By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
After 10 years of living and breathing Canadian tech news, reviews, and opinions, the time has come for me to switch gears and begin a new adventure.
I started Canadian Reviewer as a personal blog in 2008. I was in between jobs, having worked as an editor for university-level textbooks and wanting to continue covering consumer technology as I had done as a reporter in the writing for national newspapers and monthly magazines. The world and the media landscape has changed so much since then and my journey has come full circle.
The author at Apple's Mothership in 1 Infinite Loop during a press event in 2014
Canadian Reviewer was my personal blog, but it was also a place for me to be able to contribute my reportage and knowledge of mobile and consumer technology, which I had been immersed in since the 90’s. Having this outlet enabled me to cover tech between assignments and deadlines.
Articles that may not have suited my audience at MacWorld or PC World or the Toronto Star where my pieces appeared under Shaun Conlin’s Evergeek section, appeared in Canadian Reviewer.
It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the first post went up on Canadian Reviewer. The website eventually took on a life of its own. Simultaneously, It became my outlet to write the reviews and commentary on the technology that excited me the most. It also came at the right time with the explosion of smartphones and 3G technology in Canada.
It’s 2019 and, sadly, this marks the end of my involvement as editor-in-chief and writer for Canadian Reviewer. I know now that the brand and the publication has grown and evolved beyond what a personal blog can possibly contain. After 10 years of living and breathing Canadian tech news, reviews and opinions, the time has come for me to switch gears and find a new adventure.
Starting mid-March, I am joining the Reviews team at PCMag in New York as Business Writer.
The author (second from left) representing Canadian Reviewer during one of the many product launches
Before I go, I want to thank the many talented and extremely generous individuals who shared Canadian Reviewer with me, and who gave a lot of themselves to make this the independent source for Canadian technology and lifestyle content.
First of all, my wife, Cookie, who supported me and our family throughout this endeavour, and who was gracious in times when I needed to travel for coverages and launch events. Canadian Reviewer would not exist without her generosity and patience.
My news editor Nicole Batac who has nurtured and curated news on the site and who I can’t thank enough for her insight and news instinct. Nicole doted on Canadian Reviewer even if she was half the world away.
The author (left) and Lifestyle Editor Sonya Davidson
Sonya Davidson our Lifestyle Editor who balanced the onslaught of technology news with delightful lifestyle coverage and with her effervescent personality. Emily Chung, our automotive expert whose sharp vehicle reviews added a lot of value and perspective to the site. Thank you Emily for representing Canadian Reviewer in various press trips and events!
A tip of the hat goes to valuable friends and contributors who found Canadian Reviewer a worthy place for their work. Much love and respect goes to you all, thank you so much. Alex Davies, Corey Herscu, Maarten Heilbron, Don Halliwell, Simon Cohen, Nicholas Montgomery, and anyone I may have forgotten to thank, I raise a glass to you.
The author (fifth from left) with fellow journalists at an Apple WWDC keynote - Photo credit Serenity Caldwell/iMore
For the various companies and marketing and PR firms and practitioners who gave our small, independent blog the opportunity to cover products and events, thanks for the consideration.
Most importantly, I am thankful to all the readers and regulars of Canadian Reviewer from all over the world who have continued to support the site, its vision, and its voice, as we tried to bring independent and uncompromising coverage of the consumer technology sector in Canada.
We have shared 10 years and 6759 posts together. It’s been a grand tour.
Because of our readers and the stories I’ve crafted for them, I’ve been able to cover technology up close in various launch events, I’ve traveled the world chasing the cutting edge in technology, and I’ve gained a memorable and lasting front-row view of this industry and its players. Now, it’s time to close this chapter and begin another one.
So with this, I bid you farewell and wish you all the best. As for Canadian Reviewer’s future, I’m hoping it can continue in some shape or form, possibly under new ownership. Stay tuned!
Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
The Canadian Reviewer