Publisher's Note
Friday, 12 March 2004
Ezra Levant
Welcome to the Western Standard – the new magazine of record for Western Canada and for conservative-minded Canadians everywhere.
Western Canada has grown up. We are big enough now to have a national magazine headquartered in the West. There is enough interesting news out here to warrant our own magazine, and enough persuasive voices to offer a distinctly Western commentary on that news. And, just as important, there is a strong and strengthening business community to capitalize such a magazine and advertise in it.
Of course, you do not have to be from the West to love the Western Standard. We are proud to have thousands of subscribers in Central and Eastern Canada – and even around the world. Being a Westerner is not only a geographical definition. It is a culture, a sensibility that includes everything from a belief in the individual, to a pioneering spirit, to a respect for tradition mixed with a healthy scepticism of authority – especially government authority. A Westerner – even if he has lived in Toronto his whole life – is the kind of person who responds to the Mad Cow scare by doubling the amount of beef that he eats. You know what I mean.
Canada’s media landscape cries out for a magazine like this. We are owned by 19 independent investors who truly care about the news; we are not a subsidiary of a cable company. That means we can take strong stands. If Maclean’s magazine is vanilla, we are a little bit of Tabasco.
This is our premiere issue, and we will publish 24 times a year. And next month, the Western Standard Radio Hour will debut in Calgary, and we hope to syndicate that nationally throughout 2004. Our website, www.westernstandard.ca, will feature the highlights of our print edition, but it will also have many Internet-only features, such as our web log, “The Shotgun”, where you can read quick commentary from our talented writers updated literally every hour. Of course, there will be many forums for you, our readers, to participate directly. Be sure to visit us online.
Our goal was to publish a world-class magazine, and we have done it. From our design director, Ada Sokolowski, who just this month won an international prize from the Society of News Design, to our keystone columnists like the world-renowned Mark Steyn, we have an unmatched team. Equally important is our behind-the-scenes team, from our three dozen passionate customer service representatives to our marquee board of directors, chaired by accomplished businessman Lyle Dunkley.
Enough about us. The Western Standard is about you – thoughtful readers who want to know the other side of the “official” news and views. If you watch the CBC, we will be your antidote. If you read Maclean’s, we will be your fact checkers.
We are off to a great start with our coverage of the Conservative Party leadership race, our feature on Mel Gibon’s movie The Passion, and 72 pages worth of great reading. Take the time to read it all, and feel free to write to me with your thoughts. Let me know what you think of the magazine – and how you like our Acapulco Beef recipe!
Friday, 12 March 2004
Ezra Levant
Welcome to the Western Standard – the new magazine of record for Western Canada and for conservative-minded Canadians everywhere.
Western Canada has grown up. We are big enough now to have a national magazine headquartered in the West. There is enough interesting news out here to warrant our own magazine, and enough persuasive voices to offer a distinctly Western commentary on that news. And, just as important, there is a strong and strengthening business community to capitalize such a magazine and advertise in it.
Of course, you do not have to be from the West to love the Western Standard. We are proud to have thousands of subscribers in Central and Eastern Canada – and even around the world. Being a Westerner is not only a geographical definition. It is a culture, a sensibility that includes everything from a belief in the individual, to a pioneering spirit, to a respect for tradition mixed with a healthy scepticism of authority – especially government authority. A Westerner – even if he has lived in Toronto his whole life – is the kind of person who responds to the Mad Cow scare by doubling the amount of beef that he eats. You know what I mean.
Canada’s media landscape cries out for a magazine like this. We are owned by 19 independent investors who truly care about the news; we are not a subsidiary of a cable company. That means we can take strong stands. If Maclean’s magazine is vanilla, we are a little bit of Tabasco.
This is our premiere issue, and we will publish 24 times a year. And next month, the Western Standard Radio Hour will debut in Calgary, and we hope to syndicate that nationally throughout 2004. Our website, www.westernstandard.ca, will feature the highlights of our print edition, but it will also have many Internet-only features, such as our web log, “The Shotgun”, where you can read quick commentary from our talented writers updated literally every hour. Of course, there will be many forums for you, our readers, to participate directly. Be sure to visit us online.
Our goal was to publish a world-class magazine, and we have done it. From our design director, Ada Sokolowski, who just this month won an international prize from the Society of News Design, to our keystone columnists like the world-renowned Mark Steyn, we have an unmatched team. Equally important is our behind-the-scenes team, from our three dozen passionate customer service representatives to our marquee board of directors, chaired by accomplished businessman Lyle Dunkley.
Enough about us. The Western Standard is about you – thoughtful readers who want to know the other side of the “official” news and views. If you watch the CBC, we will be your antidote. If you read Maclean’s, we will be your fact checkers.
We are off to a great start with our coverage of the Conservative Party leadership race, our feature on Mel Gibon’s movie The Passion, and 72 pages worth of great reading. Take the time to read it all, and feel free to write to me with your thoughts. Let me know what you think of the magazine – and how you like our Acapulco Beef recipe!