About Us

About the Publication

A local publication serving Vancouver Island. Featuring local businesses and personalities, articles on health, heritage, island living, entertainment and events, we have budget-friendly advertising rates. We serve Nanaimo area under the Nanaimo cover and Vancouver Island (Victoria to Comox Valley) under the Voyager cover. We are racked on BC Ferries, Victoria & Nanaimo Airports, Helijet terminals in Nanaimo, Victoria & Vancouver, and at seaplane terminals. We have a great and varied demographic reached by Canada Post, insertion in The Bulletin, hand delivery and racking. We are also online where ads are hyperlinked to advertisers’ websites targeting our Facebook, LinkdIn and Instagram followers. If you advertise for 3 months, you can get a free business profile. We are “Not-for-profit” and Arts and Entertainment friendly and offer great personal service!

Judy Stephan: Editor / Publisher

Judy Stephan was born in South Africa and lived there until immigrating to Canada at the beginning of 2009. Judy has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and Psychology and holds a higher diploma in Education. In South Africa Judy was a High School English teacher for 23 years, specializing in the teaching of English literature to Grade 12 students. She was the head of the English Department of 2 exclusive private colleges during the last 7 years of teaching and was a recognized expert on the teaching of film and assisting second language students, as well as a Cluster Leader within the Provincial Education Department. Judy also produced the school newspapers and yearbooks.

Since Judy’s arrival in Nanaimo and purchase of Nanaimo & Voyager Magazine, she has joined many community and networking organizations, namely Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce (Chair of the Ambassador Program 2010-present, Board Member 2017-2019, 2022- present)), Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association (Board Member & Marketing Chair, Secretary 2011-2017), Nanaimo Family Life Association (Advisory Board – Better at Home 2013-2019), Oceanside Rotary (Vice President 2011-2014), Old City Quarter Association (Board Member 2019-present) and Nanaimo Senior Services Network (Board Member 2019 – 2022 in charge of Age-friendly Business). She loves to promote Nanaimo and the Island and thrives on calling this paradise, Vancouver Island, home. She proudly became a citizen in June 2015. Judy is an active member of Women of Note, the Nanaimo Women’s Business Network, and has volunteered with Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society teaching English (2021-2022).

Nanaimo & Voyager Magazine was in the top 3 Small Businesses at the Chamber Business Awards in 2014, a finalist in 2 categories in 2019 and won the Creative Services category in 2020. It was in the Top 10 Small Business BC Awards – Immigrant Entrepreneur Category in 2015, and Judy was nominated for a BC Multicultural award in November 2015 and was winner of the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society’s Community Leadership Award in 2019.

Judy is married with 3 grown children and has published 9 romance novels and a handbook to help new immigrants.

Racheal Talboys: Graphic Designer

Racheal was born in the England, and now lives in Canada. Racheal studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design in BC. After graduating, she worked as a Graphic Designer at various design agencies, publishing and printing companies throughout Vancouver and started working for Nanaimo and Voyager Magazine in 2006. She was a huge part of the magazine winning the coveted Chamber’s Creative service Award in 2020. In her spare time, she likes the outdoors; hiking and mountain biking.

Cathy Holmes: Ad Sales, Writer, Delivery & Promotion

Delivery Team

J. Stephan: Greater Nanaimo, North End & Parksville
R. Barnes: Central & South Nanaimo, Ladysmith & Chemainus
C. Holmes: Central Nanaimo
J. Dickinson: Downtown & Old City Quarter
J. Christoph: Comox Valley
S. Stephan: Victoria

We also utilise Canada Post, Nanaimo News Bulletin, CI Delivery, Mikus Transport, Immediate Images & Certified Folders