The Brandon (MB) Wheat City Journal has a new owner.
Shares in the 26-month-old community newspaper, born in April of 2002 under the guidance of publisher Bruce Penton and a group of business people from Brandon and eastern Saskatchewan, have been purchased by Glacier Ventures International Corp. The sale was effective last Friday, July 2.
In only its third year of operation, the Journal is a total market distribution newspaper which is delivered every Thursday to homes in Brandon and Shilo, and rural areas surrounding Brandon. Its weekly circulation is in excess of 22,000.
The newspaper was formed in answer to the need for a quality community newspaper in the Manitoba city of 40,000.
Penton, its publisher and one of the former shareholders, has been in the newspaper business for 35 years. Prior to starting the Journal in 2002, he was editor, publisher and owner of The World-Spectator, a community newspaper in Moosomin, Sask., for more than 20 years.
Penton will remain as publisher of the Journal and another former shareholder, advertising manager Dave Melcosky, will also remain in his position. Penton said no changes in staffing or approach to publishing the newspaper under its new owners are expected.
“We will continue to offer a bright, lively weekly package of local information to every household in Brandon and Shilo,” said Penton.
“Having a solid newspaper company like Glacier as our owner will only serve to enhance our product. We will have access to a variety of products and services through Glacier than might otherwise be unavailable to us. The Journal will continue with its emphasis on local news and, with our added strength as a member of the Glacier family, is poised for continued growth and improvement in our product,” Penton said.
Glacier is an information communications company focused on expanding across North America through the provision of essential information and related services through print, electronic and online media. Strategically, this acquisition further extends GlacierÔÇÖs reach into the western Canadian advertising and reader market. GlacierÔÇÖs resources will greatly enhance the JournalÔÇÖs ability to compete and grow in the vibrant Brandon market.