Company Specific

How long has the company been publishing outdoor recreation guidebooks?

Brothers Russell and Wesley Mussio established the company in 1993 in Vancouver, BC. The first book, called Backroad and Outdoor Recreation Mapbook: Southwestern BC, was published in 1994.

How did the company get started?

The company was founded to help create the first Backroad Mapbook, which was originally called the Backroad and Outdoor Recreation Mapbook. The idea came into existence when the brothers where out exploring southern British Columbia. Armed with a variety of guidebooks and various maps, they found it very frustrating to not only carry all of these sources, but the fact that none of them showed the detail they were looking for. Being young and ambitious, they decided to create a convenient mapbook that combined detailed maps with writing on all sorts of outdoor activities.

The original book was such a hit that they sold out in three months. However, rather than simply reprinting it, they listened to feedback from retailers and customers to improve the book format. This desire to create the best product in a convenient format has been the successful formula that has helped establish the Backroad Mapbook series as the leading outdoor recreation guidebook series in Canada.

How many titles are currently in circulation?

Mussio Ventures Ltd. currently has over 30 titles in circulation, 23 of which are part of the Backroad Mapbook series.

How many books has the company sold?

From the humble beginnings of just over 6,500 books sold in 1994 to over 125,000 in 2008, the Backroad Mapbook series has established itself as the best selling outdoor recreation guidebook series in Canada. Virtually every title has gone on to be a National Bestseller. The company has sold over 1.5 million books and maps.

How many employees does the company have?

There are currently 7 full time employees working for Mussio Ventures Ltd. In addition, there can be anywhere from 3-5 contract workers conducting research, writing or mapping various parts of the country for the company throughout the year.

Where is the company located?

The company's head office is in Coquitlam, BC; however, they have satellite offices near Peterborough, Ontario and Kelowna, BC.

What are the company's main product lines?

The driving force behind the company is the Backroad Mapbook series, which are available for most provinces in the country. The company also produces the Fishing Mapbook series for BC & Ontario as well as a popular Outdoor Recreation Map series. The addition of up to date topographic maps across Canada as well as GPS compatible Digital Edition maps that can work on everything from your cell phone to Google Earth ensures the company will have a strong future for years to come.

Where can I find your books?

Mussio mapbooks can be found in virtually all local bookstores, outdoor stores and fishing and hunting retailers. They are also found at various big box retailers, such as Canadian Tire, Wal Mart, Chapters or Indigo Bookstores, Mountain Equipment Co-op, that are found across the country. For a list of local retailers please contact jmarleau@backroadmapbooks.com.

Product Specific

How long does a project take from start to finish?

While every project differs in length to complete, books can take anywhere from two to three years to reach the bookshelf. The process involves several different stages that includes refining the book area coverage and conducting field research right through to printing. As an example, our recently released Northeastern Ontario Backroad Mapbook was literally in the works for over three years before it was finally released this spring.

How do you get your research materials?

Each one of our titles involves a long and complicated process of finding all the available information on the given area. We hire local writers and researchers to not only do field research, but also to help contact various outfitters, clubs, ministry offices and tourism officials in search of the most up to date information. The Internet has certainly aided our ability to find more up to date information than ever before.

How often are the books updated?

With improvements in mapping technology and more and more information available on the Internet, the company now updates all books and maps on a three-year cycle. Unlike some publishers, Mussio Ventures Ltd. is proud of the fact that they do extensive updates to each book. This includes reviewing all the road and trail systems as well as the other recreational information on each map and ensuring the writing matches the maps. One of the most important sources for updates is reader feedback.

Where can I find updates for the current books?

All updates that are submitted by customers are posted on the website under each individual title. These may include road and trail status, as well as any errors or omissions the book may have. Visit www.backroadmapbooks.com and click on the updates link on the right hand side of the page to see the extensive list of updates for each book.

Will you continue to expand the Backroad Mapbook series?

Our goal is to cover the entire country within the next few years. We have recently expanded to Northern Ontario and now cover all the Maritime Provinces except Newfoundland. Although there has been a strong demand from readers in the US, we want to finish mapping Canada before venturing south. One day we will venture overseas and test those markets too. We feel we have a unique product that has international appeal. After all, who does not want to get out and play?