British Columbia Magazine

British Columbia Magazine is a Canadian geographic and travel publication devoted to the province of British Columbia. It covers travel, outdoor recreation, geography, wildlife, conservation, science, natural phenomena, First Nations culture, heritage places, provincial history, and the people who live and work across the province. The magazine has traditionally placed strong emphasis on photography and high-quality visual presentation, using the province’s mountains, forests, coastlines, islands, rivers, communities, and wildlife as central editorial subjects. The publication began in 1959 under the title Beautiful British Columbia: Land of New Horizons. Founding editor Clyde Herrington proposed an all-colour travel magazine to the British Columbia government at a time when the province was not yet widely known outside Canada. Its launch reflected a period of major infrastructure and tourism development, including highway construction and the expansion of the government-operated BC Ferries system. The first issue used a large-format, full-colour design and promoted itself as a highly visual publication, an approach that was comparatively distinctive in the Canadian magazine market of the period. During the early 1960s, circulation grew rapidly. Residents purchased subscriptions for friends and relatives elsewhere in Canada and abroad, and the quarterly publication developed one of the country’s larger magazine circulations according to Print Measurement Bureau data cited in the publication’s historical account. The magazine also issued an annual scenic calendar and, over the following two decades, produced travel and gift books about British Columbia. Its editorial and promotional role coincided with the growth of the province’s tourism industry. A major ownership change occurred in 1983, when the publication was sold to the Jim Pattison Group as part of a provincial government privatization program. Under independent ownership, it broadened its identity from a tourism-oriented publication into a more environmentally conscious geographic and travel magazine. The title Beautiful British Columbia: Ours to Cherish expressed this revised editorial direction. During this period, the magazine received numerous regional and international recognitions for writing, design, photography, and printing quality, although the supplied reference material does not identify the individual awards. Tourism British Columbia acquired the magazine in 2001. Beginning with the fall 2002 issue, the publication adopted its current title, British Columbia Magazine. The change separated the magazine’s identity from the earlier government-era branding while retaining its focus on the province’s landscapes, communities, and visitor experiences. The publication was acquired in 2014 by My Passion Media Inc., whose publisher was Brad Liski, and was subsequently sold to OP Media Group in 2017. British Columbia Magazine is presented as an active quarterly publication with a paid circulation reported in the supplied reference material as exceeding 120,000, making it one of Canada’s larger paid-circulation magazines. No current publication schedule, headquarters address, editor, circulation audit, or official website is identified in the available material. The magazine should also be distinguished from an earlier periodical titled British Columbia Magazine, also known as Westward Ho!, which was published monthly in Vancouver from 1907 to 1915 and was unrelated to the modern publication. Other earlier western Canadian periodicals with overlapping regional themes included Westminster Hall Magazine and British Columbia Monthly: The Magazine of the Canadian West.

British Columbia Magazine was established in 1959 as Beautiful British Columbia: Land of New Horizons. Clyde Herrington, its founding editor, proposed an all-colour publication centered on travel in British Columbia to the provincial government. The launch took place when the province was seeking broader recognition as a travel destination and was investing in roads, ferries, and other infrastructure that would make travel within the region easier. The first issue used a large-format design, extensive colour photography, and a prominent presentation of the province’s natural scenery. The magazine’s early editorial identity was closely connected to tourism promotion, but it also documented the changing geography and public image of British Columbia. Its subject matter included scenic destinations, transportation links, outdoor activities, communities, wildlife, and natural features. During the 1960s, subscriptions expanded substantially as British Columbians sent the magazine to relatives and friends in other parts of Canada and overseas. The quarterly publication also issued a scenic calendar and became associated with a substantial national circulation. The reference material describes it as one of Canada’s largest-circulation magazines according to Print Measurement Bureau figures, although the specific historical figures are not provided. For approximately its first two decades, the publication helped support the development of British Columbia’s visitor economy. It also produced travel and gift books, extending the brand beyond its regular magazine issues. In 1983, the provincial government sold the publication to the Jim Pattison Group as part of a privatization initiative. This transfer changed the magazine from a government-associated tourism publication into an independently owned media property. Under the Jim Pattison Group, the magazine developed a broader geographic and environmental orientation. The title Beautiful British Columbia: Ours to Cherish reflected an editorial emphasis on stewardship as well as tourism. Its coverage continued to promote travel and outdoor experiences but increasingly addressed conservation, natural history, communities, and the cultural and environmental character of the province. During this period, the publication received numerous regional and international awards for its editorial work, design, photography, and production quality; the supplied reference does not specify the award organizations or dates. Tourism British Columbia acquired the magazine in 2001. With the fall 2002 issue, it was renamed British Columbia Magazine. The new title made the publication’s geographic scope explicit and marked a new phase in its identity. The magazine retained its focus on the province while continuing to cover subjects such as travel, recreation, geography, wildlife, conservation, science, First Nations culture, heritage sites, and history. In 2014, ownership passed to My Passion Media Inc., with Brad Liski identified as publisher. The publication was sold again in 2017, this time to OP Media Group, which is identified as the current owner. The supplied material describes the magazine as active and as having a paid circulation of more than 120,000, placing it among Canada’s larger paid-circulation magazines. Current details about its editorial staff, offices, subscription infrastructure, website, and independently verified circulation are not available in the supplied sources. The modern magazine must be distinguished from an earlier Vancouver periodical that also used the name British Columbia Magazine and the alternate title Westward Ho!. That earlier magazine ran from July 1907 until January 1915 and ceased publication during the First World War. Other earlier publications with related regional titles included Westminster Hall Magazine, later Westminster Hall Magazine and Farthest West Review, Westminster Review, and British Columbia Monthly: The Magazine of the Canadian West. These historical publications are separate from the 1959-founded magazine.

• 2017

  Acquisition by OP Media Group

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  OP Media Group acquired the publication and is identified as its current owner.

• 2014

  Acquisition by My Passion Media

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  My Passion Media Inc. acquired the magazine; Brad Liski was identified as its publisher.

• 2002

  Current title introduced

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  The fall issue was published under the name British Columbia Magazine, replacing the Beautiful British Columbia title.

• 2001

  Acquisition by Tourism British Columbia

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  Tourism British Columbia acquired the publication from the Jim Pattison Group.

• 1983

  Privatization and sale to Jim Pattison Group

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  The British Columbia government sold the magazine to the Jim Pattison Group as part of a privatization program.

• 1960

  Early circulation expansion

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  During the early 1960s, subscriptions grew as readers distributed the magazine to contacts across Canada and internationally; the publication also developed an annual scenic calendar.

• 1959

  Launch as Beautiful British Columbia

  [1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  Clyde Herrington launched an all-colour geographic and travel publication titled Beautiful British Columbia: Land of New Horizons.

A visually led regional publication that combines travel journalism, geographic storytelling, outdoor recreation, environmental coverage, cultural reporting, and high-quality photography about British Columbia.

• Geographic and travel magazine · 1959

  British Columbia Magazine

  The core quarterly publication covers travel, outdoor recreation, geography, wildlife, conservation, science, natural phenomena, First Nations culture, heritage places, history, and British Columbian communities. Its identity has long depended on extensive landscape and documentary photography, supported by large-format, colour-focused presentation.

• Scenic calendar

  Beautiful British Columbia scenic calendar

  An annual scenic calendar associated with the magazine during its early circulation and brand-development period. The supplied reference identifies the calendar as an extension of the publication’s photography-led presentation but does not provide details about its current availability.

• Books

  British Columbia travel and gift books

  The magazine produced a range of British Columbia travel and gift books during the first two decades of its history. These publications extended its regional travel coverage and visual brand beyond the quarterly magazine, although individual titles and publication dates are not identified in the supplied material.

• 2017

  Acquisition by OP Media GroupM&A

  Background

  The publication was sold following its ownership by My Passion Media.

  Action taken

  OP Media Group acquired British Columbia Magazine.

  Aftermath

  OP Media Group is identified as the magazine’s current owner.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquisition by My Passion MediaM&A

  Background

  The magazine changed private ownership after its period with Tourism British Columbia.

  Action taken

  My Passion Media Inc. acquired the publication, with Brad Liski identified as publisher.

  Aftermath

  The magazine was later sold to OP Media Group in 2017.

  Source

• 2002

  Renaming as British Columbia MagazineStrategy

  Background

  Following Tourism British Columbia’s acquisition in 2001, the publication revised its title and brand presentation.

  Action taken

  The fall 2002 issue adopted the name British Columbia Magazine.

  Aftermath

  The magazine continued its provincial travel and geographic coverage under a title that directly identified its regional scope.

  Source

• 1983

  Sale to the Jim Pattison GroupM&A

  Background

  The provincial government included the magazine in a broader privatization program.

  Action taken

  Ownership was transferred to the Jim Pattison Group.

  Aftermath

  The magazine operated as an independent publication and developed a more environmentally conscious geographic and travel editorial identity.

  Source

• 2017

  OP Media Group becomes owner[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  British Columbia Magazine was subsequently sold to OP Media Group, which is identified as its current owner.

• 2014

  My Passion Media acquires British Columbia Magazine[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The publication was acquired by My Passion Media Inc., with Brad Liski identified in the reference material as the publisher.

• 2002

  Publication adopts the British Columbia Magazine title[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Beginning with the fall 2002 issue, the magazine changed its title from Beautiful British Columbia to British Columbia Magazine.

• 2001

  Tourism British Columbia acquires the publication[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Tourism British Columbia acquired the magazine from the Jim Pattison Group.

• 1983

  Magazine sold to the Jim Pattison Group[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The provincial government sold the magazine to the Jim Pattison Group during a privatization program, beginning a period of private ownership and editorial repositioning.

• 1959

  British Columbia Magazine is launched as Beautiful British Columbia[1]British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Founding editor Clyde Herrington introduced the publication as an all-colour British Columbia travel magazine titled Beautiful British Columbia: Land of New Horizons.

1. 1British Columbia Magazineen.wikipedia.org