With the dawning of a new year, a new decade and the publication of this, our 72nd issue, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Like the traditional New Year’s song, Auld Lang Syne, literally meaning “old long since,” or, more colloquially, “days gone by,” I’ve been reflecting on the many days since we started On The Bay.
Sixteen years ago, I first met Jeff Shearer in Collingwood on a cold day in November. He came armed with a well-thought-out presentation about the upscale lifestyle magazine he wanted to launch in Southern Georgian Bay. I came armed with my resumé, my writing portfolio, my love of the region, and my enthusiasm.
I had a strong suspicion that I was applying for my dream job, and I wanted to convince Jeff that I was the best person to make his dream a reality. We clicked right away, and when Jeff said he had a reputation in the industry as an “editor’s publisher,” I knew we could work together to create a magazine that would always put editorial first.
We both left that meeting feeling energized and committed. Not taking anything for granted, I quickly set about doing the job before I was even hired, bombarding Jeff with story ideas, names of writers and photographers in the area, and thoughts on how we could make this magazine a standout.
By January of 2004 I was officially hired, and the real work began. We didn’t even have an office yet, so we would meet at the dining room table in my Thornbury condo or Jeff’s Creemore farmhouse. He already had a name for the magazine – On The Bay – and we went about creating a logo, a vision, a tagline (Celebrating Life in Southern Georgian Bay) and a prototype to show advertisers. We found office space and hired salespeople, an art director and a production/circulation manager. Those were heady days, filled with innovation, challenge, creativity … and most of all, fun.
Now, 16 years and many milestones later, we’re stronger than ever. On The Bay is the best read and most loved magazine in Southern Georgian Bay, and we continue to tell stories that celebrate life here as no other local magazine can. For 72 issues now, Jeff has been good to his word that editorial integrity would always come first and advertisers would follow. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve been able to achieve by honouring that principle.
But we couldn’t have done any of it without the talented and dedicated group of people who believe in On The Bay just as much as we do. Our writers, photographers and illustrators, many of whom have been with us since the beginning, go above and beyond to tell each story with words and images that come to life thanks to the creative talent of our art director, Holger Meiche, and our proofreader Anita Hunter catches any errors that may have slipped through. Our sales team, Susan Holden, Shauna Burke, Rick Gordon and Denise Bailey, build relationships with more than 300 valued advertisers who appreciate that supporting a strong editorial product strengthens their businesses, making it possible to bring you this magazine for free. And Cindy Caines holds it all together, wearing many hats from production and circulation to finance.
This issue is a perfect example of storytelling at its best, featuring our annual salute to Grassroots Heroes who make a difference in our community by Judy Ross, Emily Worts and me; a health piece by Marc Huminilowycz about medical marijuana and the people who are benefiting from it; and a look at the social scene at our local private ski clubs by Laurie Stephens. Plus a fabulous featured home, a column by humourist Dan Needles, and a sampling of work by local artist Lorne McDermott.
Over the past 16 years, the question I’m most often asked is, “do you think you’ll ever run out of story ideas?” My answer is always a resounding “no” because such a dynamic community will always have plenty of stories to tell. We look forward to telling them, and we hope you’ll continue reading.
Thanks for making the past 16 years such a blast, and here’s to the dawn of a new decade of celebrating life in Southern Georgian Bay! ❧
