Avenue Media Group and Calgary Publishing Ltd. are merging to create Alberta’s largest independent magazine publishing company.

Effective immediately, all assets of the two companies, including Avenue magazine and Calgary magazine, will fall under the umbrella of the newly created RedPoint Media Group.

Aside from the economic benefits of merging, “RedPoint Media will represent Calgary and Western Canada well amongst the international publishing giants,” said Dan Bowman of Avenue Media Group. “Together, we will have a publishing platform that will enable growth and diversification while allowing us to better serve our clients and readership base.”

The merger comes just after two Alberta publications – Calgary Straight and BizEdmonton – went under.

Bowman credits the city’s vibrant economy in part for the success of Avenue, coupled with funding from the Canada Magazine Fund. “That’s been a blessing, frankly,” Bowman said, enabling local publications such as his to compete on a more level playing field against the deeper-pocketed U.S. publications that dominate the market.

RedPoint says it will refine both its flagship magazines to minimize content overlap and give each a defined focus. Avenue magazine’s editorial will continue with its lifestyle focus, while Calgary magazine will be designed to serve a more civic-minded, business-oriented audience.

Avenue West magazine will fold into Mountain Life magazine to create one mountain lifestyle publication.

“Now that we’ve combined our operations, we better serve both our readers and advertisers with publications that target niche interests,” said Gary Davies, current publisher/editor-in-chief of Calgary Publishing Ltd.

Donald Graves of Calgary Publishing Ltd. will serve as chairman of RedPoint, while Bowman will act as president and publisher. Other executive appointments include Davies to the position of vice-president, editorial; and Donald House, current VP of Avenue Media Group, to the position of VP, marketing and strategic development. No jobs will be lost as a result of the merger.

RedPoint Media Group’s stable of 10 publications includes: Alberta Works, Avenue, Calgary magazine, Calgary Opera magazine, Corporate Expressions, City Palate newspaper, Experience magazine, Mountain Life, Prelude magazine, and Stage West magazine.