History
Stemming from experience garnered in the 1980s with the publication of a video magazine for a major Western Canadian video store chain, Tom and Rob Suggitt laid the foundation for Suggitt Group Ltd (SGL) in 1991 when they partnered with Total Sound and Top 40 music stores to produce the magazine, Top 40 Focus. This glossy magazine featured music reviews, contests, and interviews with musicians such as Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, and Shania Twain.
In 1993, Rob and Tom brought Christine Kucher on board as a designer. Shortly thereafter, due in no small part to her prodigious talents as a visual artist, the brothers made her a partner in both SGL, and later on, a partner in our affiliate company Playhouse Publications. To this day, Christine oversees all of our designers as the company’s Art Director.
The mid-90s presented a time of significant growth for SGL, and so the team grew. In 1995, Stephen Kathnelson joined, and by the following year, after the acquisition of Playhouse Publications, he was made an equal partner.
With a strong sense of what makes a healthy community, Stephen played a pivotal role in the development of two of our most philanthropic endeavours: The Hospital Activity Book for Children Ltd (HABFC), and Drugs and Addiction Magazine Ltd; two magazines, which Stephen is proud to oversee on a day-to-day basis.
In 2001, SGL acquired the Canadian rights to the hugely successful American real estate publication, Homes and Land; shortly thereafter, Homes and Land of Canada Corporation (HLCC) was born; in 2004, the multi-talented Terry Martin was added as a partner and co-owner of HLCC, and we’re proud to say that today, he and his staff oversee 24 successful franchises across Canada!
In 2007, we expanded our operations, and established an office in St. John's, Newfoundland. Led by Melanie Smith, we are proud of our St. John's office, and more specifically, the wonderful people who work there. Their contributions to Drugs & Addiction Magazine, and The Hospital Activity Book For Children, are substantial and meaningful in all ways.
In the end, while it was the effort of a small group of individuals that got Suggitt Group Ltd and its affiliates going, our foundation and our most important assets are the people that we surround ourselves with; this dedicated group of people who pick up the phones, receive the orders, distribute the magazines, work the computers, balance the books, design the ads, and serve the customers daily are the ones that truly make us a successful and tight knit business family.