publisher’s note
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pring has sprung on the west coast. Whether the sun is shining in the sky or not, families here welcome this great season and its fresh clean air with open arms. This is quite the year for WestCoast Families magazine. We’ve refreshed our look with a new logo, an updated style, and new covers, and you seem to like it! We’ve received such great feedback from our readers and advertisers and we’re going to continue to work hard to make it even better with each issue. But it’s not just our looks. We’ve refocused the content too. We’ve coined the phrase “hyper-local” (thanks Jodi!) to make sure we’re bringing you fun & information that’s important and relevant to you and your family, and that you can’t get anywhere else. This issue of WestCoast Families is about Getting Green—in school, at home, and even in the grocery store. We’ve got great ideas, valuable local information, and fun projects too. Check out the fantastic profiles
on local organic farms—BC is full of them! There were too many to cover in our print magazine, so look to www.westcoastfamilies.com for so many more on our listings page. Since Going Green is all about the earth and the environment, it’s also a great fit to accompany Part I of our annual Camp Guide. This issue focuses on summer sleep-away camps for kids. Every year we hear about more camps out there, and we constantly get great feedback from the kids that attend. Check it out —there is a camp for everyone, and this year we’ve transformed it into an easy-to-read format that you can hang on to. You’ll notice that the many shows we sponsor and support are now included in our Community Calendar pages. This allows you to look for all the great family events in one spot. And don’t forget about our fantastic contests this issue from Hip Baby and Raspberry Kids. Now grab the kids, get outside, and breathe in some of that great west coast fresh air!
Many people wonder what it takes to put together a magazine, and it is definitely not something done easily. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team to make a great magazine. Here is an introduction to the creative force behind WestCoast Families.
Krysta Furioso Krysta is a mom of one—a creative six-yearold girl. Living in the Main Street area, Krysta is always connected to a great family scene, and knows so many creative and fun people in the city. Krysta has been with us for more than two years as our Art Director, producing many of the ads in the magazine, creating our covers and laying out all the features and graphics. Krysta has also been the artist behind the great new WestCoast Families style, including the new logo, covers, layout, and graphics. Every issue she comes up with a great new idea (or two, or three!) and it makes us better each time.
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WestCoastFamilies.com
westcoastfamilies.com Managing Editor Andrea Vance editor@westcoastfamilies.com Contributing Editor Jodi Iverson jodi@westcoastfamilies.com Art Director & Layout Krysta Furioso studio@westcoastfamilies.com Administration & Editorial Support Jennifer Bruyns admin@westcoastfamilies.com Accounts Receivable & Payable Jennifer Brule finance@westcoastfamilies.com Advertising sales@westcoastfamilies.com 604.249.2866
The WestCoast Families team…
Jodi Iverson Jodi is a mom of two—a teenage hockey player, and a seven-year-old girl. Jodi has some of the best creative ideas for kids’ stuff, and is completely tuned into the best that the Lower Mainland has to offer for families. She’s always “in the know” with the latest apps, the coolest products, and the greatest local attractions. For several years now, Jodi has been an Account Manager here at WestCoast Families; bringing you the great advertisers you see in the magazine each issue. Because she wasn’t quite busy enough in sales(!), Jodi has also been a huge force behind the recent revamping of WestCoast Families inside. Many of the new features you now enjoy are a result of Jodi’s creative talents and ideas. Check out her contributions in Style File, WestCoast Walks, and many of the fun Last Look projects. See what I mean?!
families westcoast
Andrea Vance Andrea is a mom of two—a one-year-old boy, and a very adventurous four-year-old girl. A second-generation Vancouverite… one of the rare few! The outdoors and adventure are a part of life for her family. Whether it’s skiing, camping, fishing, beaching, or just “being”… they love all that this amazing area has to offer. Andrea has been the Publisher of WestCoast Families for almost 10 years, and recently started coordinating the features as well. After a lot of years, mistakes, and experiences, she enjoys all the great people she gets to connect with through this business. And she has a few good ideas for the magazine from time to time too! And there’s more! Jennifer Bruyns is a mom of a teenage girl and an ‘almost’ nine-year-old too. Jennifer has worked with WCF for many years now, and continues to bring you all the great resource listings and calendar events that are so important to the magazine. Jennifer Brule is a mom of a now-driving teenage boy. She is the great face behind the email or phone, keeping all our books in order. She keeps us in order, too!
Published by National Families Network Publisher: Andrea Vance publisher@westcoastfamilies.com For distribution inquiries, please email info@westcoastfamilies.com For submissions to our community calendars, please email admin@westcoastfamilies.com To share your feedback, please email editor@westcoastfamilies.com
Contributors
Jodi Iverson, Jennifer Bruyns, Krysta Furioso, Andrea Vance, Kristy Hill, Anya Levykh, Debbie Bowman, Tracy Lydiatt, Revival Arts Photography Studio, Greg Stevenson WestCoast Families is an independent, regional parenting publication. Published nine times per year in British Columbia, Canada. Total circulation: 50,000. All contents copyrighted ©. Written permission from the publisher is required to reproduce, quote, reprint or copy any material from WestCoast Families For editorial submissions queries, please view the guidelines on our website. Mailing address: 1215-C56 St. Box 18057 Delta, BC V4L 2M4 T 604 249 2866 | F 604 676 2802
We also thank the many writers and contributors who keep the great content coming each issue. WestCoast Families is proud to have been selected as a mom-friendly employer for the 2010 Progressive Employers of Canada List. And congratulations to our fellow inductees!