Past Issues
July 10
On Sunday, June 27, I was deemed nonthreatening enough to cross the G20 security fence to listen to my Prime Minister talk about global economic reform and creating strong, sustainable growth. For about 15 minutes, he spoke positively about the Canadian economy and how we are an example to other countries. In sum, he repeated the same message he has been saying for the last year. A feel-good message, I’ll grant you, but was it worth the billions spent to facilitate the speech? Not really.
Outside the press conference, images of protestors and police in riot gear were not congruent with the rosy picture Harper was painting. I will let your Google search function dwell more on this, but after the weekend’s uneventful Summit, there is reason for (peaceful) protests.
Although the G20 weekend has clouded my disposition, I do assure you CBJ is a positive reflection of the Canadian business landscape. Taking the focus off of Toronto for a moment, our cover story delves into Montréal’s lively video game industry as a destination for emerging technology companies.
June 10
It's events like this that make me happy I moved out of Toronto. Nothing personal against the fabulous city, but when 20 world leaders gather there later this month, it will be bumper-to-bumper mayhem—only made worse by lane closures on the Gardiner Expressway. As a non-resident, I can actually appreciate the excitement this Summit will bring to the city.
I can’t think of a better country in which to host the G8 and G20 this year. The world is already watching Canada, as we lead the way with our renowned banking system and pull out of the recession. As CBJ prepares for both the G20 and Huntsville-based G8 Summits, we’re excited to bring you an article from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce that highlights our interests going into these meetings, as well as a report on April’s G8/ G20 Business Summit—a warm up for coming discussions.
Good luck to our crowded Toronto neighbours!
May 10
It could be because he’s a panellist on the only show I watch religiously (without cable, CBC’s Dragons’ Den can easily become the pivot around which the rest of the week turns). Or it could be that he’s a really great person. Either way, I am a huge fan and I am proud to present the golden-hearted Dragon as the cover story this month.
But enough about that. CBJ has a lot more to talk about in this issue, not the least of which is our brand new media partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
We are thrilled to start featuring exclusive monthly content from the Chamber to bring our readers into the loop with us. First up is an article on our beloved tax system and economic recovery, so be sure to check that out. And keeping in the finance vein, CBJ also has a column from finance guru Linda Leatherdale, as well as an article about how Canadians are responding to dollar parity.
April 10
For an hour on Saturday, March 27, people from all over the world turned off their power to raise awareness for climate change. That is, unless they a) forgot or b) chose to celebrate Edison hour instead. While those in the ‘b’ category choose to over-consume electricity, I chose to over-consume guacamole in the dark with the rest of the treehuggers of the world.
No matter where you stand on the climate change continuum, I tend to think we can all learn lessons from the sustainability movement—even if it’s just an exercise in discipline and self-restraint. Just because we have a resource doesn’t mean we need to exploit it for our own purposes with little regard for those who trail behind us.
That said, CBJ decided to extend April’s Earth Week fever into a whole month. In this edition, we talk to Judith Lipp from TREC about the importance of renewable energy. We also heard from several Canadian corporations who are incorporating sustainable practices into their business plans. And finally, we had the opportunity to speak with two associations whose mandates are to promote new regulatory environments and be catalysts for permanent change.
March 10
The Olympics are almost over. Regular television programming is returning. And Canadians are left with the pride of knowing we are the best.
That feeling we all got when Crosby scored the game-winning goal will probably carry us for the next four years. It has to. Once the bills start rolling in, we’ll need something to hold on to—and what better moment than when we returned to pre-destined glory? CBJ is not in the business of being a downer, but as we dove into research about the financial impact of the Games this month, the cost of that abstract, yet palpable patriotic energy became increasingly clear. Our cover story explores the cost-benefit analysis of hosting the Olympics and what cities are really signing up for.
Maybe the question isn’t whether Vancouver will be in debt, because, chances are, it will be. Perhaps, instead, we should ask ourselves whether the price tag was worth the purchase. Although economics has the tendency to take the heart out of the matter, which is necessary, if you ask anyone at CBJ, we will tell you the blaring car horns, the communal cheers and the swelling pride was invaluable.
February 10
For a lot of Canadians, it can be difficult not to be pessimistic or generally apathetic about what our government accomplishes. Although it’s not necessarily true, government’s reputation for passing the buck, having it too easy and taking millennia to make decisions can easily taint our ideas of how things are run. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent decision to prorogue Parliament for two months certainly isn’t helping that impression.
Alas, CBJ brings good news. This month, we spent a lot of time talking to various government officials about the things they are doing, projects that are exciting and worthwhile. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, for example, tells us about the new foreign trade zone, CentrePort, and what it brings to the economic table. And B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources shares about how major plays are turning oil and gas investors’ heads. We also spoke with two Mayors who say their supposed “have-not” regions are heating up.
I have to say, this has been a refreshing issue to write; I was personally reminded of how great Canada really is. We hope you catch the same optimism and bring it with you as you watch our athletes showcase their talents in Vancouver.
January 10
For me and probably many of you January represents a time for reflection. After the holidays and before heading back to work, there’s just enough quiet to think about the past year and the one imminent. Whether it’s about personal goals, struggles, achievements or failures, introspection allows us to self-motivate, learn, celebrate, forgive, and to be grateful for what we have.
This year, I find myself reflecting a little earlier than I would normally would. At a time when we at George Media would have otherwise been scrambling to finalise production, we were brought to an utter standstill. On Friday, December 11, one of our cherished coworkers, Damien Evans, suddenly passed away.
As I write this note, I am acutely aware of the fragility of life and why I am grateful for it. In light of how difficult this year was for a lot of Canadians, let us use these quiet moments to remind ourselves just how fortunate we are.
I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.
Nov/Dec 09
Happy Birthday CBJ!
It was only one year ago that George Media launched its first magazine—the cornerstone B2B publication that has become a household name: The Canadian Business Journal (CBJ). To mark the occasion, I was graciously handed back the editorial page of CBJ to celebrate the momentous occasion, so I could look back on what has been a busy and fruitful year for the magazine.
With 2009 coming to a close, I’m looking back on CBJ with warm memories and an eye to the future. I remember our inaugural issue, featuring a powerful parliamentary cover, and an inside feature on what businesses are doing to “go green” in Canada. We made some great friends over the past year, and did some enlightening interviews with the likes of Brad Wall, Saskatchewan’s premier, the figureheads of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Honourable Perrin Beatty and Roger Thomas, and also hundreds of CEOs representing the very best in Canadian business. We spoke with Canadian celeb Arlene Dickenson and also appeared at some pretty major Canadian events—such as the 2009 Economic Edge seminar, where CBJ Editor Jennifer Sorlie and I were lucky enough to be introduced to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Each and every story has been produced to showcase what Canada has to offer the world—and George Media has been thrilled to bring those stories home.
Our 12th issue marks a departure, as we close this year with a special double issue, dedicated to highlighting some great companies doing innovative things to “make it” in 2010, and we also offer a toast to the print and digital media industries in our cover feature. We take a look at the hopeful forestry industry and add some other good news from the manufacturing sector in our onsite coverage of the 2009 CMTS show in Toronto.
There are so many things we have to celebrate going into the New Year, and so much to be thankful for. With this in mind, I’d like to thank all of our devoted readers, and wish you all the best through the holiday season. Stay tuned—our January issue of CBJ will be out just in time for you to kick back and peruse its pages over the holidays, due out for early release in mid-December.
Canada is on top—so here’s to the future of Canadian business, and a toast to prosperity in 2010.
Sara Kopamees
October 09
As though the economy is taking its cues from leaves, business is turning around as Canadians seem to be finding their footing once again. George Media finds itself in a similar transitional period this month, and just like market forecasts, it’s good news.
We are excited to welcome our new art directors, Vladimir Lukic and Brian Rushton-Phillips, who are responsible for the magazine’s facelift and rebranding. Their entrance couldn’t have come at a better time, as George Media just launched The American Business Journal.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy October’s edition as we delve into freight forwarding and logistics—an understated industry that Canadians would be lost without. From giants like Lafarge, to SMEs like IPE Logistics, CBJ covers the intricacies and challenges of transporting goods into and out of the country.
Also thrown into the mix are engaging articles about wine, clean technology and white-collar crime—all with a Canadian twist.
Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving.
September 2009
Happy Birthday George Media!
If we had any idea George Media was going to be This well-received, we would have baked a bigger cake!
On September 4th, George Media Inc. turns one year old. And over the past year, we’ve reached some fabulous milestones that we’re so happy to share with the world.
On November 4th, 2008, we launched our cornerstone publication – The Canadian Business Journal (CBJ), and the CBJ has since become a household name. Since our launch issue of the CBJ, we’ve interviewed a long list of VIPs including: Arlene Dickinson (Dragon’s Den), Brad Wall (Premier of Saskatchewan), and Doug Beeforth (President of Sportsnet). We’re so fortunate that these individuals have given us our five minutes of fame – and we can’t wait to interview even more influential Canadians!
August 2009
This month, CBJ is giving a nod to our wet summer with a wet issue. We spent a lot of time underwater—from municipal water facilities to the oceans that drive our fishing industry—discovering what lies beneath.
First, we talked to an expert from the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association and got the real story about water quality and how politics affect industry standards. We also checked in on a couple municipalities to see how they are upgrading water treatment plants to better serve their communities and lakes. Last but not least, CBJ interviewed fishers from the East and West Coasts to learn why they are serious about sustainability.
July 2009
This issue brings stories about what’s coming. We talk to experts about where the North American auto industry is heading; what the next generation of professionals will bring to the workplace; and what Canadians can expect from medical technology and research. Granted, by its very nature, the future is uncertain, but our outlook at CBJ is hopeful. We think the idea of possibility is exciting.
