Centennial News has never been more important
By Kathy Rowe
Metroland Media Group, publishers of many community papers such as the Scarborough Mirror, recently announced it is claiming bankruptcy. This will mean that the printing of many community newspapers will end and over 600 jobs will be lost.
Metroland said the decision is a result of unsustainable financial losses stemming from the changing preferences of consumers and advertisers. “The media industry continues to face existential challenges, largely because digital tech giants have used their dominant positions to take the vast majority of the advertising revenue in Canada,” the company said in a statement.
Apparently their daily publications will not be affected, but in my opinion, the writing is on the wall. The restructuring plan will see the weekly community papers shift to a digital format.
I will be sorry to see the Scarborough Mirror move away from its printed format. I’m one of those people who still enjoys getting a paper on my doorstep. It’s always on my kitchen table, and I read it at my convenience without having to set up a laptop, squint at my phone or use a keyboard. “Old school!” some might say. But I like that kind of old school.
Centennial News, although available online (ccranews.com), continues to land on doorsteps. Other local Scarborough newspapers such as The Villager, Bluffs Monitor, Guildwood Village News & Views and West Rouge Life magazine are still publishing in hard copy. These publications are our voices. They keep readers informed and encourage us to contribute. There is something uniquely cohesive about hard copies of community news.
Students needed for Pumpkin Parade
Fall has arrived and there is a fresh morning chill in the air now. Pretty soon pumpkins will be decorating porches and children will be anticipating the fun costumes and treats that Halloween brings.
Halloween is on Tuesday, October 31, which means our annual Community Pumpkin Parade will be on Wednesday, November 1. On that day, residents can bring their jack-o’-lanterns to the Port Union Skate Park anytime after 5 p.m. Last year we had 200 pumpkins lining the pathway beside the Port Union Recreation Centre.
Volunteers will place them along the path by the skate park and light them up at dusk. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes while they parade along beside the lit jack-o’-lanterns.
Follow our social media for details. Students looking for volunteer hours can email karowe24@gmail.com
Port Union Road Widening
We plan to provide an update on it each month. I’d like to thank transportation chair Amaan Jabaar for these updates.