Cindy McKay hopes to give Canadian farm women their due.
“Women are the backbone, the heart and soul of rural Canada,” she said.
Hearts of the Country, a national publication now preparing its fourth issue, focuses on rural women and provides a forum and network to help improve and preserve a rural way of life. It seeks to help rural women balance home, work and community.
The magazine includes inspirational stories bearing the message that confidence and ability comes with knowledge.
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McKay, a journalist and farm woman from Fisher Branch, Man., launched the magazine, feeling there was a need for Canadian farm women to read and write about the things that matter in their world.
She wanted to help them link with like-minded people to empower them and give them increased confidence and strength.
While working as a reporter for the Interlake Spectator, McKay realized how important women are to the rural community, where most volunteers are women.
“There are so many issues rural women are facing. There are some really good stories of how communities have survived… We need a forum to share those stories,” she said.
The inspiration for the new magazine comes from Farmwoman, a former publication of Grainews that targeted rural women.
“To have (it) taken away was a real huge loss to the community,” McKay said.
She met John Clarke, the original publisher of that magazine through the Lake Winnipeg Writers club. He was instrumental in encouraging her to revive a similar magazine.
McKay began by taking the “So you want to start a magazine” weekend course at Ryerson University in Toronto.
She also attended all the schools Magazine Canada offered.
“They gave me the confidence to go ahead with the magazine,” she said.
McKay has done most of the work herself, including the initial financing but now works with more freelance writers.
She said subscribers, estimated at 3,000, help pinpoint the magazine’s direction. McKay’s vision is to publish a magazine that is written by its readers and includes their stories, experiences and questions.
Appreciation from readers
Muriel McCallum is excited to have a Canadian magazine for country women. Now retired, she was an active partner on a grain farm in Boissevain, Man.
“You can associate with the stories because we’ve all been there already,” she said.
“I like the recipes best,” said Shirley Kirkpatrick of Hussar, Alta. Like McCallum, she appreciates that they use ingredients she has on the shelf at home.
“The things on gardening are really helpful too,” she said.
Hearts of the Country includes stories about rural entrepreneurial spirit, innovations on the farm or in agriculture, relationships, food, health and wellness, fitness, family activities, landscaping and gardening, home decoration and crafts, Canadian rural history, vacation and travel ideas and humour.
For more information, visit www.heartsmag.ca. An annual subscription costs $15.
