DON Venables of The Hamiota (Man.) Echo is a third generation publisher. His grandfather C.W. Venables founded the paper in 1902 and was joined by Don’s father, CCNA Honorary Life Member Fred Venables, in 1950. Don started at the paper in school years. His first full-time employment in the newspaper business was in 1957 with the MacGregor (Man.) Herald. He then went to The Rivers (Man.) Gazette Reporter, before joining The Calgary Herald in 1963 for further experience. He returned permanently to the family business in 1966 and assumed control on the death of his father in 1980.
He has been active in the community. He is a past president of the Hamiota Lions Club , an honorary member of the Kinsmen’s Club and an active curler.
Don Venables served on the board of directors of the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association for nine years, with two terms as president. He was a CCNA director for four years before becoming president.
In 1985, Chuck McKnight resigned as director of the Presentation Bureau. The Bureau had been established in 1981. Chuck had had a busy three years, travelling to Ottawa regularly as well as across the country. He was especially gratified at members’ co-operation in adopting standard column widths, the Canadian Newspaper Units; the official changeover was in 1985. He was able to expand the energy supplements, and a video presentation on community papers was prepared. Chuck returned to his printing and publishing business in Tillsonburg, Ontario. He was one of those presented with Honorary Life Memberships at the 1986 convention. Ross Mavis, formerly of The Port Hardy (B.C.) North Island Gazette, replaced Chuck.
At the board meeting in Ottawa, opposition leader John Turner was among the guests and speakers.
Bill Smiley discontinued his column Sugar and Spice, which had been Canada’s most-read column, appearing for as long as 25 years in many community papers. Mr. Smiley died not long after.
CCNA’s task force on Canada Post made an hour-long presentation before the Canada Post review committee in Toronto. Dave Wenger, who headed the committee for two years, resigned in 1986. He had been involved in many letters, calls and meetings about postal problems.
Attendance was the largest in some years for the 1986 convention at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary. Some conventioners included Expo in Vancouver in their travel plans.
