Today, Avenue’s parent company, RedPoint Media Group, announced that it has acquired the Calgary arts and entertainment guide The Scene magazine and theYYScene.com website.
TheYYScene.com website was founded in 2017 by Mike Bell, Kari Watson and Janet Matiisen after Calgary’s alternative weekly Fast Forward ceased publication. In 2020, they added the print publication The Scene — a monthly magazine focused on arts and entertainment with 5,000 copies distributed around the city.
“The new owners of RedPoint, [Roger Jewett and Käthe Lemon], have already proven their commitment to promoting and showcasing the local stories we should all know and be proud of. And I’m proud to now be a part of those efforts,” said Bell, who will continue as The Scene’s Editor in Chief. “Being welcomed into RedPoint will allow The Scene to push to make even more of a difference, to reach wider audiences, connect with readers in more ways, and to continue to make the city even more vibrant, unique and culturally diverse.”
“The Scene is Calgary’s going out guide and we believe Calgarians want even more coverage that connects them to the vibrancy of our local culture,” said Käthe Lemon, President and co-owner of RedPoint Media Group. “Publishing The Scene allows us to expand on our mission of connecting Calgarians and engaging audiences through trusted storytelling.”
Established more than two decades ago, RedPoint Media Group is Calgary’s largest locally owned media company. RedPoint is the publisher of Avenue magazine as well as custom publications including the award-winning Leap magazine on behalf of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, SPUR on behalf of the Calgary Foundation, Create Calgary on behalf of Calgary Arts Development, the BOMA Building Guide and others.
“By adding The Scene to our portfolio we are broadening our reach to new audiences, expanding the topics we cover in the city and really digging into the local arts and culture scene,” said Roger Jewett, CEO and co-owner of RedPoint Media Group.
“We are excited about continuing to celebrate Calgary through storytelling in Avenue and now The Scene. We believe Calgarians love this city and the work we do and we are eager to grow the connections our readers have to the city and the people here,” said Lemon.