In September, 2001, after the towers had fallen, when the world had changed forever, the publishing and sales duo of Brett and Joanne Irvine decided to do something to try a bring a few smiles into a grim new world. “We thought with all the doom and gloom around, and the fear, that the time was right for a fun-filled, good news, business magazine that we’d distribute free,” says Joanne. Both the Irvines had extensive backgrounds in publishing: Joanne had been a reporter for the Bobcaygeon Independent, the North Kawartha Times, and the Fenelon Falls Gazette; Wilberforce native Brett had wide sales experience and together the couple had produced a number of new local business magazines, as well as creating and distributing innovative restaurant menus all across Ontario.
And so in October 2001 the Communicator was launched, initially as the Loop Communicator. By Christmas of that year the Highlands Communicator was born, and within a few more months the two publications were merged.
The Communicator’s unique blend of sassy fun, free event promotion, and business and personal features was an instant hit with the public, the business and arts communities, and was warmly endorsed by advertisers big and small. Within a few years it had become a bi-weekly Highlands institution, providing a venue for many freelance writers and columnists.
As the Communicator became more and more a part of Haliburton County life, many readers, writers, and advertisers began to press Joanne and Brett to consider founding a weekly newspaper that would cover the entire county. Starting any new business is an exciting, if daunting prospect. In late fall, 2007, the Irvines decided they were up to the task, and were willing to commit the necessary money and energy to the new venture. Their first step was to contact Haliburton writer and journalist Stephen Patrick, who’d been chief feature writer for the Communicator from 2003 to 2006. How often does anyone get a chance to be the founding editor on a spanking new newspaper? By Christmas, Patrick had signed up, and soon the assembling of the editorial staff had begun.
The first issue of the County Voice hit the streets on January 31st, 2008. Along with Patrick the staff boasted Communicator Sports Editor and Writer Terrance Gavan, Photographer Lyn Winans, and Staff Writers Liz Danielsen and Mark Arike, all of whom remain with the Voice to this day. All were Haliburton County residents: Patrick’s lived and worked here for 25 years, and has enjoyed the family cottage since the 1940’s: Winans and Arike both grew up in the Highlands; Gavan and Danielsen have deep family ties here, and have made Haliburton their permanent homes for many years. Joining the paper as freelance or summer staff were Communicator Writer George Farrell, and his son Tyson.
Since its inception the Voice has consistently tried to present all the County news with clarity, honesty, and fairness. Initially the paper was distributed free through the Post Office. This year the model was changed to include subscriptions, and free distribution through boxes and stores throughout the County. And this month the Voice and Communicator staff will move into spanking new quarters just a few feet down the hall from their current Stedman’s location.