by Brandon Mayer
Your community newspaper – as in the one that you’re holding (or viewing online) – just got even better! The North Dundas Times has always been locally operated, but now it’s locally owned and locally printed, too. I am now the proud owner of The North Dundas Times after serving as its editor for 2.5 years, and its reporter for over a year before that.
Your community newspaper – as in the one that you’re holding (or viewing online) – just got even better! The North Dundas Times has always been locally operated, but now it’s locally owned and locally printed, too. I am now the proud owner of The North Dundas Times after serving as its editor for 2.5 years, and its reporter for over a year before that.
Good "Times" Ahead!
The North Dundas Times changes ownership
The ND Times was founded in 2020 by David Shanahan and Marguerite Boyer, who by that time had been printing The North Grenville Times in their hometown of Kemptville for nearly a decade, and a local newsletter before that. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided to expand their operations and give the North Dundas community free local print news, just like folks in North Grenville.
I was hired to work for the ND Times in 2021. Born in Winchester, living and raising a family proudly here in North Dundas, and working as an educator at Winchester Public School for nearly a decade qualified me to be the face of local news in North Dundas. Many locals, especially kids, call me “Brando”. To allay any confusion, I can confirm that Brando is, in fact, my preferred name!
At the beginning of January, I was offered an opportunity to own the community newspaper I have worked for over the last 3.5 years, and I graciously accepted. There was a lot of behind the scenes work to do, but the change is now official. Once a subsidiary of a Kemptville business, The North Dundas Times is now 100% North Dundas local.
How will this change affect your news? It won’t! Jenn Mann has joined the team to help local businesses with their marketing needs, and Sarah McLeod will be the paper’s layout designer. Behind the scenes, we also have the experienced support of Melissa Ottenhof to coordinate our operations. The ND Times has been printed in Montreal for years. One of my first decisions as the publication’s new owner was to support local by switching over our printing to Winchester Print and Stationery. That’s right – the paper you’re holding was printed right here in town!
We will continue to distribute the Times for free via Canada Post. If you are not included in the mailout coverage for any reason, many local businesses throughout the area carry free copies available for pick up.
One important change is the launch of our new website, ndtimesnews.ca. This new website has a simplified layout, with featured stories, helpful information for local businesses who need help with marketing, and direct link access to PDF versions of every issue of the Times, right back to the very first issue on November 4, 2020. The new website domain means a change in email addresses. Please see the info box inside each issue for a list of email addresses, or email me at editor@ndtimesnews.ca so I can direct your inquiry.
The mission statement of the Times has always included, and will always include, a commitment to free news. We don’t believe that people should have to pay to know what’s going on in their community. Local businesses are glad to contribute to the cost of getting this publication to you every other week in exchange for an opportunity to let you know about their amazing products and services. However, printing and mailing 5,500 newspapers twice a month is costly. That’s why I’ve created a “voluntary subscriber” option for those who want to show their support for the continued survival of local print news. Voluntary subscribers can choose to contribute $25 for a 1 year subscription, or $15 for a 6 month subscription. In addition to receiving the print edition in the mail along with their neighbours, voluntary subscribers will also receive a digital copy of each issue the day before its print release! Subscribers therefore get the advanced scoop on local happenings as a “thank you” for financially supporting what we do.
You can become a voluntary subscriber by visiting https://www.ndtimesnews.ca/subscribe/ or by sending an e-transfer to payment@ndtimesnews.ca along with an email to that same address specifying where we should send your advance copy of every issue.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to enjoy your first 100% local copy of the Times and stay informed! We'll be right there with you!