Mags I Love - Spacing Magazine

Launched in Winter of 2003 – 2004, Spacing Magazine is both periodical and protest, with equal parts of victory-tale and call-to-arms, and I was hooked from my first read.

Spacing focuses primarily on the real-estate owned collectively by us all, our Public Spaces; the urban landscape, from green (ravines, parks, trees, water and air) to grey (sidewalks, billboards, garbage cans, government buildings and pollution) and all the spaces in between (our alleys, boulevards, traffic islands, rooftops, fences and borders).

Perhaps intentionally, this magazine about-the-masses is minimally distributed (by Magazines Canada). It is available only by subscription or at a few, quite specific locations across Canada; some independent book sellers, a handful of galleries, and most University bookstores (along with the lobby of the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, the host of several issue release parties). It’s somewhat revealing that, although this Toronto-based publication is available at four locations in Halifax, there is no one in London selling it, not even U.W.O.

The first issue I laid my glomers on was Spring/Summer 2005, when Spacing was already 4 issues into print. Given to me by our pal Brian who had picked it up, I believe, at Toronto City Hall, I remember cracking it open and seeing an article called Skybandits. It was a discussion on illegal billboards; how to identify them and how to report them. This was an issue I had been struggling with for some time and here were the answers to all my questions. And don’t get me started about the article on Guerrilla Gardeners! It was a very, very good start.

Cleverly written from it’s first issue, Spacing has evolved into a powerful forum for writers and visual artists working to engage those citizens interested taking ownership of that which they already own, but neglect.


The layout is horizontal, like a city, and the content is probably 60% words to 40% full-colour imagery.




There is no letter from the editor-in-chief (the current issue instead has an introduction penned by Pier Giorgio DiCicco, poet laureate of the City of Toronto), in fact, there is no E.I.C., rather Publisher and Creative Director Matthew Blackett gets top billing. The (only)14 ads are completely relevant to the content (Centre for Social Innovation, getoffset.ca, Toronto Conservation Authority, Grass Roots, Curbside Cycle etc.) and the masthead is located at the conclusion, much like the chef who comes out from the kitchen to meet you following a wonderful meal.

Spacing Magazine was named Canadian Small Magazine of the Year, and Blackette and Dale Duncan (Executive Editor) were named 2007 Editor of the Year. Their blog was named Best Local Blog by NOW Magazine. In 2005, Spacing was awarded the Canadian National Magazine Award Gold Medal for Best Editorial Package.