Clarifying who is the second-oldest community newspaper in Canada
Monday, October 07, 2002
PERTH (ON) COURIER
Thank you for the article on The Perth (ON) Courier, 'newspaper of record' in the latest issue of The Publisher. The digitizing of our original newspapers back to 1834-1984 for the web has been an interesting experience, and I think the system will revolutionize how all publications will archive their files. From 1984 to the present, our files are on microfiche instead of film and the company is waiting for the proper equipment to continue.
It is ironic the Courier should get two front page stories in the same issue, and both from the opposite ends of the spectrum, if you compare the old with the latest in technology.
However, I want to bring to your readers' attention a few details about Canada's oldest continuously published 'community' or 'weekly' newspaper.
While I have sent two or three emails to your office to detail historical information, it wasn't picked up for the story either in the recent Publisher or previous email Publisher releases. Therefore, I would like to clarify, for the record, information from my perspective.
From our point of view, The Picton (ON) Gazette is the oldest continuously published community (weekly) newspaper in Canada, begun in 1830.
The Perth Courier is the second oldest, established in 1834. A previous newspaper, which began in 1828, called the Independent Examiner, was the forerunner to the present Courier. However, it ceased publication in the late spring of 1834, and it was over three months later in August of that year, that the Hon. Malcolm Cameron, having purchased the business formerly run by Mr. J Stewart, began publishing the Bathurst Courier and Ottawa Gazette. Over the years, numerous name changes and ownerships changes took place to the present day Perth Courier.
The Quebec (QC) Chronicle-Telegraph is no doubt the oldest continuously published newspaper in Canada. However, for a period of some years, it was a daily, which means it cannot be considered the oldest weekly.
This is the point which I believe needs to be clarified in future publications and which has not been done to date, as well as the fact, no mention was ever made of The Picton Gazette.
Thanks.
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