Canada’s History (aka The Beaver) first debuted in 1920.
According to an article published by the Beaver in 2004: The magazine was launched by the Hudson Bay company. It is Canada’s second oldest continuously published magazine (after Maclean’s). The Beaver was created as a 250th anniversary present “devoted to The Interests of Those Who Serve the Hudson’s Bay Company.”
Published monthly for the first four years, it was complete with the news and views of happenings in the various stores and posts across Canada. The first issue appeared under the banner, The Beaver, A Journal of Progress. The “successful name” was chosen in a staff competition, and 5000 copies were printed and distributed at a total cost of $570.
Beginning with the December 1923 issue, the Company began making the magazine available to “those not in the service” at a rate of one dollar a year, a rate still in effect well into the ’30s. The following year, the magazine ceased being a monthly publication and became a quarterly.
Significant changes took place in 1933 with the September issue. The original digest format was replaced by the standard magazine design. The revised focus was spelled out on the masthead changing from “A Journal of Progress” to “A Magazine of the North.”
In 1986, The Beaver became a bimonthly magazine. The publisher decided to break with tradition and expand the focus of the magazine to include all Canadian history — introducing Atlantic and Central Canadian stories for the first time. The masthead was revitalized to say “Exploring Canada’s History.”
The following covers show you how the magazine has been re-designed over the decades:
Launch October 1920
September 1923
September 1933
Winter 1956
Apr/May 1986
Oct/Nov 2005
Feb/Mar 2008 (First SIP)
Apr/May 2010 (Re-Launch)
