Iqaluit (July 21/03) - The first issue of a magazine aimed at potential visitors to Canada may leave tourists walking in circles.

PureCanada, a magazine created by the Canadian Tourism Commission, has created a stir across the country. There are errors scattered throughout the $600,000 publication. Misspellings include Nunavut and Cambridge Bay. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

The plan was to "develop a unique and engaging consumer publication that is credible and provides the consumer with valuable information," according to the Canadian Tourism Commission Web site.

But maps used throughout PureCanada's 185- page first issue are riddled with errors: Nunavut is referred to on one map as Nunavit and Prince Edward Island is omitted from another map.

The magazine is free to anyone who asks and will be published twice a year. The first press run of 270,000 copies cost the commission $600,000.

The next issue is due this fall.

"We've already started working on reviewing all of the maps. We'll ensure that all the corrections will be made," said Isabelle Des Chenes, the commission's director of communications.

Des Chenes said technical glitches may be to blame for the errors in the maps that were bought from Fodor's Travel Publications, a U.S company and subsidiary of Random House.

"In transferring the files electronically, that's where the mistakes may have occurred," she said.

PureCanada is still available upon request. Des Chenes said that at this point the commission is actually running low on copies.

"There's still a lot of very excellent and useful information in the publication," she said.

Des Chenes said the commission noticed the errors before distribution began in February.

An insert was included that highlighted and corrected the errors.