RedPoint Media on the Growth Track

I remember when RedPoint Media didn’t exist. It was early in my freelance career, and I’d just started writing for Avenue because I’d had the good fortune to intern under then-editor Charlene Rooke at her previous post at U of C’s alumni magazine.

RedPoint Media was born when it merged Avenue Media Group and Calgary Publishing Ltd and the publishing of their flagship titles Avenue and the now-defunct Calgary magazine.

Now one of the largest independent publishing companies in Western Canada, RedPoint is creating new buzz with its recent partnership with the Calgary Economic Development to develop a national marketing and business development campaign called "Calgary: Be Part of the Energy." The campaign is designed to attract people and business to the city and will appear in various RedPoint publications as well as through online media extensions.

And RedPoint’s just getting started, according to Gary Davies, the company's executive vice-president (and former AMPA Prez). He says the goal is to build the company into one of Canada's largest content creation companies by doubling the company's size over the next five years.

Given RedPoint’s growth to date, (it’s made PROFIT’s fastest growing companies list twice), I won’t be surprised when this latest goal is met, too.

--- Colleen Seto
AMPA Blogger-in-Residence

Local Food Magazine City Palate Satisfies the Craving

I'd like to introduce you to today's blog contributor and AMPA volunteer Kate Arsenault. As a recent graduate from her post-secondary English program studies, Kate is eager to explore the world of publishing. I asked her to tell me about her passion for foodie magazines, and why she's such a devout reader of City Palate in particular.

The Local Food Magazine Appeal

What is it about local foodie magazines like Calgary’s City Palate or Edmonton’s The Tomato that so draw my attention? They do not simply satisfy a craving that is distinct to who I am as a food lover and a cook. Unlike those generic glossy-paged collections of articles and photographs compiled by an editor in Who-Knows-Where, USA, City Palate is honest, gritty and fresh. Like Albertans, I suppose. Local magazines appeal to me because they are… well, just that. Local.

Culinary Adventures in the City and Beyond

When I open City Palate, I stumble upon a full page advertisement for a year-round farmers market featuring local produce, followed by an article on the many uses of the glorious rhubarb that grows as fast as Calgary itself. Pushing further, I learn of the culinary adventures that exist beyond my own city limits. That, in its essence, is what attracts me to this magazine. From within its pages I hear the call of the just-down-the-street and the call-of-the-wild.

City Palate Draws Albertans In
With the release of every issue my love for this city and this province is cultivated, and I learn more about the people who call Alberta home. City Palate draws Albertans in around a vast dinner table to serve up a taste of who we really are.

--- Kate Arsenault
AMPA Volunteer and Blogger

Rhyme 'em, Cowboy - Poetry at the Palamino

On Thursday, April 29 -- To cap off National Poetry Month -- Talonbooks, Freehand Books, filling Station and Coach House Books are teaming up to bring Calgary's poetry fans and readers 'Rhyme 'em, Cowboy,' a celebration of new poetry at The Palomino.

This event, hosted by the Griffin Prize-winning author of Eunoia, Christian Bök, will feature five great poets (Calgarians and out-of-towners alike) reading from brand-new books (and the brand-new issue of Calgary's own fillingStation). You'll hear and see poetry based on the harmonic music series, visual poetry based on anachronistic alphabets like Shorthand and Unifon, manifestoes of documentation and a not-overly-handy guide on how to write.

The readings will be followed by a musical set from Steve Van Kampen (from Beija Flor). 'Rhyme 'em, Cowboy' promises to be the most entertaining, feel-good poetry event of the the month, and a stellar way to end National Poetry Month.

Pages Books on Kensington will be on hand with copies of the poets' books and copies of fillingStation.

Rhyme 'em, Cowboy: Poetry at the Palomino

featuring readings by derek beaulieu, Dennis Cooley, Weyman Chan, Jesse Ferguson, Jani Krulc and kevin mcpherson eckhoff

hosted by Christian Bök

music by Steve Van Kampen

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Palomino, 109 – 7th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

7:00 p.m.

Find out more about poetry events in Calgary, at: http://spancalgary.blogspot.com/

filling Station submission deadlines 2010

Submit to filling Station!

Submission Deadlines 2010
filling Station is currently accepting submissions for our 2010 issues. Submissions are accepted at any time. However, to minimize contributor waiting time, please note deadlines pertaining to our production schedule:

Issue 48: February 1 2010
Issue 49: April 1 2010
Issue 50: June 1 2010

Submission Guidelines
filling Station strongly encourages all submissions to be provided in a Word document and emailed to the corresponding editor. filling Station does not accept submissions that are racist, misogynist and/or homophobic. Include a brief bio, your mailing address, and email address in your cover letter.

Fiction Editor Jani Krulc: fiction.fs@gmail.com (up to 3 pieces of short or experimental fiction)

Poetry Editor Helen Hajnoczky: poetry.fs@gmail.com (up to 6 poems)

Non-Fiction Editors Jocelyn Grosse & James Dangerous: nonfiction.fs@gmail.com (reviews! interviews! etc)

Visual Editor Debbie-Lee Miszaniec: fineart.fs@gmail.com

Visual submissions can be emailed to fineart.fs@gmail.com in low (or emailable) resolution. High resolution files of minimum 300 dpi may be requested, and can be sent on CD or using Yousendit.com. Our magazine publishes in black and white.

Notes:

filling Station is published 3 times annually. Please allow up to four months for reply. Successful contributors receive a free subscription to filling Station. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Unsuccessful submissions will receive notice as long as email address is included. Unaccepted manuscripts received by post will be recycled.

Questions? Email Managing Editor Laurie Fuhr at meditor.fs@gmail.com

Subscribe today! Email subscribe.fs@gmail.com Receive $5 off subscriptions until March 1 2010!

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filling Station: innovative poetry fiction nonfiction visualart. local conception, national distribution. www.fillingstation.ca

filling Station subscription offer!!!

15 years. 50 issues.
fill up on inspiration!

Love cutting-edge Canadian short fiction, poetry, and art?
Don't Miss Out. Subscribe Today!
3 Issues (1 Year): $22.00 CAD * 6 Issues (2 Years): $38.00 CAD

LIMITED TIME OFFER:
Subscribe before March 1 2010 for a $5 discount off your order!

Payments may now be made to filling Station’s Paypal business account!
Email subscribe.fs@gmail.com to request an electronic invoice and provide your mailing address.
Subscriptions are also payable by cheque or money order.
Cheques may be made payable to filling Station Publications Society.

filling Station Subscriptions
Box 22135, Bankers Hall RPO
Calgary, AB T2P 4J5 Canada

U.S. orders add $9 for additional postage.
Other foreign orders also require additional postage. Email subscribe.fs@gmail.com to inquire.

Coming Soon!: Digital Editions on Magazines Canada's electronic storefront!
www.magazinescanada.ca

***
filling Station: innovative poetry fiction nonfiction visualart.
local conception, national distribution.

go Indie Pressers!!!

Late Saturday morning, I strolled down to the Arrata Opera Centre with a couple of friends to check out the treasures at the Independent Press and Arts Fair in conjunction with the 5th Annual Calgary Blow-Out. We were surrounded by amazing zine creation from local, national and international artists. Diving into the pages, we discovered sweet drawings, insightful words, inspiration and hours and hours of work formed in these beautiful objects. Alongside the tables blanketed with zines, other local artists made appearances with their hand made creations - hand dyed silk scarves, photos, jewelery, prints, drawings, sock monkeys just to name a few. My friends walked with a few zines in hand and I with the latest issue of Uppercase magazine and an embroidered badge all the way from Texas!
Huge thanks to filling Station, NoD and CJSW for putting on this event!!!
Next year, I hope to see you and your zine there!

-sw

Folk Fest Fun!

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the 2008 Folk Festival in Calgary. This year's booth featured many great arts and literary titles.

And more great news for arts and literary magazines!