The Non-Traditional
Newsstands Project (NTN)

The Non-Traditional Newsstands Project (NTN) at MagsBC is a pilot initiative to seek out new, unconventional spaces to distribute our diverse collection of member magazines.

Project co-leads Aniana and Sun Woo ran the first edition of the project from May 2024 to March 2025, partnering with seven performing arts venues across the lower mainland. We set up newsstands stocked with free back issues, and ran pop-up shops at several venues selling the newest issues.

In the 2025–2026 edition of NTN, we are mainly focusing on setting up free newsstands at museums, cafés, and post-secondary institutions across the lower mainland.

The goal of the project is to get copies of our member magazines into the hands of a diverse range of people in our community. We want to help magazines reach more people in places where we don’t usually see them, and increase the potential for new subscriptions. We believe finding intriguing, niche locations for magazines to live is a valuable way to get eyes on magazines.

Want to get involved? Get in touch at ntnewsstands@magsbc.com

Current Venues

SFU Student Union Building https://sfss.ca/sub/overview-location-and-hours/

Museum of Vancouver
https://museumofvancouver.ca

Saunter Coffee
https://www.sauntercoffee.com

Moodswing Coffee + Bar
https://www.moodswingbar.com

Evergreen Cultural Centre
https://evergreenculturalcentre.ca

Studio 58
https://students.langara.ca/studio-58/

Testimonials

The project’s accessible and engaging format fits the museum audience perfectly from all age ranges, encouraging meaningful connections with local art and writing. What I especially appreciate is seeing museum attendees sitting down and reading these works at the end of their gallery visits—this shows how the project deepens visitor engagement.

As a multidisciplinary organization, this opportunity was a great way to share more literary arts and local publications with our arts-savvy audience. It’s also great that we can support this project and local creators with very little effort on our end, thanks to their organized and friendly team.

It is refreshing to have a local program that supports the tangible world of print media. As we enter our 17th year of publishing authentic stories with original photography, these initiatives help reach engaged audiences and build community in Vancouver.

As a small literary journal with limited staff, we don't always have the time and resources to expand our distribution and engage directly with consumers, and so we appreciate this project's efforts to spotlight us along with other BC magazines. [T]he project's staff have made it easy by being so helpful and supportive.

We have found working with the Non-traditional Newsstands project to be an easy and effective way of reaching new audiences, and have seen a slow but steady increase in new subscribers during this initiative. The administrators go out of their way to make it easy for us to participate.

Latest News

Interior view of the Student Union Building at Simon Fraser University, showing a display of MagsBC member magazines beside a post and above a staircase.

Non-Traditional Newsstands: More Venues Join

Update to the Non-Traditional Newsstands Project, three more newsstands set up around the Lower Mainland and more locations to be announced soon.

Interior view of the Student Union Building at Simon Fraser University, showing a display of MagsBC member magazines beside a post and above a staircase.

Non-Traditional Newsstands: Pilot 2, 2026

New year, new participating magazines, 2026 starts off by welcoming new members to the Non-Traditional Newsstands Project, promote & sell at limited pop-up shops

Non-Traditional Newsstands: Pilot 2, So Far

We’re expanding the Free Newsstands initiative of the Non-Traditional Newsstands project, calling on publishers to join: free promotion, expand distribution, new readers

Sun Woo Baik sitting at a table at Evergreen Cultural Centre Coquitlam displaying MagsBC member magazines including a rack of magazines to his right and a banner to his left, reading: "Discover BC magazines today. Scan the QR code and see all the magazines that are waiting for you. Also, at front of table: There's a world of locally made stories waiting for you.

Non-Traditional Newsstands: Wrapping Up Pilot 1

First edition of non-traditional newsstands project wrapped: 15 print magazines, nine digital magazines, free giveaways, new issues for sale in pop-up shops

Non-Traditional Newsstands: Holiday Sale Pop-Ups

Holiday sale pop-ups non-traditional newsstands, distribution channels for BC magazines in theatres, performing arts venues and festivals, Metro Vancouver.

Non-Traditional Newsstands Pilot Project

Aim is to test out alternative distribution channels for BC magazines, initial focus on theatres, performing arts venues and festivals in Metro Vancouver.