Copyright.

All of the material provided in this web site is copyrighted by Canadian Funeral Director™ (an Ontario Registered Business Name, registered by HPLPublishers LTD.) and cannot be duplicated in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Duplication in whole or in part constitutes a breach of Canadian and International Copyright Law and is actionable.

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It took a couple of very determined gentlemen to bring to life a magazine devoted to the funeral profession in Canada. In 1894 when the “Furniture Journal” was started, it incorporated a section called “Undertakers’ Gazette”. The “Undertakers’ Gazette” published news of the Undertakers Association of Ontario which had been formed in 1884. The editor of the journal was A.E. Uren. The publisher, Acton Publishing, Toronto, Ontario also published a separate journal in 1911 and 1912, called “Funeral Director and Embalmer” which also had A.E. Uren as editor. This was discontinued when the expense of publishing it became greater than the revenue earned.

Atlantic Canada. Where it all began.



Another furniture magazine “The Canadian Furniture World” published funeral news, in their Funeral Directing Department, as space would allow. The editor of The Canadian Furniture World was James O’Hagan (Sr).

The “Funeral Director and Bulletin” published by the Maritime Funeral Directors’ Association was first published in 1903. Fenwick W. Wallace, a funeral director from Sussex, New Brunswick was the editor and driving force determined to make a success of the magazine. After a few years publication of the Bulletin was suspended. Fenwick again revived the magazine in 1911 and 1912 renaming it “Canadian Funeral Director”. This publication was ceased when it failed to get Canada-wide support. In 1920, Fenwick Wallace was again encouraged by the Maritimes Association to resume publication and did so as the “Canadian Funeral Director” publishing issues in 1920 and 1921. With his health failing, this great Canadian funeral service publishing pioneer’s efforts also ended. Fenwick Wallace died in 1927.

In 1923, shortly after Fenwick Wallace’s journal ceased publication, James O’Hagan persuaded The Commercial Press, publishers of several trade journals in Canada, to support a trade journal dedicated to the funeral profession in Canada. It was in March 1923 that the first issue of “Canadian Funeral Service” was published. With great enthusiasm and confidence James O’Hagan started virtually with nothing more than determination to succeed. The office was located at 51 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

Support from the funeral profession was not forthcoming. By the end of 1924, Commercial Press gave up on the “Canadian Funeral Service”. Not to be denied, James O’Hagan convinced Wrigley Publishing to support the Canadian Funeral Service journal. The office was relocated to 110 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario. Unfortunately by October 1926, the revenue did not justify continuing publication and Wrigley Publishing severed ties with the magazine. James O’Hagan took over the struggling publication on his own. In May 1928 the office was moved to 121 Church Street and then to 45 Jarvis Street in March 1929.

O’Hagan worked extremely hard to keep his trade publication for funeral service alive. He became publisher and editor of the Canadian Funeral Service and was also named Secretary of the Canadian National Funeral Service Association. The Canadian Funeral Service journal was now to be the Official Organ of the Canadian National Funeral Service Association. O’Hagan became even more involved in funeral service when he was appointed Organizing Secretary of the Ontario Funeral Service Association. He travelled the country encouraging the formation of the various associations. Throughout Ontario he and Ontario Funeral Service Association officials met with funeral directors helping them establish their district associations. Through the 30’s and 40’s O’Hagan kept the magazine afloat. He moved the offices from Jarvis Street to 60 Front Street in November 1934. Without the tremendous effort of James O’Hagan there would not be any recorded history of Canadian funeral service during these trying times.

James O’Hagan died August 9, 1947 and was succeeded by his son James (Jim) O’Hagan Jr. Jim was a popular editor and was as involved with the associations as his father had been. He continued to publish the magazine until 1972 when he sold his interest to Newfield Publications, Willowdale, Ontario. Peter Perry was named Managing Editor. Peter Perry assumed ownership in May 1973 and changed the name of the magazine to the “Canadian Funeral Director”. The office was relocated to 1658 Victoria Park Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario.

Since its inception the magazine had been printed by letterpress. Copy was set on linotype machines which were invented in the late 1800’s and still in general use until the 1970’s. Peter’s first objective was to convert the printing to the more modern and efficient offset lithography method. He also began to set the copy with one of the earliest methods of phototypesetting equipment. He worked with a printing representative, Ray Halket on the conversion from letterpress printing to offset printing.

Eleven years later, July 1, 1983, Peter sold the magazine to Ray Halket. In May 1984 the office was moved to 174 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, Ontario, Ray's home town.

Ownership Change.

Scott Hillier became very interested in the funeral profession after attending his first National Convention and Tradeshow, held in Toronto, 1988. Hillier joined the firm in 1988 and learned the publishing business from the ground up. He immediately began the conversion of all facets of operating the business to computer. Scott’s uncanny aptitude to the computer has kept us on the leading edge in the publication business. The November 1994 issue was the first issue of the magazine to be perfect bound and the April 1997 issue we added a high gloss finish to the cover. All of these changes keep our magazine a leader in this field.

The March 1998 issue was the 75th anniversary of continuous publication for Canada’s Number One funeral service magazine, and we have not stopped moving forward. The Canadian Funeral Director Magazine boasts the largest circulation, the most complete coverage of funeral service events all across the country, more editorial pages and more colour. The Canadian Funeral Director Magazine is a National funeral service magazine, providing coverage of many meetings and events from all across Canada.

We appreciate the support we have received from our subscribers and advertisers for the last 90 years and look forward to your continued support in the future.

Facts.

The Canadian Funeral Director™ Magazine is a business magazine for Canada’s Funeral Service Professional. It has been published since 1894.

Before you make your advertising decision you should know the following. Our circulation consists of funeral homes across Canada. This represents about 3,500 death care professionals.

We cover death care professional issues across the country that impact a career of the Canadian Funeral Professional, featuring articles on funeral homes and suppliers to the industry. Articles such as financial tips, embalming techniques and precautions, new products, corporate development, Internet and funeral service, general funeral knowledge.

Advertising is about reach... it is all about getting into the minds of potential buyers. When it comes to advertising, our magazine can help. More editorial, more colour, more advertisers, more readers. We are the best solution for reaching your valued customer. Thank you!

What You Need to Know.



• 1. Advertising is all about reach - getting into the minds of potential buyers.
• 2. Advertising takes time to work, Be consistent. The first time a person sees your ad, they may even think, “gee I should look into that!” ...and then they turn the page. Only after they’ve seen it several times will it reach the conscious level of action.


• 3. Your competitors know the value of consistency - they’re “in your face” month after month after month. If you are ­consistent and target your market with ads that relate to your particular firm’s strengths you can win.


• 4. Historically funeral professionals deal with funeral suppliers that have been servicing them for years. New, quality products and services, can create new ­business opportunities for both the funeral professional and for your organization. Don’t be afraid to break into new markets.


• 5. Know your product. There is nothing worse than being confronted about a certain product or service and respond with “ah, let me look into that for you.”


• 6. Be creative. Your ad does not need to be colour in order to draw attention. An ad should be imaginative, relate to the product or services and be “in your face.”


• 7. Most of all, no other publication relating to the funeral/memorialization industry in Canada can offer you the “biggest bang for the buck” as we can. More readers, more quality editorial, more monthly columnists, more colour. When you advertise, advertise in The Canadian Funeral Director Magazine.