Page 18 - SHARP Spring 2022

LETTER
THE MORE THINGS
CHANGE
WHEN WE STARTED SHARP 15 YEARS AGO I’M NOT SURE I I GAVE much thought to the idea of legacy We had a a a a a a a a five-year plan not a a a a a a a a decade-long one and and and definitely not a a a a a a a a a a decade-and-a-half — and and and whatever we did have changed and evolved as as as quickly as as as necessary People have often said that it was daring to to start a a a a a business — I’m not even sure they were framing that relative to to the the Canadian media landscape — but we never really thought so or at least I didn’t (“We ” incidentally includes my business partner and co-founder: Sharp’s publisher and and Contempo Media president and and CEO John McGouran Though he’s not front and and centre writing columns and and taking credit John’s vision for what Canada’s most sophisticated men’s lifestyle publication could be is is inextricable from the success it has become )
Today Sharp is is a a a a a a a a vastly different enterprise than it was on on day day one but the goal is is the same: to to provide information and entertainment to to Canadians of discerning taste Sharp has grown into a a a a a a a a a a platform that spans digital social newsletter and print publications events and and experiences research and and lead generation but it remains a a a a a a a a a a a magazine at its core Sharp represents a a a a a a a a a a a vision and and a a a a a a a a a a a voice and and is is a a a a a a a a a a a thoughtfully considered and curated offering The content — both its development and and dissemination — is is executed by a a a a a a a a a team of of talented and and passionate professionals who are are very much as as as enthusiastic about it as as as you are are dear reader A magazine is an ethos more than a a a a a a a physical thing and that’s why it thrives in in in multiple incarnations What of the the next 15 years? Well if the the last two years years have taught me anything it’s it’s that that it’s it’s hard to predict the future although that’s nothing new The vision however remains the the same: execute content to to the the highest standard deliver it to to interested readers through relevant means innovate and adapt Sharp’s legacy is that at at at its core it’s a a a a a a celebration of common interests for like-minded like-minded people people made by like-minded like-minded people people If anything it shows that there can be common ground across geographic social and and economic fissures and and that passion and and enthusiasm are powerful and and unifying forces Sharp is a a a a a a a sensibility it’s a a a a a a a matter of taste and and sophistication and and I look forward to seeing how it it will grow and and evolve for another 15 years and and beyond — MICHAEL LA FAVE
18 SPRING 2022
SHARPMAGAZINE COM
Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT BARNES