Guelph Mercury
Encyclopedia
The Guelph Mercury is an English language
newspaper
published in Guelph
, Ontario
, Canada
. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by the Torstar Corporation
. The newspaper, in many incarnations, has been a part of the community since 1854. It is one of the oldest broadsheet newspapers in Ontario.
A competing paper was started in 1854, named the Guelph Advertisier. It was published weekly as well.
In 1862, Toronto newspaperman and MP James Innes
took over the editorship of the Guelph Advertiser and shortly thereafter formed a partnership with John McLagan
, owner of the competing weekly newspaper the Guelph Mercury.
The two papers merged to form the Mercury and Advertiser.
The Mercury was expanded into a daily newspaper in 1867. Among its editors was the future best-selling novellist Thomas B. Costain
who worked there from 1908 to 1910.
The Guelph Mercury has since had numerous owners. Innes sold his share in the newspaper in 1905 to J. Innes McIntosh, who also bought the Guelph Herald, a competing daily newspaper, in 1924. McIntosh then sold his share in 1929 to James Playfair, who sold the paper in the late 1940s to Thomson Newspapers
. Thomson remained owner for half a century, until Hollinger Inc.
purchased the paper in 1995. Sun Media
purchased the paper in 1998 and then resold it to Torstar
Corporation. Torstar is the current (2007) owner.
, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The newspaper also publishes a free weekly roundup as well as various other special publications. A magazine, Guelph Life, was cancelled as a cost-cutting measure in 2009. The Guelph Mercury is one of few Torstar newspapers still to have their own presses since the Mercury's sister paper, The Record
is printed at another Torstar site, The Hamilton Spectator in Hamilton, Ontario. In February 2009 TorStar announced layoffs across the chain, including 13 newsroom staff at the Guelph Mercury. According to the announcement, copy editing and page production of the paper will be transferred to the Waterloo Region Record, reducing the editorial staff of the paper to two managers and 8 reporter–photographers.
Both the Guelph Tribune
and Guelph Mercury are owned and published by Metroland Media Group
but keep separate newsrooms and operations.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by the Torstar Corporation
Torstar
Torstar Corporation is an independently-owned Canadian broadly based media company that is named after its principal holding, the Toronto Star daily newspaper....
. The newspaper, in many incarnations, has been a part of the community since 1854. It is one of the oldest broadsheet newspapers in Ontario.
History
The Wellington Mercury was founded in 1853, and published weekly by owner George Keeling.A competing paper was started in 1854, named the Guelph Advertisier. It was published weekly as well.
In 1862, Toronto newspaperman and MP James Innes
James Innes (Canadian politician)
James Innes was a Scottish-born journalist, businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Wellington South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1896 as a Liberal member....
took over the editorship of the Guelph Advertiser and shortly thereafter formed a partnership with John McLagan
John McLagan
John James Campbell McLagan was a newspaper publisher born in Strathardle, Scotland on July 22, 1838. He later moved to Ontario, Canada where he managed the Guelph Mercury with MP James Innes. After living in Winnipeg he moved to Victoria sometime in late 1883. In Victoria he dealt in real estate...
, owner of the competing weekly newspaper the Guelph Mercury.
The two papers merged to form the Mercury and Advertiser.
The Mercury was expanded into a daily newspaper in 1867. Among its editors was the future best-selling novellist Thomas B. Costain
Thomas B. Costain
Thomas Bertram Costain was a Canadian journalist who became a best-selling author of historical novels at the age of 57.-Life:...
who worked there from 1908 to 1910.
The Guelph Mercury has since had numerous owners. Innes sold his share in the newspaper in 1905 to J. Innes McIntosh, who also bought the Guelph Herald, a competing daily newspaper, in 1924. McIntosh then sold his share in 1929 to James Playfair, who sold the paper in the late 1940s to Thomson Newspapers
Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation was one of the world's largest information companies.Thomson was active in financial services, healthcare sectors, law, science & technology research, and tax & accounting sectors...
. Thomson remained owner for half a century, until Hollinger Inc.
Hollinger Inc.
Hollinger Inc. was a Canadian media company based in Toronto. It was created by the Canadian businessman Conrad Black as a holding company for his media interests after he acquired control of The Daily Telegraph in 1986. It was the parent company of Chicago-based Hollinger International, whose...
purchased the paper in 1995. Sun Media
Sun Media
Sun Media Corporation is the owner of several widely read tabloid and broadsheet newspapers in Canada and the 49 percent owner of Sun News Network...
purchased the paper in 1998 and then resold it to Torstar
Torstar
Torstar Corporation is an independently-owned Canadian broadly based media company that is named after its principal holding, the Toronto Star daily newspaper....
Corporation. Torstar is the current (2007) owner.
Present
Today, The Guelph Mercury is published six days a week by Metroland Media GroupMetroland Media Group
Metroland Media Group, also referred to as Metroland is a publisher of daily and weekly community newspapers, as well as several speciality products and services, in the southern part of the Canadian province of Ontario...
, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The newspaper also publishes a free weekly roundup as well as various other special publications. A magazine, Guelph Life, was cancelled as a cost-cutting measure in 2009. The Guelph Mercury is one of few Torstar newspapers still to have their own presses since the Mercury's sister paper, The Record
The Record (Waterloo Region)
The Waterloo Region Record is the daily newspaper covering Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada, including the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, as well as the surrounding area...
is printed at another Torstar site, The Hamilton Spectator in Hamilton, Ontario. In February 2009 TorStar announced layoffs across the chain, including 13 newsroom staff at the Guelph Mercury. According to the announcement, copy editing and page production of the paper will be transferred to the Waterloo Region Record, reducing the editorial staff of the paper to two managers and 8 reporter–photographers.
Both the Guelph Tribune
Guelph Tribune
The Guelph Tribune is a twice-weekly newspaper serving the city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.- History :The Guelph Tribune was founded on September 30, 1986 as the Royal Tribune, a once a week community newspaper. The paper was later renamed the Guelph Tribune and is now published twice a week since...
and Guelph Mercury are owned and published by Metroland Media Group
Metroland Media Group
Metroland Media Group, also referred to as Metroland is a publisher of daily and weekly community newspapers, as well as several speciality products and services, in the southern part of the Canadian province of Ontario...
but keep separate newsrooms and operations.