The Canadian Forum was a left-wing literary, cultural and political publication and Canada's longest running continually published political magazine.[1]
It was founded in 1920 at the University of Toronto as a forum for political and cultural ideas. Throughout its publishing run it was Canadian nationalist and progressive in outlook.[1]
As a cultural and literary publication it published the artistic works of the Group of Seven and Frank Carmichael as well as poetry and short stories by Irving Layton, Earle Birney, A.J.M. Smith, Harold Standish, Margaret Atwood[1] and Al Purdy.[2]
Politically, it was a forum for thinkers such as Frank Underhill, F.R. Scott, Ramsay Cook, Mel Watkins, Eugene Forsey[1] and Robert Fulford.[2]
In 1934, publisher Steven Cartwright purchased the periodical from J.M. Dent & Sons.[3] After owning it for about a year, Cartwright unloaded the money-losing venture for one-dollar to Graham Sprya member of the socially progressive think tank the League for Social Reconstruction (LSR).[3]. It was printed using Spy's printing press company, Stafford Printers, which also printed the Ontario CCF's newspaper The New Commonwealth.[3] Spry purchased the press with financial help from both the LSR and english socialist Sir Stafford Cripps, hence the name Stafford Press.[3] in 1936, the LSR bought the Forum for one-dollar from Spry, and assumed all its debts.[4] University of Toronto Classics professor George M. A. Grube, a member of the LSR, became the editor in 1937.[5] During his tenure, the periodical was the LSR's official organ.[6] Grube stepped down as editor in 1941, about a year before the LSR officially disbanded.[5] It has also been operated at times as a co-operative and was owned for a number of years by James Lorimer and Co.[1]
Editors have included Mark Farrell,[7] G.M.A. Grube,[5] J. Francis White, Northrop Frye, Milton Wilson, Abraham Rotstein, Denis Smith, and the final editor, Duncan Cameron.[1]
The magazine suspended publication following its summer 2000 issue.[2]