Black Press – which publishes the Surrey-North Delta Leader – has acquired a number of newspaper titles and related publications and digital properties from Glacier Media.
It has purchased the following: The Nanaimo Daily News, Harbour City Star, Alberni Valley Times, Cowichan Citizen, Parksville Oceanside Star, Tofino/Ucluelet Westerly News, Comox Valley Echo and Campbell River Courier on Vancouver Island, as well as the Surrey Now, Langley Advance and Maple Ridge Times in the Lower Mainland.
Black Press will take over operations in Courtenay-Comox, Ucluelet/Tofino and Oceanside Star on Jan. 1 and the remainder of the publications and their websites on March 2, 2015.
In a separate transaction, Black Press is also selling the Tri-City News, Burnaby New West NewsLeader and Richmond Review to Glacier Media. They will assume operational control of these operations on March 2, 2015 as well.
"While we are pleased with the acquisitions, we are disappointed to be selling these excellent community newspapers," said Rick O'Connor, president and CEO of Black Press. "We believe in the value our Black Press colleagues at these newspapers have created and the many long time staff members will be missed.
"However, as we move through these changing times in media, it is important that we align our strategic interests to better position the company for the future.
"We are great believers in community newspapers and the value they provide. With these changes, we believe readers and advertisers will be better served and the company will be stronger moving forward."