2012

The March 2012 issue of The Walrus

On national newsstands January 30, 2012

Toronto — January 27, 2012 — The March 2012 issue of The Walrus hits the stands on January 30, with Stephen Marche’s cover story on the War of 1812. In “That Time We Beat the Americans,” Marche examines the source of two centuries’ worth of friendly tension to answer the question of just how we differ from our southern neighbours. He pays tribute to this year’s bicentennial of the War of 1812 by showing how it set the tone for our love-hate relationship with the United States. Resurrecting battle scenes and focusing on key historical figures, he tracks the evidence of Canada’s burgeoning regional solidarity as it developed during the war, and concludes that the battle for the border resulted in the formation of a uniquely Canadian identity.

The Walrus will mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812 with an original high-definition documentary that will run on eqhd as part of Walrus TV. At walrusmagazine.com/1812, you’ll find an exclusive, dedicated online archive of photos, memorabilia, and more related to the war.

This issue features Maryam Sanati’s essay “Brand Me,” in which she questions the use and abuse of Internet self-promotion. Her Gen X perspective on Gen Y personal branding asks whether today’s twentysomethings are driven by narcissism or entrepreneurship — and whether the generation that raised them deserves blame or praise.

The March 2012 edition of The Walrus also contains:

• New poetry by Leonard Cohen and Griffin Poetry Prize winner A.F. Moritz.
• A column by Sasha Chapman on how the James Beard Foundation influenced the formation of a contemporary American cuisine.
• Richard Poplak exploring Canada’s commitment (or lack thereof) to soccer as a national sport and an international passion
• Taras Grescoe’s look at how the mayor of Montreal’s Plateau neighbourhood is making controversial strides toward taking back city roads for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Jen Gerson’s profile of Danielle Smith, leader of Alberta’s game-changing Wildrose Party.
• John Schram’s personal account of his time living as a Canadian diplomat in Pretoria during the Mandela era.
• Terence Byrnes’s memoir of his hunt for the war trophy that may have killed his father.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Walrus TV launches smart programming at walrustv.ca

Smart on the page, smart on the screen

Toronto — January 10, 2012 — The Walrus Foundation is bringing its award-winning content from the pages of The Walrus magazine to the screen, and has announced today the launch of Walrus TV and walrustv.ca. Walrus TV is a partnership between The Walrus Foundation and Canada’s home to the smartest programming on television, eqhd, and combines quality high-definition television with web-only exclusive programming for online viewers.

Walrus TV’s programs include: original high-definition programming based on sister-content from The Walrus, and produced by eqhd; nationwide Walrus Foundation events and debates; and web-only video exclusives from The Walrus.

The centerpiece of walrustv.ca is the original smart and savvy content produced by eqhd. A premium HD channel focused on providing its subscribers with compelling documentaries and commercial-free feature films, eqhd is producing high-quality documentaries and other content to complement The Walrus magazine’s award-winning articles. This partnership means fans of quality television and award-winning writing can now get the best of the page and the screen by watching Walrus TV in high definition on eqhd, and online at walrustv.ca.

“No other magazine in our category has their stories brought to the screen as documentaries,” says executive director of The Walrus Foundation, Shelley Ambrose. “The Walrus/eqhd partnership is a first.”

“We’re a channel that provides viewers with programming that respects, inspires, and engages,” says Ken Murphy, president of eqhd. “Working with The Walrus magazine is a natural fit for us.”

Walrustv.ca launches with 27 documentaries and original pieces, and new content will be added frequently. Some of the fine programming now available at walrustv.ca includes:

High-Definition Documentaries including:

• “Life After Death” — based on the cover story in the September 2011 issue of The Walrus about thirty years of HIV/AIDS
• “Mosque Makeovers” — based on an article from the April 2011 issue of The Walrus
• “Portraits of the War” — based on Joanne Tod’s portraits of Canada’s fallen soldiers from the July/August 2011 issue of The Walrus
• “The Meaning of Hockey” — based on Stephen Marche’s essay in the November 2011 issue of The Walrus
• Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler’s first-hand account, from the December 2011 issue, of the harrowing time he spent in the desert after being kidnapped by Al Qaeda
• Poetry readings produced by eqhd from poems and poets published in The Walrus including Damian Rogers, Paul Vermeersch, Linda Besner, Jacob McArthur Mooney, and Jeff Latosik

Special broadcasts of The Walrus Foundation events including:

• “TD Presents The Walrus Toronto Project Debate at the Art Gallery of Ontario: Be it Resolved that Toronto Will Never be Beautiful”
• The inaugural “Walrus National Gallery Debate: ‘Pop Art: Is it avant-garde or is it kitsch?’”
• The Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver editions of The Walrus RBC Conversation Series on Child and Youth Mental Health
• Chris Wood in Yellowknife at “The Walrus Last Great Water Fight” panel

“The Walrus has evolved into a multi-platform planet delivering high-quality content to readers, visitors, viewers, and attendees through the award-winning magazine The Walrus,” says Ambrose, “and also through a huge variety of content at walrusmagazine.com, through more than thirty national events including debates, conversation series, leadership dinners; through unique digital projects such as The Walrus Laughs, and now, thrillingly, working with eqhd, Walrus TV.”

ABOUT THE WALRUS FOUNDATION: The Walrus Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization with a mandate to promote public debate on matters vital to Canadians. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers, artists, readers, education, ideas, and debate. We achieve these goals across many platforms: publishing The Walrus magazine ten times a year; producing debates, leadership dinners, salons, and other events across the country; publishing original high-quality digital content at walrusmagazine.com; through such digital projects as The Walrus Laughs; and now, by partnering with eqhd to provide documentaries and other programming at walrustv.ca. We also run an intensive internship program training the next generation of leaders in media, the arts, development, and the digital world.

For more information about The Walrus Foundation, call David Leonard at 416-971-5004 x222 or email david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com. To advertise on Walrus TV, contact Nick Cino (nick.cino@walrusmagazine.com or 416 971 5004 ext. 243) or Joseph Connolly (joseph.connolly@walrusmagazine.com or 416 971 5004 ext. 233).

About eqhd: eqhd provides Canadians with some of the smartest programming available on television. eqhd celebrates ideas, perspectives, and ways of life around the world by bringing your family compelling documentaries and commercial-free feature films that will inspire and engage you. eqhd is owned and operated by High Fidelity HDTV, Canada’s leading HD broadcaster. Its suite of four premium HD channels, Oasis HD, HIFI, eqhd, and radX provides Canadians with some of the best non-fiction programming from around the world.

For more information on eqhd, please visit eqhd.ca or contact: Andrew Irwin, High Fidelity HDTV, (416) 686-7469 or andrewirwin@hifihdtv.ca.

2011

The January/February 2012 special double winter issue of The Walrus

On national newsstands December 5, 2011

Toronto — November 29, 2011 — The January/February 2012 special double winter issue of The Walrus arrives on newsstands on December 5, stuffed with wonderful reads. Award-winning writer Don Gillmor reports on “The Invention of Waterloo.” Centred around Research in Motion — the city’s multibillion-dollar success story — and the University of Waterloo’s deliberate policy of not laying claim to patents filed by its researchers, Gillmor shows how Waterloo actually planned the creation of a vibrant North American technology hub. Furthermore, he examines how RIM and the university are giving back to the city and ensuring its reputation for innovation in technology and research will persist.

Also in our special double winter issue, historian and bestselling author Charlotte Gray profiles Canada’s twenty-eighth Governor General, David Johnston. Gray gives readers a look inside Rideau Hall, and the man who she says is the government’s secret weapon to restore the monarchy to prominence in Canada. Equal parts profile of Johnston and of the governor generalship itself, “Reign Maker” shows how Johnston’s credentials, connections, and old-fashioned charm make him the government’s ideal man for a challenging job.

The issue also features journalist Daniel Baird’s look at the weirdly persistent recurrence of the end-of-the-world prophecies. As we move toward the end of the ancient Mayan calendar — a date that people in many circles are declaring to be the end of the world as we know it — Baird takes a timely look at predictions of the coming of the apocalypse. Drawing on references that range from Isaiah to Jeff Rubin to REM, Baird examines the religious, social, and economic reasons for our fascination with end times, and what it says about us.

In addition, Sara Angel explores the life and work of artist Jack Chambers; Jeremy Relph meets a Libyan-Canadian who left his Canadian university to fight in Libya’s revolution; Emily Landau critiques Douglas Coupland’s new book of stories; Chantal Martineau ponders how Québécois comfort food is taking over Manhattan; Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer offers new fiction; and much more.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

British Columbian Glen Chua wins The Walrus Travel Photography Contest sponsored by Aeroplan

More than 3,500 entries across Canada

Toronto/Montreal — November 25, 2011 — The Walrus Foundation announced today that British Columbia–based amateur photographer Glen Chua has been named the winner of The Walrus Travel Photography Contest sponsored by Aeroplan. Chua’s entry, “Cyclists and Pedestrians in Guwahati, India,” will be published in the January/February 2012 special double winter issue of The Walrus magazine. Chua and his guest will attend The Walrus Foundation’s annual gala in Toronto in January with gala chair Rupert Duchesne, president and chief executive officer of Aimia, Aeroplan’s parent company. As the winner, Chua will receive 100,000 Aeroplan Miles courtesy of Aeroplan.

There were over 3,500 images entered in The Walrus Travel Photography Contest from which contest judges — The Walrus art director Brian Morgan and world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky — selected a short list of ten images. Chua’s image was chosen as the winner from the short list by a large-scale public vote at www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan.

“It was hard to pick our ten short-listed photos, but we immediately liked this image,” said Burtynsky. “It has great depth and structure. It’s very painterly.”

“This photo is poetic, well-crafted, and packed with cinematic narrative details,” said Morgan. “Glen has brought back a grounded and honest image of India that makes you want to drop everything and travel there.”

The January/February special double winter issue of The Walrus magazine will be on newsstands on December 5, 2011, and will include Chua’s image.

The winner and nine runners-up are showcased online in a custom-built gallery at www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan.

ABOUT THE WALRUS FOUNDATION: The Walrus Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization with an educational mandate to promote public debate on matters vital to our country. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers, artists, readers, education, ideas, and debate. We achieve these goals by publishing The Walrus magazine ten times a year; producing debates, leadership dinners, salons, and other events across the country; publishing original digital content of a high standard at walrusmagazine.com; developing Walrus TV; and embarking on strategic partnerships with public and private entities. We also run an intensive internship program training the next generation of leaders of media, the arts, development, and digital content.

About Aeroplan: Aeroplan, Canada’s premier coalition loyalty program, is owned by Groupe Aeroplan Inc., doing business as Aimia, a global leader in loyalty management. Aeroplan’s millions of members earn Aeroplan Miles with its growing network of over 75 world-class partners, representing more than 150 brands in the financial, retail, and travel sectors. In 2010, over 2 million rewards were issued to members including more than 1.4 million flights on Air Canada and Star Alliance carriers which offer travel to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. In addition to flights, members also have access to over 800 exciting specialty, merchandise, hotel, car rental, and experiential rewards.

For more information, please contact: Shelley Ambrose; co-publisher, The Walrus, executive director, The Walrus Foundation; 416-971-5004, ext. 236

The Walrus comes to High Performance Rodeo

The Walrus Talks in Calgary on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Calgary/Toronto — November 16, 2011 — This January, Enbridge is bringing The Walrus Foundation and The Walrus magazine to Calgary’s High Performance Rodeo for The Walrus Talks — an evening of lively, thought-provoking talks on The Art of the City. The Walrus Talks will take place at the Flanagan Theatre (Theatre Junction Grand) on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, and will feature ten speakers, including: Joseph Boyden on The Art of Community, Edward Burtynsky on The Art of the Image, Douglas Coupland on The Art of Innovation, Mark Kingwell on The Art of Play, Lisa Moore on The Art of The Story, Noah Richler on The Art of Culture, Chris Turner on The Art of Public Space, Aritha van Herk on The Art of History, and Mayor Naheed Nenshi on The Art of the City.

“The Walrus is dedicated to encouraging conversations about matters vital to Canadians, and discussions about cities are a major part of that,” said Shelley Ambrose, executive director of The Walrus Foundation and co-publisher of The Walrus magazine. “Calgary’s High Performance Rodeo is a terrific showcase for arts and culture, and we’re thrilled to be part of it, and grateful to Enbridge for making it possible.”

Erin O’Connor, executive director and managing producer of the High Performance Rodeo agrees, “Here at One Yellow Rabbit, we strive to create a more civil, interesting, and stimulating society that is thoughtful, life-loving, and fun. Thanks to Enbridge for allowing us the incredible opportunity to present The Walrus Talks in the 2012 High Performance Rodeo. We are incredibly excited about this event!”

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com or Todd Hawkwood and Brad Walker, Bottom Line Productions, 403-567-1507, todd@bottomlinepro.com and brad@bottomlinepro.com.

For ticket information, please visit: hprodeo.ca.

The Walrus recognized for excellence at the ADCC awards

April’s “orange” cover wins gold

Toronto — November 4, 2011 — The Walrus is delighted to be recognized for excellence at the Advertising Design Club of Canada Awards. The ceremony was held on November 3rd, where The Walrus received gold in the covers category for our April 2011 issue featuring a solid orange background with black text reading, “This magazine contains an essay on freedom by a Canadian convicted of murder.“

The cover was designed by Mathieu Lavoie and commissioned by art director of The Walrus, Brian Morgan. “The cover is the reader’s first experience when they encounter the magazine. We knew we needed a striking cover for such a striking piece of writing,” said Morgan. “The Walrus is always pleased to win these awards, but these awards really recognize the wonderful artists that contribute to our magazine, and we’re so grateful to have them,” added Morgan.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The December 2011 issue of The Walrus

On national newsstands November 7, 2011

Toronto — November 2, 2011 — The December issue of The Walrus hits newsstands on November 7, with “Kidnapped,” a major excerpt from Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler’s new memoir, A Season in Hell. In December 2008, Fowler, a fellow Canadian diplomat, and their driver were kidnapped by al Qaeda in Nigeria. Readers of The Walrus get an advance look at the harrowing tale of Fowler’s 130 hellish days in the Sahara Desert. Long-awaited by Canadian readers, and we’re thrilled to have it as this month’s cover story.

Also in the December issue, Tom Jokinen gives us an outsider’s insider view of the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. “The trouble, for me,” Jokinen writes, “is opera’s operaness.” Though he knows nothing of opera when he begins, he finds himself appearing on-stage in the production, and in this witty and thoughtful piece, he reflects on his relationship, for better or worse, with opera and the arts in general.

The issue also features an in-depth piece on fracking by award-winning writer Chris Wood. “A Rock and a Hard Place” investigates the controversy surrounding this type of extraction of fossil fuels. As Wood points out, while fracking has become a very useful process for the energy industry, this method of extraction has also raised environmental concerns, resulting in a dilemma of priorities for the public and the energy industry.

The December issue also looks at the upcoming Christmas season with Derek McCormack’s essay “Black Christmas.” McCormack explores the similarities between Christmas and Halloween throughout history, and relates them to his own experiences. He incorporates film, classic holiday stories, and the characters these tales present to explore if these two holidays are as different as you might think.

Also, “Going for Baroque,” Shannon Proudfoot on the debate surrounding the National Gallery of Canada’s “new” Caravaggio; how Arcade Fire redefined Montreal; Jonathan Graham’s profile of a Canadian leader in the Scottish separatist movement; Alcoholics Anonymous goes online; and The Walrus Reads — seven books you need to know about.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Walrusmagazine.com wins prestigious Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Our website collects one gold, one silver, and two finalist prizes

Toronto — October 25, 2011 — The Walrus Foundation is delighted to announce today that it has won multiple awards at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The awards, which are produced by the publishers of Masthead, have recognized walrusmagazine.com in the red (consumer) category with gold for Best Overall Companion Website and silver for Best Use of Social Media. The website has also been recognized as a finalist for Best Blog and Best Web Design.

“These awards mean so much to us,” said online editor Matthew McKinnon. “We strive to make the website both a suitable online partner to The Walrus and, by its own right, a rewarding destination for thoughtful and curious readers everywhere. Our victories are a testament to the writers, artists, and thinkers who help walrusmagazine.com fulfill The Walrus Foundation’s educational mandate.”

For more information about the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, please visit: canadianonlinepublishingawards.com.

Walrusmagazine.com is the online companion to The Walrus. The website exists to broaden the scope, reach, and reputation of the magazine and The Walrus Foundation. The site hosts virtually complete archives of every issue of The Walrus; its publishing schedule echoes the magazine’s newsstand rotation. In addition, walrusmagazine.com is home to: The Walrus Blog; The Walrus Podcast; online exclusives including supplementary interviews, image galleries, desktop wallpapers, and multimedia content; notices for upcoming Walrus Foundation events; and more.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Join The Walrus Foundation and The Toronto Project on Soapbox

Make your voice part of an exciting event: TD Presents The Walrus Toronto Project Debate at the AGO

Toronto — October 7, 2011 — On Wednesday, October 12, The Walrus Foundation — in partnership with The Toronto Project, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Ryerson University, and TD, has organized a day of conversations about Toronto. The day begins at the AGO’s Baillie Court with a city-builders’ symposium at which eighty city leaders from many different sectors will gather to talk about the past, present, and future of the city. This invitation-only forum will include many of Toronto’s leading voices, and will cover the key issues facing the city today.

That conversation will continue into the evening with TD Presents The Walrus Toronto Project Debate at the AGO — a marquee public event that is already completely sold out. This debate — “Be it Resolved That Toronto Will Never Be Beautiful” — will feature architect Jack Diamond, columnist John Barber, professor (and Walrus magazine fiction editor) Nick Mount, and writer Stephen Marche, and will be moderated by broadcaster Amanda Lang.

Because The Walrus Foundation has a mandate to provide a forum for vital conversations, we’ve worked with our partners at The Toronto Project to develop a way for you to be included in the conversation — wherever you are — and are inviting you to join in The Toronto Project’s Soapbox site.

This is an online place where this discussion has already started. Based on the cover story in the November 2011 issue of The Walrus — “How Toronto Lost Its Groove” by John Lorinc — the Soapbox site is ready for your ideas, your comments, your votes on what is important. The discussion starts now, continues during the symposium and debate and will live on long after. Let your voice be heard and see what others are saying.

Soapbox, produced by Hitsend.ca, is a new online platform for community-based change that allows everybody to get their ideas into the hands of decision makers. Each user can post or comment on an idea or question, and interact with other users who are doing the same.

We’re excited about being able to kick start and continue this conversation on Soapbox’s groundbreaking new platform, and we hope that you will be too. Please click here to join in this conversation about Toronto.

Once you arrive, simply click “sign up” to create an account (or connect Soapbox to your Facebook account), and then join us in the community. For cities to develop, they need great ideas, and we know that you have some. Share them on Soapbox now!

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The November 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands October 10, 2011

Toronto — September 27, 2011 — The November issue of The Walrus magazine launches on October 10 with a feature cover story on Canada’s largest city, Toronto. Marking the first anniversary of Mayor Rob Ford’s term in office, celebrated Toronto writer John Lorinc examines “How Toronto Lost Its Groove.” Lorinc looks at the city from several key angles (including transit, governance, immigration, architecture, culture, and more) and examines some of the historical choices in politics and planning that have brought Canada’s key economic driver to its current diminished state.

Lorinc’s piece is the inspiration behind the inaugural TD Presents The Walrus Toronto Project Debate at the AGO on October 12. A public audience will participate in a debate featuring Jack Diamond, Amanda Lang, John Barber, Stephen Marche, Matt Galloway, Nick Mount, Denise Balkissoon, Albert Schultz, Yvonne Bambrick, and more at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Baillie Court on the following: “Be It Resolved That Toronto Will Never Be Beautiful.” For more information or for a media pass, please visit walrusmagazine.com/ago or email david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The November issue of The Walrus also features a stunning visual essay on the lungs of the world, Canada’s boreal forest, by renowned photographer Eamon Mac Mahon. Mac Mahon presents the “Amazon of the North” in all of its splendour, from its pristine northern lakes and varied forests to the woodland caribou who live there. He also photographs sites of mining, forestry, and industry, showing how those activities are changing the face of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon storehouse. The Walrus Foundation would like to thank the Canadian Boreal Initiative for its generous support of this piece.

Also in the November issue of The Walrus: Daniel Baird profiles current Massey lecturer Adam Gopnik; six new commissioned works from Valérie Blass as part of RBC’s Visual Art Project; novelist Stephen Marche breaks down “The Meaning of Hockey”; Adele Weder on the challenges of being a slob in a modernist home; a stand-up comedian helps Vancouver-based NGOs to be funny; unpublished fiction by Giller-nominated Sarah Selecky; and much more.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The October 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands September 12, 2011

Toronto — August 29, 2011 — On September 12, the October issue of The Walrus hits newsstands with a cover story by Chris Turner that asks if Canada’s farms can keep feeding us. As demand for cheap food grows, farmers must find new ways to keep up with the needs of Canadians, while maintaining a profit and, in turn, their livelihood. Turner examines the ways farmers have made their production better, faster, and more efficient; how they attempt to conquer their growing challenges; and what this means for Canada’s farming industry.

In addition, Paul Wilson investigates Egypt, eight months after the revolution in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. In his firsthand eyewitness account, we follow Wilson through Cairo and learn what locals believe democracy means for Egypt and hear how they feel about the fall of Hosni Mubarak. Wilson discovers an uncertainty and anxiety about how democracy will be achieved, and where it will lead the country and its citizens.

Also in the October issue is Andy Lamey’s article about Canada’s policies around refugees seeking asylum and how those policies compare with those of other countries. Canada’s asylum policies offer a promising alternative to turning away refugees, an alternative that other countries could emulate. Nonetheless, Lamey believes Canadian laws still have room for improvement.

The October issue also features Kevin Chong’s story about Bao Bei, a modern Chinese restaurant in Vancouver that serves updated versions of traditional Chinese dishes; Adam Sternbergh looks at the events of 9/11 ten years later; Craille Maguire Gillies discusses the possibility of in vitro meat; David Marchese finds that students at a New York college have an esoteric interest in Canada; and Jeet Heer talks about the tradition of cannibalism in Canadian literature.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The September 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands August 15, 2011

Toronto — August 15, 2011 — Today, the September issue of The Walrus hits newsstands, with a cover story by Michael Harris that describes the thirty-year reign of HIV in gay communities. Seen as a death sentence in the eighties and early nineties, new treatment plans and better drugs have made living with HIV possible and, suggests Harris, more dangerous. Harris points to statistics and suggests that the epidemic is unabated. He also suggests a shift in education; a focus on treatment rather than prevention means that gay men are not taught to minimize risk as they once were and are less “concerned” about “slipping up during sex.”

Also in the September issue, Sandra Martin writes about a lifetime of trans-Canada road trips in “Goin’ Down the Road.” Summertime hours in a car with your family are, according to Martin, much more Canadian than time in a canoe. She explains how she inherited the tradition from her parents, has shared it with her spouse, and has passed it down to her children.

Also in the September issue of The Walrus: Lisa Gregoire profiles Tarek Fatah, Canada’s face of progressive Islam; Timothy Caulfield explores “scienceploitation” and how consumers are sold everything from anti-aging creams to stem-cell therapies; Arno Kopecky writes about the staggering growth of one of Canada’s most successful tree planters, in the face of climate change; John Lorinc raises the curtain on a new program at Ottawa’s Carleton University that will certify political aides, the unsung heroes and fall guys behind elected officials; and much more.

Voting is now open at http:walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan for The Walrus Amateur Travel Photography Contest, sponsored by Aeroplan. The public will choose the winner from a shortlist of ten photos selected — from over 3,600 entries — by acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky and the art director of The Walrus, Brian Morgan. Voting remains open until August 26, 2011. The winning photo will be published in The Walrus, and the winning photographer will receive 100,000 Aeroplan reward miles, courtesy of Aeroplan, as well as two tickets to the sold-out Walrus Foundation Gala to be held in Toronto on January 18, 2012.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Canadians to choose winner of The Walrus Travel Photography Contest sponsored by Aeroplan

Public voting now open at walrusmagazine.com

Toronto/Montreal — July 15, 2011 — Voting is now open on The Walrus Travel Photography Contest sponsored by Aeroplan. Beginning today, you can choose the contest winner from a shortlist of ten travel photos — selected from over 3,500 entries — by acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky and The Walrus Foundation’s art director, Brian Morgan. The winning photograph will be published in The Walrus magazine’s special January /February 2012 double issue along with a short essay. The winner will also receive 100,000 Aeroplan Miles courtesy of Aeroplan, and an invitation for two to The Walrus Foundation Gala on January 18, 2012.

“It has been amazing to see so many submissions from across Canada, both for their diversity and quality,” said Brian Morgan. “Ed and I had such a difficult time creating this shortlist of ten photographs because of the talent and skill of the photographers, and we’re excited to see which photo Canadians choose as their favourite.”

Voting for The Walrus Foundation Travel Photography Contest Sponsored by Aeroplan will run until August 26, 2011 at www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan. The winner will be announced in December 2011, and the runners up will be showcased in a custom-built gallery at www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan.

• July 1, 2011: Judges Edward Burtynsky and Brian Morgan release shortlist of ten photographs
• July 15, 2011: Public voting for the contest opens
• August 26, 2011: Public voting ends, and the winning photo is selected
• December 5, 2011: The winning photo will be published in The Walrus magazine
• January 18, 2012: The winning amateur photographer and a guest will attend the 4th Annual Walrus Foundation Gala

ABOUT THE WALRUS FOUNDATIONThe Walrus Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization with a mandate to promote public discourse on matters vital to our country. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers, artists, readers, education, ideas, and debate. First and foremost, we achieve these goals by publishing The Walrus magazine ten times a year. We also produce public debates, leadership events, and run an intensive internship program training the next generation of leaders of media and the arts.

For more information about The Walrus Foundation or The Walrus magazine, please visit www.walrusmagazine.com.

About AeroplanAeroplan, Canada’s premier coalition loyalty program, is owned by Groupe Aeroplan Inc., a global leader in loyalty management. Aeroplan’s millions of members earn Aeroplan Miles with its growing network of over seventy-five world-class partners, representing more than 150 brands in the financial, retail, and travel sectors. In 2010, over 2 million rewards were issued to members including more than 1.3 million flights on Air Canada and Star Alliance carriers which offer travel to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. In addition to flights, members also have access to over 800 exciting specialty, merchandise, hotel, car rental, and experiential rewards.

For more information about Aeroplan, please visit www.aeroplan.com or www.groupeaeroplan.com.

For any additional requests, please contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The Walrus leads way with ten at the NMAs

Our staff and contributors win six gold awards and four silver awards

Toronto — June 10, 2011 — The Walrus magazine is delighted to have received ten National Magazine Awards — more than any other publication — at tonight’s gala awards ceremony in Toronto. Our contributors won six gold awards and four silver awards, while also receiving twenty-five honourable mentions. Among these awards, Matthieu Aikins — a first time contributor to The Walrus — was named Best New Creative Talent, and walrusmagazine.com was awarded Best Digital Design.

“The National Magazine Awards are important to us,” said editor and co-publisher John Macfarlane, “because they recognize the incredible talents of the freelance writers, photographers, artists, illustrators, and editors with whom we are so fortunate to work. Their efforts are instrumental in helping us create a magazine that contributes to the Canadian conversation by supporting important ideas and debate.”

For the fifth straight year, The Walrus magazine received more nominations than any other publication, and continues to be one of Canada’s most-honoured magazines, having won more awards since its inception in 2003 than any other Canadian periodical. With tonight’s six gold awards and four silver awards, The Walrus has now earned a total of fifty-three golds and twenty-seven silvers at the National Magazine Awards, as well as 186 honourable mentions.

On behalf of staff, interns, supporters, and readers, The Walrus congratulates all of this year’s winners and nominees. The July/August Summer Reading issue of The Walrus features a beautiful cover illustration by Jillian Tamaki; a playful writing challenge from Sarah Selecky, Kathleen Winter, Alexi Zentner, Michael Lista, and Damian Rogers; a stunning gatefold featuring Joanne Tod’s portraits of the 157 Canadians who have died in Afghanistan; and much more. It will be on newsstands on Monday, June 13.

Gold

Arts & Entertainment
“My Dad, the Movie, and Me” by Noah Richler

Best Digital Design
walrusmagazine.com by Matthew McKinnon

Best New Creative Talent
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins

Essays
“A 10 Percent World” by J.B. MacKinnon

Photojournalism & Photo Essay
“Dark Element” by Don Weber

Politics & Public Interest
“Life on the Instalment Plan” by Marian Botsford Fraser

Silver

Best Short Feature
“Aftershock” by Chris Jones

Humour
“The Air Strip” by Pasha Malla

Investigative Reporting
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk

One of a Kind
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Gary Stephen Ross

honourable Mention

Arts & Entertainment
“Mister Nice Guy” by Jeet Heer
“What Tom Thomson Saw” by Ross King

Best Multi-Media Feature
“Lucy Hardin’s Missing Period” by Stephen Marche, Jared Bland, and Matthew McKinnon

Essays
“The Shout Doctrine” by Mark Kingwell

Health & Medicine
“The Enemy Inside” by Daniel Baird
“Approximate Directions to a Burial” by Dave Cameron
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk

Illustration
“Quieter Revolutions” by Mathieu Lavoie
“The Enemy Inside” by Balint Zsako
“Hard Currency” by Marlena Zuber

Investigative Reporting
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins

One of a Kind
“Pravda and Other Words for Truth” by Medeine Tribinevicius

Personal Journalism
“Approximate Directions to a Burial” by Dave Cameron
“The Flight Album” by Kaitlin Fontana
“My Dad, the Movie, and Me” by Noah Richler

Politics & Public Interest
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins
“The Stranger Within” by Ron Graham
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk
“The Last Great Water Fight” by Chris Wood

Profiles
“Dragon Done” by Trevor Cole
“The Unrepentant Whore” by Michael Harris
“Big Game Hunter” by Chris Jones

Science, Technology & the Environment
“The New Grand Tour” by Chris Turner

Sports & Recreation
“Faster, Higher, Sneakier” by Alex Hutchinson

Spot Illustration
“The Long Decline” by Neil Doshi

The Walrus is published ten times annually by the charitable, non-profit Walrus Foundation. The Walrus Foundation has an educational mandate to support writers, artists, readers, and intelligent debate on matters vital to Canadians.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The July/August 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands June 13, 2011

Toronto — May 31, 2011 — The July/August issue of The Walrus features a remarkable visual essay by contemporary Canadian artist Joanne Tod. In this special tribute to fallen Canadians, Tod has created a riveting portrait collection of the 157 Canadians who have died during our military mission in Afghanistan. This three-year project was inspired by old photographs and letters from one of Tod’s uncles who was killed in Sicily in 1944, and appears in print in its entirety for the first time. The pieces are painted on six-by-five-inch birch panels, offering a salient reminder as Canada marks the official end of our part in the Afghan combat mission that war can “conform to any location.” This special gatefold section in The Walrus is presented by Bennett Jones LLP, and features reproductions of all 157 of Tod’s arresting portraits.

In addition to appearing in The Walrus magazine, Joanne Tod’s portraits of fallen Canadians will be published in large format — and made available to download — at walrusmagazine.com. The website will present individual comment fields with each painting, providing loved ones and supporters the opportunity to publicly memorialize the soldiers as part of a lasting tribute.

Our July/August issue is also our annual Summer Reading issue, and the stunning cover art is a new work by renowned Canadian illustrator and graphic artist Jillian Tamaki. Tamaki is one of the illustration world’s brightest stars. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic, Penguin Books, Wired, and the Washington Post. She has generously created a limited edition set of twenty-four signed prints of her cover illustration which will be available for sale via walrusmagazine.com.

For this year’s Summer Reading section, Canadian writers Sarah Selecky, Kathleen Winter, Alexi Zentner, Michael Lista, and Damian Rogers were each asked to establish five guidelines for composing a short story or poem. These eclectic guidelines were then swapped between the writers, and the resulting five pieces form a quirky, distinctly Canadian collection of new work by these acclaimed voices — shared for the first time in the pages of The Walrus.

Also in the July/August issue of The Walrus, long-time Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella examines the recent defeat of Michael Ignatieff and the once-mighty Liberal Party; Richard Poplak explores the struggles of elite Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal; Bill Reynolds looks at how New Yorkers are exorcising the ten-year nightmare of 9/11; Anne Casselman takes readers inside the burgeoning English country dance scene; and much more.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

The June 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands May 9, 2011

Toronto — April 28, 2011 — In the cover story of the June issue of The Walrus, senior editor Rachel Giese investigates a correlation between crime and immigration. Giese shares a 2009 international survey found that more than half of the population blames illegal immigrants for “driving up crime.” What Giese shows readers of The Walrus however is that research has consistently shown that neighbourhoods with the highest density of immigrants reflect the highest decrease in violent crime. The story contains several theories as to why this might be, but stresses one study that attributes it to “strong family bonds, commitment to education, and aversion to risk.” Instead of “subsequent generations becoming more delinquent,” she shows that with each wave of immigration, newcomers are “changing this country for the better.”

The cover story — “More Immigration, Less Crime” — is also the subject of a television mini-documentary, which is part of a new series adapted from content published in The Walrus magazine. These unique pieces will be viewable in high-definition on our newly launched Walrus TV on eqhd™. Walrus TV is a new and thrilling partnership between the charitable, non-profit Walrus Foundation and Canada’s leading all-HD broadcaster High Fidelity HDTV — which has four different channels available nationally, reaching more than 600,000 households. Walrus TV will include “More Immigration, Less Crime” and other documentaries adapted from content from The Walrus magazine in May. For more information or to subscribe to eqhd™, visit walrusmagazine.com/walrustv.

The Walrus Foundation is also proud to support National Poetry Month with the April launch of Walrus TV: Poetry on eqhd™’s sister channel, Treasure HD™. Tune in to view Walrus contributors Linda Besner, Jeff Latosik, Jacob McArthur Mooney, Damian Rogers, and Paul Vermeersch as they share their work in a series of five poetry vignettes. For more information about this new multimedia project, please visit walrusmagazine.com/walrustv.

Also in June’s issue of Canada’s best magazine, journalist John Lorinc probes the ground rules — including government initiatives, public acceptance, and possibly harmful consequences — of geoengineering in “Climate Controlled.” Environmentalists insist it is “mankind’s tragic compulsion to engineer its way out of its problems,” while supporters are dubbing it “Plan B of the climate change fight,” and a necessary precaution. Lorinc compares Canada’s minimal efforts to develop a framework unfavourably to Great Britain and the US, which have both been working toward government policies on geoengineering. He concludes that governments should “open this door” and regulate policies to keep themselves ahead of the game.

Also in the June issue, Daniel Baird meets with our man in the Vatican, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, to discuss whether the Church will ever be able to extricate itself from the reprehensible recesses of sexual abuse scandals; Kamal Al-Solaylee describes life after Yemen’s long-ruling dictator is out of the picture; Karen Pinchin dissects the ice-cream industry; Pasha Malla delivers a droll account of buying a home; and much more.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

National Magazine Awards Nominations

Our staff and contributors receive thirty-five nominations for the thirty-fourth annual National Magazine Awards

Toronto — May 2, 2011 —The Walrus Foundation is proud to announce that for the fifth straight year The Walrus magazine has received the highest number of National Magazine Award nominations. The thirty-five nominations in 2010's National Magazine Awards represents an increase from its country-leading total of thirty-three nominations at the 2009 awards. Our contributors were nominated for twenty-eight written, five visual, two online, and one special award. The winners will be announced at the thirty-fourth annual National Magazine Awards gala on June 10, 2011 in Toronto.

"We are delighted to again receive the most nominations, and are proud of the writers, journalists and artists who have been nominated," said co-publishers John Macfarlane and Shelley Ambrose. "Our contributors are key to our mandate to create public debate on matters vital to Canadians and to continue to provide a forum for the Canadian conversation."

Since its inception in 2003, The Walrus has won more National Magazine Awards than any other publication, including the 2006 award for Magazine of the Year. During that time, The Walrus has won forty-seven golds, twenty-three silvers, and one hundred sixty-one honourable mentions.

The Walrus congratulates all of our nominated contributors, listed here:

Arts & Entertainment
“Mister Nice Guy” by Jeet Heer
“What Tom Thomson Saw” by Ross King
“My Dad, the Movie, and Me” by Noah Richler

Best Digital Design
walrusmagazine.com by Matthew McKinnon

Best Multi-Media Feature
“Lucy Hardin’s Missing Period” by Stephen Marche, Jared Bland, and Matthew McKinnon

Best New Creative Talent
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins

Best Short Feature
“Aftershock” by Chris Jones

Essays
“The Shout Doctrine” by Mark Kingwell
“A 10 Percent World” by J.B. MacKinnon

Health & Medicine
“The Enemy Inside” by Daniel Baird
“Approximate Directions to a Burial” by Dave Cameron
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk

Humour
“The Air Strip” by Pasha Malla

Illustration
“Quieter Revolutions” by Mathieu Lavoie
“The Enemy Inside” by Balint Zsako
“Hard Currency” by Marlena Zuber

Investigative Reporting
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk

One of a Kind
“A Tale of Two Cities” by Gary Stephen Ross
“Pravda and Other Words for Truth” by Medeine Tribinevicius

Personal Journalism
“Approximate Directions to a Burial” by Dave Cameron
“The Flight Album” by Kaitlin Fontana
“My Dad, the Movie, and Me” by Noah Richler

Photojournalism & Photo Essay
“Dark Element” by Don Weber

Politics & Public Interest
“Last Stand in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins
“Life on the Instalment Plan” by Marian Botsford Fraser
“The Stranger Within” by Ron Graham
“The Human Egg Trade” by Alison Motluk
“The Last Great Water Fight” by Chris Wood

Profiles
“Dragon Done” by Trevor Cole
“The Unrepentant Whore” by Michael Harris
“Big Game Hunter” by Chris Jones

Science, Technology & the Environment
“The New Grand Tour” by Chris Turner

Sports & Recreation
“Faster, Higher, Sneakier” by Alex Hutchinson

Spot Illustration
“The Long Decline” by Neil Doshi

The Walrus is published ten times annually by the charitable, non-profit Walrus Foundation. Since its inception in 2003, The Walrus has won more awards than any other Canadian periodical and continues to be Canada’s leading general interest magazine.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

High Fidelity HDTV and The Walrus Foundation announce strategic content partnership

Canada’s most honoured magazine coming this fall to eqhd^© and Treasure HD^© as Walrus TV

Toronto — April 20, 2011 — Canada’s leading all-HD broadcaster and The Walrus Foundation, the charitable non-profit organization and publisher of The Walrus, Canada’s national magazine of ideas, have announced a cross-platform collaboration that will result in iconic new programming called Walrus TV.

The new programming, currently in production, will be presented every month on eqhd and Treasure HD, two of High Fidelity’s suite of smart, refreshing and beautiful channels. These original programs will also be made available by The Walrus Foundation on a dedicated webpage — www.walrusmagazine.com/walrustv — and via the interactive tablet edition of The Walrus magazine.

“The Walrus offers sophisticated, in-depth journalism on topics ranging from politics and the economy to technology and the arts. The idea behind Walrus TV is to bring the intelligence and depth of the monthly magazine to a new format. Because our channels reflect similar objectives — to engage and stimulate people who like substance in what they read and watch — the alignment of content and channel is perfect," said Ken Murphy, partner and co-founder of High Fidelity HDTV Inc.

The first programming for Treasure HD is Walrus TV: Poetry, a series of five short up-close-and-personal performances of poems from the poets themselves, each of which The Walrus has also published in the print magazine. For eqhd, a roster of mini-documentaries on subjects including immigration and crime, mosques in Canada, and portraits of military personnel are based on stories from the magazine. Each provides fascinating behind-the-scenes insight on their respective topics.

“Walrus TV contains the essence of the Walrus brand — brought to high-definition life for the television medium. It’s an exciting new initiative for us; not only do the stories gain another perspective,” said Shelley Ambrose, co-publisher of The Walrus and executive director of the charitable, non-profit Walrus Foundation, “we’ll reach new audiences that help us deliver our commitment to public debate on matters vital to our country.”

About The Walrus Foundation
The Walrus Foundation is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers, artists, readers, education, and ideas. First and foremost, the Foundation achieves these goals by publishing The Walrus magazine ten times a year. The Foundation also produces public debates, leadership events, and runs an intensive internship program training the next generation of leaders of media and the arts.

About High Fidelity HDTV
High Fidelity HDTV is an independent broadcaster of four fabulous HD channels, Oasis HD (Love Nature), Treasure HD (Music and Art), eqhd (Ideas and Cultures) and radX (Adventure). These premium channels are unlike anything else on television, offering smart, refreshing, and beautiful programs to curious viewers who love great stories. All channels are widely distributed across Canada on cable, satellite and IPTV.

For more information about The Walrus Foundation, contact: David Leonard, 416-971-5004 x222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

For more information about High Fidelity HDTV Inc., contact: Andrew Irwin, 416-646-4446, andrewirwin@hifihdtv.ca

The May 2011 issue of The Walrus

On newsstands April 11, 2011

Toronto — March 31, 2011 — In the May 2011 issue of The Walrus, best-selling author Lisa Moore profiles modern Newfoundland. According to Moore, herself a Newfoundlander, “the most defining characteristic of life in Newfoundland has been the need to leave coupled with the desire to stay.” She describes the necessity of balancing the constant commute for work, while maintaining a culture “steeped in cosmopolitan travel.” In the face of the oil boom, and the sudden departure of Danny Williams, Moore addresses common misconceptions of Newfoundland and its people. This Newfoundland, she argues, is “neither one nor the other, but something entirely new.”

“To the Exclusion of All Others” by historian Elizabeth Abbott delves into the question of legalizing polygamy in Canada and the possible consequences for our legal, financial, and administrative frameworks. She draws parallels between the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Islam. Examining the status of women in a polygamous union, Abbott talks about the social safety net and protection that a polygamous union offers a woman, but also the myriad tensions it creates regarding everything from jealousies to the highly diluted division of income and assets.

With the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement as background, journalist Arno Kopecky scrutinizes Colombia as a suitable partner: a country which cannot be considered a “burgeoning untapped market,” as nearly half its population is living under the poverty line. Arno reveals paramilitary forces clearing farmers from resource-rich land, and an explosion of displaced people — the desplazados — who have no choice but to flee after receiving death threats or worse. Most of the displaced receive very little, if any, compensation, and are often left to the mercy of the city’s gangs or the “3,500 child gangster-soldiers,” with terrifying results.

The May issue of The Walrus also features a less than flattering review of our census formats by Allison Martell; Emily Landau’s look at whether or not Nova Scotia is putting its underwater wrecks and treasures at risk of extinction; a witty first-hand account of the significance of the oath to Queen Elizabeth II made by new Canadian citizens, and much, much more.

The Walrus is published ten times a year by the charitable non-profit Walrus Foundation.

For more information or to book an interview, contact: David Leonard, The Walrus Foundation, 416-971-5004 ext. 222, david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Enhancing the cultural life of a city: If you build it, will they come?

The new Walrus McGill Debate, featuring Simon Brault and Witold Rybczynski, to be moderated by Nathalie Petrowski

Montreal — March 24, 2011 — The Walrus Foundation, McGill University, and the Segal Centre are pleased to announce the launch of a new annual public debate presented by TD. The debate, intended to encourage civic engagement and city building in Montreal, will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

This timely exchange will feature Simon Brault (author of No Culture, No Future, vice-chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, CEO of the National Theatre School, and president of Culture Montréal) and University of Pennsylvania professor Witold Rybczynski (author of Makeshift Metropolis, and Slate’s architecture critic). In what promises to be a lively event, they will debate and dissect city building and the future of culture in Montreal above and beyond the Quartier des Spectacles partnership.

Well-known journalist and La Presse columnist Nathalie Petrowski will moderate the debate.

“As publishers of Canada’s best national magazine, we are committed to public debate,” said Shelley Ambrose, co-publisher of The Walrus and executive director of the charitable, non-profit Walrus Foundation. “This new series helps bring the pages of The Walrus magazine to the stage, and will be a starting point for the conversations that help make cities great.” The Walrus has used the same format in other cities including Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto, where topics have included globalization, Arctic sovereignty, contemporary art, and health care spending. “We’re very excited to produce debates in Montreal that will focus on the glories and challenges of island life in one of the world’s best cities,” Ambrose added.

“The Walrus shares our commitment to public education, and we’re thrilled with that we can partner to bring these topical debates to our students, faculty, and the people of Montreal,” said Christopher Manfredi, Dean of Arts of McGill University.

“Dedicated to building bridges through the performing arts, the Segal Centre is proud to join The Walrus and McGill as intellectual partners in culture, in providing a meeting place for ideas, intercultural dialogue, and for all culture-loving communities,” Manon Gauthier, CEO of the Segal Centre, said.

“Every community needs a thriving arts and culture scene. At TD, we are committed to supporting arts and culture-related initiatives that expose our youth to music and that bring families together to enjoy the performing arts,” says Paul Lelièvre, vice-president, Metro District West, TD Canada Trust. “We are pleased to support the Walrus debate as part of our ongoing commitment to making a difference and contributing to the well-being of the Montreal community.”

Event information
Taylor Tower, Segal Centre
ttower@segalcentre.org
tel: 514-739-2301 ext. 8363

Media inquiries
Tamarah Feder, McGill Media Relations
tamarah.feder@mcgill.ca
tel: 514-398-6754

Aeroplan and The Walrus Foundation Announce an Amateur Travel Photography Contest

Now online at walrusmagazine.com

Toronto/Montreal — January 26, 2011 — The Walrus Foundation and Canada’s premier coalition loyalty program, Aeroplan, are proud to announce the launch of The Walrus Foundation Amateur Travel Photography Contest. Sponsored by Aeroplan, this nationwide contest will be judged by acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky, The Walrus magazine’s art director Brian Morgan, and the Canadian public. The contest is open to Canadian residents, excluding Quebec, and the winning photo will be published in The Walrus magazine. The winning amateur photographer will also receive 100,000 Aeroplan Miles courtesy of Aeroplan, and an invitation for two to The Walrus Foundation Gala in January 2012. In addition, a full gallery of photographs from the runners-up will be showcased at www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan.

“This is a great opportunity for photography fans and travelers alike to get out and snap photos of their favourite destinations, unique landscapes and off the beaten path locations or even be creative in their own city,” said David Klein, Vice President, Marketing, Aeroplan. “For the last few years, through our partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario, we’ve been trying to raise the profile of photography with the Grange Prize. Aeroplan is thrilled to be a part of this contest and to be working with The Walrus Foundation to encourage participation in this important art form.”

“The Walrus Foundation is a keen supporter of Canadian artists, both established and emerging,” said The Walrus Foundation’s executive director and co-publisher Shelley Ambrose. “We’re delighted to be working with Aeroplan and Edward Burtynsky to showcase Canadian photographers and their unique perspectives on our world.”

The Walrus Travel Photography contest begins today with the release of the March issue of The Walrus, and officially closes on May 31, 2011. Judges will select a shortlist of ten photos between May 31 and July 1, 2011. Throughout the summer of 2011, readers of The Walrus magazine, walrusmagazine.com, and visitors to www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan will be asked to vote for their favourite photo. The winning photo will be selected on August 27, 2011, and will be featured along with a short essay in the special double winter January/February issue of The Walrus.

For full details, including contest regulations, please visit: www.walrusmagazine.com/aeroplan.

ABOUT AEROPLAN
Aeroplan, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, is owned by Groupe Aeroplan Inc., a global leader in loyalty management. Aeroplan is a long-standing patron of the arts, with a history of supporting artists and arts initiatives across Canada. Of particular significance is the company’s work, in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario, to develop The Grange Prize for contemporary photography. Aeroplan is committed to fostering a long-term, international dialogue about this important art form. Aeroplan has also joined the AGO in a three-year partnership as the Signature Partner of the Photography Collection Program, supporting planned AGO activities to engage visitors with photography, including special lectures and tours.

For more information about Aeroplan, please visit www.groupaeroplan.com or www.aeroplan.com.

ABOUT THE WALRUS FOUNDATION
The Walrus Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization with a mandate to promote public debate on matters vital to our country. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers, artists, readers, education, and ideas. First and foremost, we achieve these goals by publishing The Walrus magazine ten times a year. We also produce public debates, leadership events, and run an intensive internship program training the next generation of leaders of media and the arts.

For more information about The Walrus Foundation or The Walrus magazine, please visit www.walrusmagazine.com.

For more information, please contact:

David Leonard
The Walrus Foundation
(416) 971-5004 ext. 222
david.leonard@walrusmagazine.com

Christa Poole
Aeroplan
(416) 352-3745
christa.poole@aeroplan.com