrases, which contained over 6 million definitions . Submissions are regulated by volunteer editors and rated by site visitors...
to redefine "Canada's History" in "the most jaw-dropping ways imaginable." Colbert stated that "Most Canadians don’t know that here in America, the term “Canada’s History” is a euphemism for a sex act so depraved one can’t describe it on TV", and then added that it was "a depraved American sexual act involving moose antlers, maple syrup, and the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
". In less than 36 hours, there were over 500 definitions for "Canada's History" listed on Urban Dictionary.
External links
- Canada's History Official site
- Kayak Magazine Official Site
- "Canada's History" on Urban DictionaryUrban DictionaryUrban Dictionary is a Web-based dictionary of slang words and phrases, which contained over 6 million definitions . Submissions are regulated by volunteer editors and rated by site visitors...
- The Colbert Report on Canada's History
- Canada's Historys response to Stephen Colbert's humour