05/28/2026
A Note from the CAM Board Regarding the May Issue of Northern Peeks
Dear CAM Members,
We have received and heard your feedback regarding the use of AI-generated imagery in the May issue of Northern Peeks, specifically within the PCAM convention recap and the Lon Mandrake memorial coverage.
First and foremost, we want to apologize for the ex*****on.
As a national organization, our goal is to celebrate, document, and respect the real achievements of the Canadian magic community. We understand that seeing yourself or your friends altered by AI filters felt alienating, and we take full responsibility for a lack of editorial board oversight on this specific issue.
However, we also need to have a transparent and honest conversation with our membership about the reality of running CAM.
CAM operates entirely on volunteer time. Our longtime editor, Paul Romhany, was faced with an incredibly tight production window complicated by a sudden, severe family medical emergency on the exact day of layout.
Operating under strict time constraints, and trying to navigate the complex legalities of photo permissions and performer identifications, he utilized AI treatments to transform the images into graphic interpretations to avoid legal misrepresentation.
While the ex*****on missed the mark, we are deeply saddened by the level of toxicity, cyberbullying, and personal attacks directed at a volunteer who has given 8 years of his life, skills, and resources to keep Canadian magic alive without ever asking for a single cent or membership fee reimbursement in return.
As a result of this hostility, Paul has made the decision to step down as editor and resign from CAM.
The harsh reality is that for years, Northern Peeks has been a one-man show. Despite multiple requests for articles, contributions, and editorial assistance over the years, virtually no members offered to help. Material routinely arrived at the absolute last minute, yet the expectation was always for a flawless, professional product on an impossible timeline.
It is disheartening that it takes a misstep to get some of our membership to engage, while calls for everyday assistance and collaboration go completely ignored.
Furthermore, we must address a glaring hypocrisy.
While some members have expressed outrage over the ethics of AI, we have discovered that multiple individuals have been illegally downloading, stealing, and publicly circulating this issue of *Northern Peeks* outside of our membership. This magazine is a proprietary, paid benefit intended strictly for CAM members. To see members breach our ethics and bylaws by distributing stolen content while simultaneously lecturing the board on ethics is deeply disappointing.
Moving Forward:
➡️ Team Review: The board is setting up a small review team for future issues to catch mistakes and keep quality high before anything goes to print.
➡️ Real Photos Only: Moving forward, Northern Peeks will only use original, unaltered photographs with proper credits and permissions.
➡️ We Need Volunteers: If you care about this magazine, we need your help. We are looking for volunteers to help collect articles, organize photos, and proofread. Please contact the board if you can assist.
Thank you to those who have reached out with constructive feedback and continued support.
Sincerely,
The CAM Board of Directors
