DAVIDSON—People eligible to vote in Division 6 of the R.M. of Arm River 252 will be casting ballots in the Oct. 24 municipal election.

After no candidates responded to the initial call for nominations, two individuals answered a call for further nominations.

Dan Reich and Kristopher Williams, both farmers, are seeking the councillor position to represent Division 6.

Voting takes place Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the R.M. of Arm River municipal office on Lincoln Street in Davidson.

Only voters qualified to vote in the division may vote for the councillor candidates. Ratepayers should consult their property tax notice for information about the division in which they are entitled to vote.

To be eligible to vote in a rural municipality people must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens and qualify as one of the following:

• be either a resident in the rural municipality for at least three consecutive months preceding the day of the election;
• the registered owner (or purchaser under a bona fide agreement for sale) of land in the rural municipality;
• assessed with respect to an improvement in the rural municipality;
• hold a permit in the rural municipality with respect to a trailer or mobile home;
• a spouse of a person mentioned above; or

• the chief executive officer of a duly incorporated co-operative, corporation or religious association that is assessed on the last revised assessment roll with respect to property in the rural municipality that is not exempt from taxation.

By Dave Adsett, The Wellington Advertiser

Every town has one. In Fergus, his name is Ian.

He is a champion of history, safeguarding a vast collection of newspapers titles at the local archives. Some titles pre-date Confederation but in recent years his workload has markedly slowed.

This region has lost its share of newspapers as seasoned publishers faced with shrinking subscription income, diminishing advertising revenue and ever-increasing costs, gave up and closed titles. Oddly, it isn’t that news isn’t wanted, it is that people mistakenly believe it can be had at no cost.

Nine in ten Canadians derive their news from trained journalists each week although a scant 20% value it enough to pay a fee to receive it. Advertisers, an essential part of the business equation for traditional media, continue to reallocate their ad dollars with online marketers—even though published surveys identify traditional Canadian media platforms as a more trusted source.

Ironically, 70 per cent of those online ad dollars are now spent with Google and Facebook—two U.S.-based, global conglomerates. An American study, The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, concluded that news is as vital to democracy as “clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health”. Governments across Canada, however, continue to rush headlong into the digital age by shifting advertising to these two companies with virtually no regard for Canada’s cultural identity, let alone integrity.

In a recent Ipsos-Reid poll, 63% of Canadians were unable to distinguish between real news sites and fake news stories. Truth seems to be a casualty.

Perhaps that is why a generally stoic Ian, introduced at the beginning of this column, recently became quite emotional when discussing newspapers and their role within a democracy. You see, he is not just a keeper of history; he is a student of history.

The volumes and issues of newspapers past hold clues as to how corruption breeds, democracy wanes and tyrants come to power. Seldom has tyranny taken root overnight, and in virtually all cases, impairing the ability of journalists and destroying a free press are part of the process to destabilize a free society.

This National Newspaper Week, we hope Canadians will support and encourage journalists because newspapers matter—now more than ever.  Pledge your support for newspapers at www.newspapersmatter.ca.

To read the full paper, you’ll need to subscribe. Phone 306-567-2047, email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or click the Subscribe button.

The Davidson Leader is available at these fine retailers: Davidson – Stedmans, Shell, Riverbend Co-op Gas Bar and Food Store, The Davidson Leader; Craik: Palliser Plains Co-op Food Store; Kenaston: KC Distributors.

To read the full story, you’ll need to subscribe. Phone 306-567-2047, email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or click the Subscribe button.

The Davidson Leader is available at these fine retailers: Davidson – Stedmans, Shell, Riverbend Co-op Gas Bar and Food Store, The Davidson Leader; Craik: Palliser Plains Co-op Food Store; Kenaston: KC Distributors.

Vance Wirth has helped solve the mystery of who the dashing young lads were in the old photograph of several boys wearing football gear. Vance said, “I don’t recall that picture being taken, we certainly looked young.” The boys pictured are (rear left to right) Larry Parnell, Dale Glines, Denis Losie, Billy Baynes, (front from left) Vance Wirth, Don Miller, Grant Miller, David Vopni and Pat Sekulich.

If you have some old photos you’d like to share with readers, please email davidsonleader@sasktel.net.