Our History

St. Joseph Communications' success is driven by the innovative spirit of our founder and over 2,000 devoted associates. We have grown steadily over the past few decades to become Canada’s largest privately owned content, print, documents, and media company. As we continue to grow, St. Joseph Communications is committed to setting benchmarks in best practices, advancing technology, and building collaborative partnerships.

Whether it is through innovative products or strategic acquisitions, history has shown that St. Joseph Communications consistently pushes the boundaries so our clients can go further, faster.


2007

St. Joseph Communications extends its Partners in Growth® reforestation program with Scouts Canada through a five-year renewal agreement.

St. Joseph Communications holds its 2nd annual Volunteer Day, with hundreds of associates across Canada helping out in their communities.

Toronto Life magazine acquires the naming rights to a downtown Toronto entertainment complex, which it names Toronto Life Square.

St. Joseph Communications wins two awards at the 2nd Annual Environmental Printing Awards.

St. Joseph Communications is named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for 2006 (marking four consecutive years of recognition from the prestigious award program).


2006

St. Joseph Communications celebrates its 50th anniversary (1956–2006).

Tony Bennett helps St. Joseph Communications celebrate 50 years.

St. Joseph Communications holds its first ever Values in Action Associate Volunteer Day.

St. Joseph's Founder and Honorary Chairman, Gaetano Gagliano, receives New Pioneers Entrepreneurship Award.

St. Joseph Communications makes $10 million in-kind contribution to Canada's arts community through the Arts Partner of Choice initiative.

St. Joseph Communications receives gold in the Community Environmental Involvement category at the First Annual Environmental Printing Awards.

St. Joseph Print's Concord facility makes $50 million capital investment in three new MAN ROTOMAN S web heatset presses.


2005
St. Joseph Communications recognized as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies three years in a row.

St. Joseph Media assumed full ownership of Gardening Life magazine.

St. Joseph Content launched Alchemy – a digital signage provider that offers retail solutions in the form of graphics, text, and video.

St. Joseph Document's Ottawa facility was certified by the Environmental Choice Program – Environment Canada’s ecolabelling program that rewards companies for their environmental leadership.

St. Joseph Media's headquarters earned best of Canadian Design Award.

St. Joseph Corporation changed its name to St. Joseph Communications.


2004
St. Joseph Media consolidated all of its print properties under one roof at the Queen Richmond Centre in downtown Toronto.

Style Group, a division of St. Joseph Media, launched a new national women's magazine – Wish.

St. Joseph Corporation entered into an agreement to sell its downtown Toronto property, the Queen Richmond Centre, to Allied Properties REIT Acquisition Corporation for $39.5 million.

Pi Media expanded its expertise with the acquisition of Gottschalk+Ash International and leveraged new technologies to strengthen Blue Chip.

St. Joseph Corporation was named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies in the national awards program recognizing Canadian companies that have implemented world-class best business practices.


2003
Networks and Partners Integrated were re-branded under the Pi Media banner to become Pi Media Networks and Pi Media Partners, respectively.

St. Joseph Corporation purchased the Queen Richmond Centre, a 225,000 square foot heritage building, as the new home for St. Joseph Media.

DW+Partners joined St. Joseph Corporation, bringing a proven expertise in branding, strategy, package design, management of retail brand programs, store design, communications, and innovative retail technologies – all of which complement Pi Media’s greater service offerings.

St. Joseph Communications was granted FSC certification from the Forest Stewardship Council for all of its print facilities.

St. Joseph Corporation initiated a new branding campaign and renamed its four business platforms: commercial print, document solutions, publishing/media, and content creation.


2002
St. Joseph Corporation acquired Key Media Ltd., publisher of some of Canada’s leading and award-winning magazines: Toronto Life, FASHION Magazine, Where Canada magazines, and Weddingbells. Together with Multi-Vision Publishing, the acquisition of Key Media established St. Joseph Corporation as Canada’s third largest magazine publisher.

St. Joseph Corporation announced its thumbprint™ initiative, a joint program with Canon Canada Inc., which delivers enterprise-wide custom document solutions to Canada’s leading corporations.

St. Joseph Print Group Ottawa and St. Joseph Digital Solutions moved into their brand new state-of-the-art 180,000 square foot facility in Ottawa.

Sears Canada signed a ten-year multi-faceted agreement with St. Joseph Corporation and named Pi Media as the “Content Partner of Choice” for all its retail, catalogue, web site, and signage programs.

St. Joseph Corporation realigned its business into four integrated platforms: print, digital solutions, media, and content creation.


2001
St. Joseph Corporation acquired Multi-Vision Publishing Inc., a Toronto-based publisher of consumer and custom magazines whose award winning titles include Canadian Family.

St. Joseph Corporation acquired Thorn Press Limited, a long-standing commercial printer in Toronto.

Distribution Logistics Services (DLS) and ePRINT it merged into one organization, as part of St. Joseph Digital Solutions.

St. Joseph Corporation acquired Publishing Plus, an Ottawa-based company focused on technical publishing, digital print, design, and full production.

St. Joseph Corporation acquired Graphic Display Canada, a company providing digital oversized print material and exhibit services to the National Capital Region for over 20 years.


2000
St. Joseph Corporation acquired M.O.M. Printing Ltd. in Ottawa, one of the largest sheetfed printers in the National Capital Region.

Partners Integrated was formed from the amalgamation of Morris Studios, Partners III, Partners Imaging, and Partners Interactive.

St. Joseph Corporation renamed its content creation division as Pi Media, the platform brand for Networks and Partners Integrated.


1999
St. Joseph Corporation acquired Partners III.

St. Joseph Corporation acquired Morris Studios to expand its photographic resources and pool of creative studio talent.

St. Joseph Corporation established ePRINT it as part of a mandate to expand its Ottawa and Hull market to include the private sector. The main printing plant in Hull and Distribution Logistics Services (DLS) were upgraded but remained autonomous from the print centre business.


1998
Gaetano Gagliano was awarded the Order of Canada by the Governor General Romeo Le Blanc and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Ryerson University.


1997
St. Joseph Corporation acquired Canada Communication Group (CCG) from the Government of Canada and transformed St. Joseph Corporation into a national company with over 70 print centres located coast to coast.

St. Joseph Corporation acquired Partners Imaging to provide high-end image manipulation, graphic design, and final output. Pi Media Inc. was also acquired to expand the Corporation’s expertise in providing digital communications solutions such as web sites, e-commerce, and other forms of interactive media.


1994
Networks moved to a custom-built 140,000 square foot facility located at 15 Benton Road in Toronto.


1993
St. Joseph Printing relocated to its brand new 220,000 square foot building in Concord, which has since expanded to 300,000 square feet. Corporate headquarters also moved to the Concord facility.

St. Joseph Printing acquired Network Studios and signed a partnership with Sears Canada. Networks was awarded Sears’ retail advertising program as well as a portion of their catalogue program.


1992
Gaetano Gagliano received the Honour of the Knighthood of St. Sylvester from the Pope.


1980s
St. Joseph Printing experienced tremendous growth as it went from the sheetfed to web heatset market and increased its labour force by almost 600%. During this time, the company acquired another full web offset press but needed additional space to house it.


1976
St. Joseph Printing established itself as an industrial enterprise. Gaetano Gagliano bought the building next to 3 Benton Road, which was later joined to the St. Joseph property.


1966 - 1969
St. Joseph Printing moved to 1674 Dufferin Street and purchased Kavee Press. By 1969, all operations were consolidated at 3 Benton Road.


1956
Gaetano Gagliano emigrated from Italy to Canada with his wife, Guiseppina, and their five children. Upon arrival, he laid track for Canadian Pacific Railway and supplemented his income by working in a small letterpress shop. When the shop closed, he bought a small hand-fed letterpress and started a part-time printing business in the basement of his home. In the meantime, another five children were born into the Gagliano family.

Gaetano soon earned enough money to quit CP Rail and devoted himself exclusively to his printing business. For the first twelve years, the business remained small, specializing in letterpress-type work such as birth announcements, invitations, and business cards.