The Whistler Town Crier: A Short-Lived Biweekly Newspaper That Shaped a Community
On September 7, 1994, the Whistler Town Crier debuted as a biweekly publication in Whistler, British Columbia, with Jacquie McCarnan serving as the editor and Peter O’Donnell as the assistant editor. They recognized a need for local news coverage following the closure of the Whistler Answer in August 1993, feeling that the Whistler Question was overly corporate. Although they had no prior experience in journalism, their goal was to deliver community-centered news, featuring local columns like Bill Pauline's “Ask Uncle Willie.” However, after four editions, the launch of Pique Newsmagazine overshadowed the Town Crier in the advertising space. Eventually, the Town Crier ceased operations, but McCarnan reminisced about its positive influence on her life. The article was written by Anna Donaldson for the Whistler Museum.
Key facts
- The Whistler Town Crier was a biweekly newspaper first published on September 7, 1994.
- It was edited and published by Jacquie McCarnan, with Peter O’Donnell as assistant editor.
- The paper ran for one volume of approximately 17 issues.
- McCarnan and O’Donnell moved to Whistler in 1992 during the early-1990s recession.
- The Whistler Answer closed in August 1993, leaving the Whistler Question as the main news source.
- The Town Crier featured a satirical column called “Ask Uncle Willie,” written by Bill Pauline.
- The Pique Newsmagazine launched when the Town Crier was only four issues in, with Bob Barnett as editor.
- The Town Crier closed due to inability to compete for advertising dollars with the Question and the Pique.
Entities
Artists
- Jacquie McCarnan
- Peter O’Donnell
- Bill Pauline
- Bob Barnett
- Anna Donaldson
Institutions
- The Whistler Town Crier
- Whistler Question
- Whistler Answer
- Pique Newsmagazine
- Wild Willies
- Armchair Books
- Whistler Museum
- Young Canada Works Program
Locations
- Whistler
- Canada
- British Columbia