The print version of Unlimited magazine, which was named best new magazine at the 2008 Western Magazine Awards, is being suspended, with all operations moving online effective with the upcoming May/June issue.

“I truly enjoyed creating the magazine and am firmly committed to the belief that we will do so again, once these troubled times have passed,” Ruth Kelly, president and publisher of Edmonton-based Venture Publishing Inc. told us via e-mail. “Interestingly enough, the advertisers that had been committed to the print edition have all elected to move their planned expenditures to the online magazine. That's incentive for us to explore some very innovative approaches to the website.”

Venture launched Unlimited, a business and work culture magazine aimed at the 20-to-35 demographic, in August 2007. “Unfortunately with the current economic reality, Unlimited has not had time to find its feet with print advertisers,” Kelly said in a release. “Consequently, we are going to focus on growing and enhancing Unlimited at unlimitedmagazine.com at this time, and will plan to re-launch the print version within 12 to 24 months when the market stabilizes.”

Craille Maguire Gillies will serve as editor of unlimitedmagazine.com, while Kent Bruyneel, who was only just hired as the magazine's editor, is being laid off. Art director Malcolm Brown will continue with Venture Publishing as a design consultant through April on other print and web projects.

“Personally, it was a great ride for me at Unlimited and in Alberta,” Brown wrote in an e-mail to friends and contributors. “Although I never did take a turn on the mechanical bull at Cook County Saloon. Maybe before I leave the WW.”