The new Tabaret magazine and Web site were launched in early May 2004 with a bold new look and format, as well as a changed focus.
The magazine is a renewed version of uOttawa’s former alumni journal of the same name. The new magazine’s audience includes all alumni of the University and, significantly, a large external readership of decision-makers and opinion leaders nationally and internationally.
As the signature print publication of the University of Ottawa, Canada’s university, the new Tabaret will focus on Canada and portrait our country’s spirit and vision through stories that capture its diversity and unique character.
The first issue includes articles and opinion pieces about politics, language, history and research, written by inspiring writers like veteran political observer Hugh Segal, who gives advice to Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Journalist Denise Bombardier reflects upon the evolution of Quebec society over the past 40 years as articulated in her 2003 Bronfman Lecture in Canadian Studies at the University, and journalist Lysiane Gagnon muses about the joys and difficulties of writing in English and in French.
Johanne Blais of the Bilingual Canadian Dictionary and Katherine Barber, editor of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, individually entertain us by examining the meanings of English and French words, and University chief archivist Michel Prévost presents us with interesting facts about the University’s past . . . and Canada’s too.
Choice photography, insightful editorial cartoons by Bado and Graham Harrop, and witty illustrations help complete the new Tabaret.
Initially, deciding how to present the University’s dual linguistic heritage and mandate was challenging. It was eventually decided that the magazine would have French and English sections back-to-back with essentially different editorial content, photos and illustrations. The Web site, however, offers the magazine’s entire content in both languages.
The new Tabaret magazine will be published every spring and fall.
