3 days ago
Extra Extra: St. Croix Courier newspaper returns to Charlotte County, N.B.
CHCO-TV News Director Vicki Hogarth is pictured holding a picture of the first edition of the revamped Courier. (Avery MacRae/CTV Atlantic)
There a lot of things easier to try and find in 2025 then a newspaper.
As news outlets shift their focus to digital platforms, the classic newspaper filled with current affairs, comics and puzzles is becoming a thing of the past.
Last year, the St. Croix Courier stopped printing in May after serving residents of southwestern New Brunswick since 1865. CHCO-TV in Saint Andrews purchased the paper in late 2024 with the goal of reviving the iconic paper.
At first, the TV station continued writing articles that would go in the paper to be posted on their website. Then, on June 1 the first edition of the new Courier paper was made available for residents of Charlotte County.
'We decided to approach the print edition in a modern way,' says CHCO-TV Director Vicki Hogarth. 'Which is to do a curated monthly edition of the Courier that has some really great think pieces, some columns, some investigative pieces that people will turn to hopefully month-to-month, and then just continue to visit the website for breaking news.'
Saint Croix Courier
Copies of the first edition of the new Saint Croix Courier are pictured. (Avery MacRae/CTV Atlantic)
Hogarth says reviving the paper has been a humbling experience, especially in an age where newspapers are 'drying up' across the country.
She says there was a great deal of community interest to see the paper brought back and it's available for residents free of charge for the first year thanks to a $20,000 grant provided by the federal government.
'I think because it wasn't in the community for a year, it's making people appreciate that presence again and having it in their hands,' Hogarth says. 'I heard a lot of great, happy feedback, I've also had a lot of happy tears when I've been able to hand it over to people in person, and a lot of phone calls after they've read the first edition and felt that it speaks to the community again.'
Businesses have been reaching out to CHCO to get copies of the Courier for there storefronts. Café Drewhaven co-proprietors Tina Howlett and Shawn Richard look forward to having The Courier available for customers.
'Some people just want to come in and have a cup of coffee and sit by themselves,' Richard says. 'And I think this is going to be a great addition to that.'
The two life-long Charlotte County residents have fond memories of the paper from their youth. Both have had their picture in the paper and in the small seaside community, they say there are few things bigger then being featured in the Courier.
'To have a physical copy in your hand to just like bring back all that memory,' says Howlett. 'Like, wow, this is taking me right back to my childhood.'
Residents around Saint Andrews are thrilled over the return.
'It's been so long since it's been in print that I really can't remember,' says Mike Craig. 'But, I am looking forward to seeing what's inside.'
Café Drewhaven co-proprietors
Café Drewhaven co-proprietors Tina Howlett and Shawn Richard are pictured holding copies of the Saint Croix Courier. (Avery MacRae/CTV Atlantic)
Saint Andrews resident Charles Creaser says it's a great local paper.
'I know it's appreciated by a lot of people, especially in the communities of Charlotte County.'
Hogarth says the paper is community driven and they will listen to residents to serve them to the best of their ability.
Hogarth says 3,000 copies of the first edition of the new Courier have been published, a number that will change depending on the demand.
New editions of the paper will be available on the first of every month at a wide range of locations in St. Stephen, Saint Andrews, and St. George, N.B.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
