Masthead has tracked 31 magazine closures or suspensions in the first six months of 2009, compared with just 12 start-ups. Another three publications are "missing in action" and presumed dead.

A handful of the shuttered books have continued to publish in some form online, while other publishers intend to relaunch their print magazine when the economy recovers. Masthead is also anticipating the debut of three new titles (plus one custom publication) this fall.

Masthead's data is based on sources such as the CARDonline media database; other media such as the Canadian Magazines blog, Media in Canada and daily newspapers; and conversations with distributors, publishers, and various magazine assoications.

As always, this tally should be considered a work-in-progress.

Masthead does not include annuals or custom publications in its count.

Last week, MediaFinder.com, a database of U.S. and Canadian magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and journals, released information stating there were 279 closures and 187 launches in North America for the first six months of 2009. A spokesperson for the company said Canada saw 40 closures, 18 debuts and three switches to online-only models during that period, but would not reveal the names of the publications lost and gained. MediaFinder includes annuals and custom publications in its tally, but not one-offs.

STARTS

Consumer

• Arabella/art, design, food/Debra and Brian Usher/Caledon, Ont.
• Charity Times Magazine/Joe Plati/Vaughan, Ont.
• Crown/high school basketball/Gilbert Muako-Jones and Tariq Sbiet/Mississauga, Ont.
• Fit Parent/Craig Knight/Toronto
• H Magazine/men's lifestyle/Frédéric Couture/Montreal
• Irish Connections Canada/Eamonn O'Loghlin/Toronto
• Montreal Home/shelter/Leah Lipkowitz/Montreal
• Railfan/train photography/Morgan Turney/Winnipeg
• Uppercase/graphic design and typography/Uppercase Gallery/Calgary

Trade

• Front Shop/pharmacy business/Fulcrum Publications Inc./Toronto
• Liquor Canada/KMI Publishing and Events/Toronto
• Western Farm Family/Market Zone Productions/Winnipeg

Custom

• Vino/wine/Poise Publications Inc./Calgary

UPCOMING STARTS

Consumer

• Holmes/home renovations/Dauphin Media Group/Creemore, Ont.

Trade

• Green Builder Canada/Market Zone Productions/Winnipeg
• Green Mechanical Journal/Market Zone Productions/Winnipeg

Custom

• Mercedesmagazine/Spafax Canada/Montreal

STOPS

Consumer

• Ascent/yoga/Vanessa Reid/Montreal
• Bazm/Urdu culture/Basm-E-Khawaleen/Pierrefonds, Que.
• Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles*/heavy metal/Tim Henderson/Toronto
• Calgary Inc./business in Calgary/RedPoint Media Inc./Calgary
• Canadian Home & Country*/shelter/Transcontinental Media Inc./Toronto
• Cannabis Culture Magazine*/marijuana/Marc Emery/Vancouver
• Centre of the City#/Metroland Media Group/Whitby, Ont.
• Chart*/pop music/Edward Skira/Toronto
• Desi Life/Toronto South Asians/Torstar/Toronto
• FQ#/fashion/Kontent Group/Toronto
• Guelph Life/Metroland Media Group/Guelph, Ont.
• Inside Entertainment*/Kontent Group/Toronto
• Live It!#/health and wellness/Metroland Media Group/Simcoe, Ont.
  
• Rex Business Magazine#/Metroland Media Group/Guelph, Ont.
• Sir#/men's fashion/Kontent Group/Toronto
• Suburban Life/Metroland Media Group/Oakville, Ont.
  
• Today’s Vancouver Woman/Rebecca Ephraim/Vancouver
• Unlimited*#/careers for Gen X and Y/Venture Publishing/Edmonton
• Weddings Essentials for Same-Sex Couples/Brandon and Christine Jones/Toronto

Trade

• Advanced Manufacturing/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
• Architectural Openings: The Journal of Access/Egress Control/Bob Rodkin/Toronto
• Bois & Cie/woodworking/Claude Roy/Victoriaville, Que.
• Business Edge#/business in Calgary/Rob Driscoll/Calgary
• Canadian Lawyer Associates/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
• The Edge Forest Business Magazine/forestry/David Holehouse/Edmonton
• Energy Management*/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
• Green Business*/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
• Les Papetiéres du Québec/pulp and paper/Business Information Group/Montreal
• Mining.com Magazine*/InfoMine Inc./Vancouver
• Network Cabling*/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
• Workplace/human resources/CLB Media/Aurora, Ont.
  

Missing in Action+

• Canadian Classics/classic cars/Lidstone Publications/O'Leary, P.E.I.
• La Voix au Masculin/Journal Voir/Montreal
  
• The Peer Review/University of Toronto/Toronto

*Publication has continued online.
#Publication is suspended; publisher intends to relaunch or sell the title in the future.
+Refers to publications deleted from the CARDonline database where all lines of communication have been shut down.