The editor/publisher of Lunenburg and Queens county’s new parent resource magazine, Roots and Wings loves her new “baby,” but not as much as her son.
Allison Rew, a Pleasantville, Lunenburg Co. resident, laughs. “I call him my sun rather than my son… he puts up with me.”
In fact, he created the wooden magazine racks seen in various locations throughout the coverage area.
The first bi-monthly issue was published for March/April. The magazine is also available on-line at
www.discoverrootsandwings.com.Rew says, “It was my brainchild and something I wanted to do since I moved here 11 years ago from British Columbia.” She remembers the area’s magazine, Island Parent, which, “was such a terrific resource. I just missed it.
“Roots and Wings is really about parents supporting one another and communities supporting parents,” she continues. “Being a parent is the most wonderful thing in life, but with it comes challenges. I think as parents we have the wisdom and knowledge to help one another.”
Rew has had a varied “blessed life,” including being a parent and living in various places around the world, including her birth country of Malaysia. Her parents are Scottish and she attended university in Japan. She holds a journalism degree and is a social worker, “components” that are helping her publish the magazine, she says.
“I’m doing something I love, that I feel really passionate about. I also have a strong awareness of social issues and expect it will be reflected even more in the future.”
One article in the debut issue, for example, discusses how a grandmother was able to develop a relationship with her autistic grandson.
Rew adds the magazine will deal with a wide variety of issues ranging, as possible examples, “from teenage pregnancy to a Dad going stargazing with his children, topics that are relevant for anyone who has children in their lives.” The writers are from the region as well.
Rew says she quickly discovered she doesn’t need to go outside the area to find experts on specific topics. One example from the first issue involves the value of unstructured play.
“I didn’t have to go to Halifax. I didn’t have to go to Toronto. To me, I found that tremendously exciting and rewarding. There’s so much going on in the community and we will be able to highlight it.”
The magazine is circulated free-of-charge in libraries and a variety of businesses and through Queens and Lunenburg county’s community newspapers.
Rew says it was important the magazine be available to all residents “regardless of their income.” The website contains the entire magazine as well. She opted for a print version, she says, because many people simply like to hold magazines in their hands. She is asking them to recycle.
A family events calendar is also included free-of-charge for organizations.
Sales manager Gillian Reid – the two are now close friends – says the advertising is even helpful because it is generally directed towards parents and families and is from the region.
“The response has been very enthusiastic. People really like the idea the magazine is specifically for this area.”
They expect to increase the size of the magazine and then publish it monthly.
