escarpment
DEENA’S NOTE
Time flies
when you’re having fun. Cliché yes — but oh so true. This publication has
travelled an interesting road over these first 25 years. Several name changes have occurred and
a variety of paper stocks have been used, the personality is somewhat more sophisticated and
colourful (surely this comes naturally with age) and the page counts have increased. Through it all
however, the original integrity has remained intact. And perhaps most interesting of all to note,
especially in today’s lightning-speed world of mega-corporations and everything digital, is the fact
that this magazine has had only two owners.
Gerry Baker was the founder of
The Collingwood Condo
back in1987. This little, black and white
newborn (8 pages) was an informative, monthly periodical with a friendly, personal feel that was
intended to keep readers in the know about everything that was going on up here in Ski Country.
It was the first of its kind in the region and was mailed directly to the city homes of Private Ski Club
members who had second residences here. In 1989 when illness took Gerry’s life, his wife Joanne
bravely kept it in the family, took the reins and ran the business successfully for the next 8 years.
My first issue as owner/publisher was Fall 1998. I knew nothing about computers or producing
a magazine but was armed with a passion for this region, an understanding of marketing and
customer service and an artistic vision of how I wanted the publication to look and where I wanted
to see it grow. I decided right from the start that every cover would be a painting of mine - see a
collection on pgs.10-13. (It’s been a pleasure going back through them for this anniversary issue.)
Clearly, I had a ton of energy and apparently, time—my youngest son Rory, was in high school at
the time while the other 3 boys, Josh, Luke and Clay and my daughter Cara, had all completed
University and were living on their own. “I can do this!” said I — what was I thinking?
There was so much to learn. Then as now, I relied on my kids’ ideas and valued their opinions. They
understood computers, I sure didn’t. And, since I had never learned keyboarding, Rory became my
typist (never missing a chance to play tricks on me). Clay introduced his talents gradually to the
magazine and quickly became indispensable. He joined the masthead as Lead Photographer in our
Summer 2006 issue. Thank you Clay for being so darn good! So upbeat and positive! So inventive!
So imaginative! So stubborn! Your stamp on our publication is quickly becoming legendary.
My dear friend Carol Blasdale came on board in1999 as our Sales Person. What a treasure.
Since advertising is our main source of income, Carol’s soft manner, attention to details and
charming personality quickly garnered new clients and expanded our reach significantly. Carol
just retired in July and I miss our constant contact but I know she is loving the next phase of her life.
A door closes, a window opens. Enter Cara Williams (née Dolan). Talk about capable - oh my.
Armed with a solid background in the global scene of competitive Extreme Skiing, Sports Event
Marketing and Communication and combined with a vast working knowledge of Social Media,
Cara has not only stepped into the role vacated by Carol but has also assumed the position of
Assistant Editor, On-line Editor, contributing writer and willingly takes on every other challenge
tossed in her direction. Welcome aboard Cara and thank you for making me laugh every day.
So, after 25 years, much has changed but much has stayed the same. From
Collingwood Condo
to
Condo & Chalet
to
Southern Georgian Bay Living
to
Escarpment Magazine,
what began as a
small, family owned and operated business is still that... same business, different family...
and we’re still having fun.
DEENA DOLAN FINDLAY
EDITOR
|
PUBLISHER
|
DESIGNER
CLAY DOLAN
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
|
WRITER
CARA WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT EDITOR
|
ONLINE EDITOR
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Fall 2012
Escarpment Magazine