We are in the midst of extraordinary circumstances, and I wanted to let everyone know that your ZOOM Magazine team is doing our part in supporting our health officials’ guidance to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities.
Prior to the current crisis, plans were afoot for two major events to celebrate ZOOM’s 10th year on the Sunshine Coast, the first being the ZOOM Art Exhibit, presented by One Flower One Leaf Gallery in Gibsons—where 10 photographers, 10 visual artists, and 10 artisans come together in a 10-day event to mark ZOOM’s 10 years of celebrating art excellence on the Sunshine Coast. Originally set for April 9–19, this has been postponed to a later date, with the agreement of participating artists and Shinyu Unopia, owner and curator of One Flower One Leaf Gallery. Following this event, a combined Spring-Summer issue, ZOOM’s 10th-Year Collector’s Edition, was planned for release in May. I have decided to also postpone the publication of this edition in view of the current situation and the challenges we are all experiencing.
With the safety and well-being of the general public and everyone involved in the production and distribution of ZOOM Magazine as our top priority, and in view of the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and local groups that support ZOOM Magazine through advertising, print production of ZOOM Magazine is suspended until the situation normalizes.
However, I can’t just stop what I love doing: showcasing the beauty of life on the Sunshine Coast through the lenses of our photographers, the artistry of our local artists, and the spirit of community that binds us all. I also would like our readers, who anticipate every issue of ZOOM, to continue enjoying the magazine.
In the interim, please enjoy the Spring Edition in digital format that provides a virtual experience of flipping through its pages.
This is the first edition of ZOOM published in a digital format only. With this move, our community will still be able to enjoy ZOOM (using desktop computers, laptops, or mobile devices) especially at this time, when most of us will be homebound and practising social distancing.
In this issue, I have given our valued advertisers free advertising space. Most businesses and local groups that normally advertise in ZOOM are closed or with limited operations at this time and therefore suffering losses, and I would like to provide them with a space to convey their messages to the communities we all serve.
I hope and pray that it won’t be long before we can all get back to our regular routines. I remain optimistic that our current situation, which is providing us with much-needed time for reflection and time with our families, will lead to renewed energy and enthusiasm, a rebirth . . . a reawakening to the most important things in life.
I wish good health and safety to everyone.
Together we will rise.
