The Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year Award, established in 2006, honours one person per year who has made an outstanding volunteer contribution to the Canadian magazine industry.
Candidates must have contributed years of volunteer service to the industry and demonstrated a commitment to Magazines Canada. The recipient of the award is chosen by a committee of long-standing magazine professionals.
Winners of the 2020 Volunteer Awards
On behalf of Canadian magazines from coast to coast, Magazines Canada thanks these outstanding volunteers for their contributions in 2020.
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year
Scott Jamieson
Scott Jamieson has 30 years’ experience in B2B media and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Annex Business Media. He served as Chair of the board of Magazines Canada from 2017–19 and is currently Past Chair, and is a former board member of the KRW Awards as well as the BPA Magazine Advisory Board. He is also a KRW Gold Medal award winner.
“Scott is very generous with his time, and always ready to assist fellow magazine colleagues and professionals,” said Jennifer Varkonyi, Publisher of Maisonneuve and Chair of Magazines Canada. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition,” said Melanie Rutledge, Executive Director of Magazines Canada. “For years, Scott has contributed his time as an advisor and mentor to others. He is a champion of B2B magazines and magazine professionals, and of the Canadian magazine industry.”
Scott Jamieson covered the forestry sector for over a decade, becoming editor of Canadian Forest Industries in 1992 and helping to launch Canadian Wood Products that same year. In 1993 he became part owner of these two magazines as well as Opérations forestières et de scierie. Scott joined Annex Business Media in 2004 when these three magazines were acquired, becoming publisher of the Montreal office in 2007 and group publisher of 10 titles in Simcoe, Ontario in 2009. In 2008 he launched Canadian Biomass magazine, and in 2018 was involved in the launch of a new aquaculture magazine and trade show, RAStech.
Alberta Magazine Publishers Association Volunteer of the Year
Micheline Maylor
As the Editor-in-Chief of FreeFall magazine, Micheline Maylor fills its pages with the work of local artists, but her idea of “support” goes far beyond this role. For years, Maylor has actively sought out the city’s most talented artists—especially those who are undiscovered or stalled—and offers them the kind of mentorship, encouragement and connection that nurtures lasting careers. Maylor has donated hundreds of hours to this project of supporting artists. She has created, hosted and presented at events that highlight the importance of Canadian art, including Calgary literary events Wordfest and the Spoken Word Festival; formed collaborations with authors and magazine industry members; supported independent bookstores by choosing them as venues for biannual FreeFall launches; adjudicated several literary awards; and worked to connect established artists with up-and-comers. A respected poet, editor and creative writing teacher, Maylor regularly puts her own creative work on hold to help others achieve their literary dreams. Meanwhile, she oversees all aspects of FreeFall along with a team of volunteers, from editorial and design to layout, production, distribution and finances. Under Maylor’s direction, FreeFall has grown from an in-house newsletter of community writing into a nationally recognized literary journal with submissions from around the world. More importantly, Maylor’s generosity with her time and talent has made FreeFall a space where writers can grow, gain confidence and thrive.
Magazines Ontario Volunteer of the Year
Alysa Procida
Alysa Procida is Publisher of the award-winning Inuit Art Quarterly (IAQ), the only publication in the world dedicated to celebrating the arts and artists of the circumpolar world, and has transformed this legacy publication with 30+ years of history into one of Canada’s leading art magazines. Since joining the magazine in 2015, she has overseen the IAQ’s circulation expansion to the largest in its history. Under her leadership, the IAQ expanded to include two distinct online platforms in addition to the print title—the IAQ Online and the IAQ Profiles, as well as a suite of enewsletters. She also oversaw a full redesign of the IAQ in conjunction with the Inuit Art Foundation’s 30th anniversary in 2017 and the magazine’s first National Magazine Award in 2018. In 2019, she was shortlisted for Publisher Grand Prix at the National Magazine Awards. Alysa sits on the Board of Directors for Magazines Canada.
Past Volunteer Award Winners
Magazines Canada celebrates magazine volunteers from across the country!
2018
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2018
Chelene Knight, Managing Editor, Room
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Jessica Key, MABC
Breanna Mroczek, AMPA
Vesna Moore, Magazines Ontario
Sylvain Masse, AQEM
2017
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2017
Lisa Whittington-Hill, Publisher, This Magazine
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Joanne Rajotte, MABC
Allan Lacey, AMPA
Craig Sweetman, Magazines Ontario
Michel Nivischiuk, AQEM
2016
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2016
Robert Goyette, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Reader’s Digest Canada
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Natasha Sanders-Kay, MABC
Joyce Byrne, AMPA
Todd Latham, Magazines Ontario
Robert Goyette, AQEM
2015
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2015
Chris Purcell, Vice President of Marketing and Circulation, and General Manager, Toronto, TVA Publications
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Jane Hope, MABC
Brnesh Berhe, AMPA
Patricia Clarke, Magazines Ontario
Jean-François Morin, AQEM
The Manitoba Magazine Publishers’ Association (MMPA) and the Atlantic Magazines Association (AMA) did not announce a Volunteer of the Year for 2015.
2013
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2013
Immee Chee Wah, Vice President, Business Planning, Rogers Publishing
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Darren Bernaerdt, MABC
Emily Ursuliak, AMPA
Deborah Morrison, MMPA
Melony Ward, Magazines Ontario
Thom Knowles, AMA
Magazines du Québec (AQEM) did not announce a Volunteer of the Year for 2013.
2012
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2012
Darlene Storey, Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Production, St. Joseph Media
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Diane Wong, MABC
Brenda Johnstone, MMPA
Alistair Cheng, Magazines Ontario
Alexa Thompson, AMA
The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) and Magazines du Québec (AQEM) did not announce a Volunteer of the Year for 2012.
2011
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2011
Joyce Byrne, Vice President and Associate Publisher, Venture Publishing
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Jenn Farrell, MABC
Bobbi Beatty, AMPA (co-winner)
Kayla Nash, AMPA (co-winner)
Christopher Purcell, Magazines Ontario
Sylvain Bédard, AQEM
Christine Beevis Trickett, AMA
2010
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2010
Jessica Ross, Vice President and Treasurer, the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Clélie Rich, MABC
Claire Lacey, AMPA
Deborah Morrison, MMPA
Eithne McCredie, Magazines Ontario
Catherine Resch, AQEM
Sharon Resky, AMA
2009
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2009
John Milne, Business and Professional Publishing, Rogers Publishing Limited
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Tracy Stefanucci, BCAMP
Rob Tanner, AMPA
Betty Ann Watts, MMPA
Jeff Shearer, Magazines Ontario
Robert Goyette, AQEM
Dawn Chafe, AMA
2008
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2008
Patrick Walsh, Outdoor Canada
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Anicka Quin, BCAMP
Erinne Sevigny, AMPA
Penni Mitchell, MMPA
Hervé Juste, AQEM
Patty Baxter & Sheila Blair-Reid, AMA
2007
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2007
Jim and Linda Gourlay, Saltscapes
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Brian Kaufman, BCAMP
Lynn Fraser, AMPA
Linda Hazelwood, MMPA
Féliz Maltais, AQEM
Shawn Dalton, AMA
2006
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2006
Terry Sellwood, Cottage Life, explore and Magazines Canada
Cross-Country Volunteer Award Winners
Lisa Manfield, BCAMP
Derek Beaulieu, AMPA
Andris Taskans, MMPA
Suzanne Lamouche, AQEM
2005
Magazines Canada Volunteer of the Year 2005
Michael Fox, Rogers and Magazines Canada
Outstanding Volunteers
Melissa Edwards, BCAMP
Tony Fouhse, Burnt Toast
Colin Martin, dANDelion