BEHIND THE SCENES
Since March 2020, every issue of go! has been produced by journalists, editors and designers who have had no physical contact with each other. There is no more office. We work remotely – from the road and dispersed around the country. And now, the globe! Yup, long-time art director Lynne Fraser heads up the “foreign office” in Toronto, Canada.
How did you land up in Canada?
My sister’s a Canadian citizen – she ended up here 17 years ago after working all over the world. I visited her twice and enjoyed it very much, so I decided to join her in Toronto. I have a home base to travel from before I decide where I want to settle. It’s a huge country so it will take a while.
What took the most getting used to in your new home?
Driving on the right! And everything else… Ontario was in hard lockdown when I arrived. I was tracked by an app and had to check in every day. The authorities were so efficient, it was a little unnerving. Pumping my own petrol was also a fun experience. And then there’s the news. A local news channel recently ran a report about a wooden fence that was stolen piece by piece. The police were called in and they tracked the fence to a nearby river, where a beaver had done some home improvements! They gave it as much airtime as the Covid report.
What are the challenges of working for a magazine half a world away?
The six-hour time difference actually makes production easier because we don’t wait around for each other to finish working on a document. But at the same time, I can’t just grab my phone and call someone on a whim. I also miss getting my paper copy of the magazine before it hits the shelves.
What culinary delights have you discovered in Canada?
The stores are full of cherries and berries of all kinds, and they’re cheap. The bacon is fantastic, as are the scallops and salmon. There’s a lot of good craft cider and beer, best enjoyed while watching ice hockey.
What did you take with you to remind you of Africa?
I packed my framed photographs, wooden spoons, ceramics and other collectables like mud cars bought in the Transkei and carvings from Mozambique and Malawi. I bought two bottles of Steenberg sparkling wine in duty-free on the way over, and of course I wore my vellies!