What Does “Explore” Mean to Us?
Since we first started publishing 45 years ago, explore magazine has brought Canadian adventures to Canadians.
But who is an “adventurer”?
Some people might even wonder if they are “adventurous enough” for explore magazine.
We want to set the record straight: if you enjoy nature, if you like being in the outdoors—however, wherever, whenever that looks like for you—explore is for you.
Whether you want to hike 30+ kilometres to reach an epic view of glacial blue waters or you want to sit on your patio feeling the sunshine on your face and listening to the birds sing—you are enough. You belong here.
Explore Magazine’s Values
Explore is committed to creating a better, safer, more accessible, diverse and inclusive outdoor adventure community in Canada. Our core purpose is to get more people outside, living a happier, healthier life, in a safe, responsible and environmentally sustainable way. It starts with us.
Meet Explore Magazine’s Team
Our team consists of several full-time members based in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto, as well as hundreds of freelance writers, photographers, videographers, content creators, designers and contractors across the country.
We are all very different, but we all have one thing in common: we love getting outside.
Alison Karlene Hodgins is the managing editor, content and community. For the past eight years, she’s been sharing her own adventures in print and online, and editing other people’s incredible outdoor experiences to create the polished articles you read and love. Her favourite ways to spend time outdoors include reading a book near the ocean with her feet in the sand, canoeing on turquoise-tinted lakes, road tripping in Canada and hiking in new countries.
Dania Rashid is our editorial assistant. Recently graduated from SFU in Burnaby, BC, she is spending her summer getting married and moving to Ontario. She loves hiking to beautiful, mountainous views, but also taking slow walks under forested canopies, listening to the sounds of nature. She also enjoys camping with her family, having picnics with her friend and writing poems beneath the sunset.
Weston Liski is our trusty customer service lead. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he’s often the one responding to your emails and enquiries. He’ll personally make sure you get your brand-new issue of explore shipped right to your doorstep, if you’re a subscriber. When he’s not in the office, you can find him swimming, paddleboarding and hiking, often with his big fluffy white Samoyed dog Bela.
Devin Cox is our finance manager. He crunches numbers—and crushes marathons. After a DNF on his first attempt of the Manitoba Marathon, his redemption story in 2025 is extremely motivating to the entire team. He took his training to another level and went into it with a solid plan for fuelling during the race. He did not hit “the wall” at any time; he felt amazing, and he finished with an impressive 3:42. He also loves hiking, ice skating and hockey.
Adrianna Szarek is our hard-working, cool mom business development manager. She’s based in Winnipeg, but you can often find her shredding fresh powder on her snowboard in British Columbia. She also loves hiking and paddleboarding in the summer and she plays outdoor beach volleyball every weekend. Adrianna works closely with businesses to maximize their impact. She always has the best interests of everyone involved—you’ll love working with her, just like we do.
Ben Hopper, our national sales manager, is always on the go, exploring the world and enjoying the outdoors in Canada and beyond. From the islands of BC to the dense forests of northern Ontario to the beaches in Mexico, he loves adventuring with his friends and family. Ben always makes sure each day is filled with fresh air. He’s dedicated to showing his two daughters the wonders of the world and watching them grow into inquisitive pathfinders. Beyond helping clients fulfill their potential and reach new audiences with explore, he’s a budding writer, too!
David Webb, president and publisher, has been the editor of explore for 12 years. He delights and inspires readers with thoughtful editor’s letters in every new issue, while creating space for new writers to shine. His favourite outdoor activities include alpine skiing, hiking, cycling and stand-up paddleboarding. In recent years, he’s taken on the adventure of raising twin boys, often camping with them on Vancouver Island.
To learn more about our various contributors, click here. To learn how to contribute to Explore Magazine, click here. We are always looking for new voices.
What is the Point of Explore?
Founded in 1981, explore is an award-winning national lifestyle magazine. We reveal new destinations to crank up your heartrate. We give the goods on the latest gear. We highlight events from coast to coast to coast that will keep you stoked all year long.
In every issue, our greatest adventurers travel to the most remote corners of Canada and beyond. We send Canada’s best writers and photographers to capture the highs, the lows and, yup, the laughs that are part of the outdoor-adventure experience.
Since 2001, explore has been nominated for 190 Magazine Awards, with more than 50 wins.
As Explore Outdoor Media Inc., our critical cause is inspiring outdoor experiences amongst Canada’s outdoor aspirationalists and beginner outdoor enthusiasts, urban and rural, for the betterment of their health and wellbeing by being an informative and inspirational brand and producing fact-checked and accurate content. Exploring Canada’s outdoors, being active and healthy and conducting business in an environmentally responsible way is at the centre of everything we do here.
We are 100 per cent Canadian owned and operated. We print our magazines in Montreal. We employ Canadians and pay them for their work.
We go deep. We delve into issues that need to be discussed and feature opinions and personalities that make a big impact. We don’t shy away from difficult topics and important conversations—we dive into them. We remain respectful, open-minded and curious.
Everyone starts at the beginning, and we did too! We use beginner-friendly, encouraging language, without making anyone feel put down or excluded. Our goal is #inspiringoutdoorexperiences.
Want a taste of explore? You can find the most recent issue on newsstands across the country, order a one-time single issue and read our newest online articles for free.
Who Belongs at Explore?
The short answer: You do. Everyone belongs outdoors. Welcome home.
The long answer: Historically, the representation of an adventurer has been a cis-gendered, straight-sized, white, young or middle-aged man. That does not accurately represent the diversity of people who are out there enjoying adventures in the Great Outdoors.
Representing, encouraging and educating readers about diversity and inclusivity is a priority at explore. We welcome everyone, especially those who are traditionally marginalized and less represented in the outdoors, including people with disabilities or mobility limitations, seniors, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), women, plus-size adventurers and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. We aim to elevate these voices in our digital magazine, social media and print magazine.
From the hundreds of contributors we work with to the photography and videos we share on our social media and in our articles, we strive to showcase all of Canada and speak to all Canadians.
No matter your age, occupation, body type, culture, faith, race, gender identity or physical ability, if you love nature, the outdoors or adventure, you are part of the explore community.
We are open to your suggestions so we can continue growing and improving. Please comment below with the questions you have and content you’d like covered.
Who Reads Explore?
Our audience is mainly mid-mountain enthusiasts. We welcome extreme mountaineers and high-altitude trekkers, but most of our content is geared towards day hikers, weekend warriors and beginners who are curious, enthusiastic and maybe a little wary about how to start or increase their time outdoors.
Explore is here to teach, motivate, inspire and challenge you.
Whether you are a newbie thinking about your first hike over 10 kilometres, an avid outdoor enthusiast wanting to try a new outdoor sport like stand-up paddleboarding or have never been camping and are a bit afraid of outhouses, you are welcome here. We have articles about the best hikes all over the country, DIY adventure gear and even how to poop in the woods!
This is a space to learn, discover and get excited about spending time outside. You are safe here. You are welcome to explore.
