With great pride in the support offered by the Government of Canada to community journalism, Minister Bibeau met virtually this Thursday the leaders of the Journal du Haut-Saint-François, Mrs. Nathalie Guesneau and Mr. Pierre Hébert, respectively President and chief executive, to announce a grant of $34,177.

This funding will be used for the creation of content, production and distribution of their periodical. Published twice a month, the regional newspaper based in Cookshire-Eaton is distributed free of charge to all the households in the Haut-Saint-François region.

“In spite of expert management and deep local roots, our community’s media is no exception to the struggles that have affected print newspapers. This financial support gives us a breath of fresh air that allows us to enter our 35th year with optimism,” explains the president.

The assistance comes from the Special Measures for Journalism component of the Canada Periodical Fund. These investments are part of the $500 million envelope of the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support organizations responsible for culture, heritage and sports, which was announced last May by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

"Regional newspapers and journalists are essential for local, reliable and high-quality information," emphasizes Compton-Stanstead MP Marie-Claude Bibeau. “They are well placed to share and promote the reality, diversity and vitality of our communities that they know well. Our government believes in the importance of regional media. "