What's actually available, what isn't, and the workarounds that work.
Here's the frustrating truth: Canada has very few large print newspapers or magazines. The market is small, printing costs are high, and most publishers haven't made the investment. But there are options — some official, some creative — and we'll cover all of them.
The only major magazine with a dedicated large print edition available in Canada. Reader's Digest has published a large print version for decades. It includes the same articles, stories, humour, and word games as the regular edition, but in 16-point type.
Subscription: Available at readersdigest.ca. A one-year subscription (10 issues) runs approximately $30–$35 CAD. Also available at Indigo and some pharmacy magazine racks.
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind provides accessible versions of several Canadian newspapers and magazines through their library service. These are available in audio and digital accessible formats (not physical large print, but readable on screen with adjustable text size). Free for registered CNIB members.
While primarily a US service, some Canadian readers with dual citizenship or through CELA partnerships can access talking editions of popular magazines. Check with CELA for current availability.
No major Canadian newspaper publishes a large print edition. Not the Globe and Mail, not the Toronto Star, not the Vancouver Sun, not the National Post. This is a gap in the market that nobody has filled.
An iPad, Android tablet, or even a Kobo or Kindle can display newspaper websites at any text size. Most Canadian newspapers have websites or apps: Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC News, National Post. Use your browser's zoom function (usually pinch-to-zoom) to enlarge the text.
The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star both have digital subscriptions that work well on tablets. Globe Digital is ~$27/month CAD. Toronto Star Digital is ~$15/month CAD.
Both iOS and Android have built-in text scaling. On an iPhone, go to Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text.
On Android, Settings → Accessibility → Font Size. This makes all text bigger across every app, including news apps and websites.
A full-page Fresnel lens magnifier (~$12 CAD for a 3-pack) lays flat over a newspaper and magnifies the entire page at about 2×. It's not elegant, but it works for people who want the physical newspaper experience.
CBC Radio One is free, available on any radio and through the CBC Listen app. For people who miss reading the paper over breakfast, a smart speaker (Amazon Echo, Google Home) can read news summaries out loud. "Alexa, what's in the news?" gives you a brief audio summary.
Many Canadian public libraries provide free access to PressReader, which offers digital editions of thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world — including several Canadian publications. You read them on a tablet or phone, and you can zoom in to enlarge the text. Check if your library card gives you free PressReader access.
This is the one area where large print magazine selection is decent.
The lack of large print periodicals in Canada is a real accessibility gap. An aging population with increasing rates of macular degeneration and other vision conditions deserves better access to current news and magazine content. Until publishers step up, digital workarounds are the best available option.
If you or someone you know has a print disability, register with CELA or CNIB — they provide the broadest access to accessible periodical content in Canada.