The Caledonia (ON) Grand River Sachem has been sold to CityMedia Group Inc., a subsidiary of Torstar. The sale was effective Friday, October 1.
The Grand River Sachem has been serving residents of Caledonia since 1856 and has a weekly circulation of 2,209 (VCC).
Three newspapers were part of the deal: the paid circulation Caledonia (ON) Grand River Sachem, the controlled circulation Haldimand County News, and the Glanbrook Gazette.
All newspapers are published from the historic Grand River Sachem Newspaper building, which has housed the newspaper since 1865.
Neil Dring bought the 149-year-old weekly in 1994 and started the County News four years ago. The Glanbrook Gazette was acquired in May, 2004.
DringÔÇÖs background was as an advertising sales representative at the Hamilton (ON) Spectator.
Over the past ten years, he has expanded the operation from three employees to nine, added two newspapers, and more than tripled sales numbers, and the company now distributes over 4 million flyers annually.
Few major changes are anticipated.
ÔÇ£We are going to continue to operate as the Haldimand DivisionÔÇöas the Sachem,ÔÇØ said Dring.
They will stay in the same building, and there will be no major staff changes. Dring will continue as associate publisher and general manager and will report to regional publisher Rob Leuschner.
Dring is very pleased that the paper will continue as a separate unit and that the new owner will honour the SachemÔÇÖs history as it approaches its 150th year of publication.