Design Edge Canada magazine, including its web portal and associated Regional Design Awards, has been purchased by the C.J. Group of Companies, which includes printer C.J. Graphics.

"We are very excited about taking on this publication and its affiliated properties," said Jay Mandarino, C.J. founder and chief executive officer. "It’s important to us that this publication flourishes and continues its mandate to inform and inspire graphic designers, art directors and all other professionals associated with design in its many forms across Canada."

The trade mag was launched in early 2006 by North Island Publishing, which also owns Masthead. (This reporter is the outgoing web editor of DesignEdgeCanada.com.)

C.J. Graphics shareholder Leslie Smith takes on the role of publisher, and veteran magazine editor and writer Doug Picklyk takes the reigns as editor. Director of C.J. Interactive Lee Eldridge is associate editor, and long-time Design Edge art director Michael Hewis retains his role. Previous editor Nancy Kay Clark joined Toronto branding firm Up Inc. in April.

"I'm excited, and I appreciate what Design Edge is and what it has been," said Picklyk, who was editor of Rogers-owned trade mag Canadian Printer for 10 years until it ceased publication in 2010. "I'm excited by the opportunity to take a new approach to something that's tried and true."

Design Edge serves the Canadian graphic design industry and, under North Island, was published six times a year with a circulation of 8,000 copies. According to North Island publisher Sandy Donald, the sale enables the company to refocus on its core properties.

Design Edge has won several industry awards over the years including a Magazine of the Year (Trade Category) prize from the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, and a Web Site of the Year award from the Canadian Business Press in 2011.

Picklyk said a relaunch of the printed edition is being planned for fall, and that the website will continue on in the meantime. "We're exploring a new design for the magazine and we have engaged a focus group of readers, but we're still in the development stage," he said.