Melanie Jenner and Jesse Boily’s first issue of Article Magazine

A new magazine showcasing the arts scene in northern Alberta and British Columbia has debuted. The Article, launched by Grande Prairie photojournalist Jesse Boily and artist Melanie Jenner, is a free monthly arts and culture magazine connecting both provinces. The region’s last art-centric print publication, The Art of the Peace, printed its final issue in 2016. Newspaper circulation has also declined across Alberta, with 68 news outlets closing since 2008.

“There’s a big disconnect between artists and art organizations in BC and Alberta, and they’re so close together,” said Editor Boily. He pointed to the communities of Demmitt, AB, and Dawson Creek, BC, separated by about 50 kilometres. “We were seeing that people weren’t having a connection. We’re going to be print because that’s how art is meant to be seen. It’s not meant to be seen on computer screens,” he added. Copies were distributed throughout the Saddle Hills and Grande Prairie counties, including Fairview, AB, and Fort St. John, BC.