JUST A GAL FROM GLIDDEN: Do not be afraid: there is good news
By Kate Winquist
“Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today the Oyen Echo has met its saviour. She is Kate Winquist. Hallelujah!”
Those words, written by Diana Walker on the front page of the Dec. 17, 2020, Oyen Echo, feel like yesterday—though five years have passed. It’s hard to believe that half a decade ago, I stepped in to take over a weekly community newspaper many thought was destined to fold. In doing so, I jokingly earned the title of “saviour of newspapers” in west-central Saskatchewan and east-central Alberta. After all, only six months earlier I had launched Your West Central Voice from scratch, following the closure of the Kindersley Clarion in February 2020.
It’s a title I take lightly. The need, however, is very real. Last week, the Carlyle Observer published its final edition on Dec. 18 after 89 years of operation. Earlier this year, the Estevan Mercury ceased publication after 122 years. Saskatchewan has seen a sharp decline in local journalism, with dozens of newspapers closing or consolidating as advertising revenues shift and digital media rises.
Some notable recent closures include:
Carlyle Observer: Closed Dec. 18 after 89 years.
Estevan Mercury: Ceased publication Jan. 1 after 122 years.
Estevan Web Printing: The province’s last newspaper press, closed earlier this year.
Kindersley Clarion: 110-year-old weekly, closed in 2020.
Moose Jaw Times-Herald: 128-year-old daily, closed in 2017.
Saskatchewan Valley News: Closed in 2017 after 114 years.
Oxbow-Carnduff Herald-Gazette: Faced closure in 2017.
The trend is clear: hundreds of local outlets across Canada have shut down since 2008, with community newspapers among the hardest hit. Large media chains increasingly consolidate or close underperforming print operations, focusing on digital assets.
This fall, the Rosetown Eagle teetered on the brink of closure. Once again, I had the opportunity to step in, as I did with the Oyen Echo in 2020. It begs the question: if I hadn’t, would anyone else have? Each closure underscores just how fragile local journalism has become—and how easily communities can lose their own stories.
We’ve weathered the storm (so far) by focusing on hyper-local content. Independent newspapers like ours play a vital role in keeping readers informed about what’s happening in their communities. We cover local events, news, and issues that larger media outlets might overlook. We focus on our community’s unique stories and ensure that voices are heard and remembered.
Our work isn’t without challenges. We have a small but dedicated team, which means important stories sometimes go uncovered—not because they aren’t important, but because resources are stretched thin. Joan Janzen, Patti Moran, Greg Paulhus, Diana Walker, Ian MacKay, David McIver—and my husband, Robert, and I—keep the presses rolling and the stories alive, rain or shine, sleet or snow, and yes, even through postal strikes.
Fun fact: our newsroom qualifies for the senior’s discount almost everywhere. Greg and I are the “young ones,” while the rest of the team brings enough collective wisdom, mileage and well-earned coffee breaks to fill several decades. Experience is something we have in abundance—but finding and nurturing the next generation of journalists remains a challenge we continue to face.
So yes, I may have “saved” a paper or two, but we all know who the real Saviour is—and He happens to be celebrating His birthday this week.
Wishing all our readers, advertisers, friends and family a very Merry Christmas! We look forward to seeing you next year, refreshed and ready to prove that in a world of closures, local stories still have a home.