<@RI>The Chronicle<@$P> has been part of the West Island for over 80 years now, covering local news, social and cultural events. There have, of course, been many changes over the years; including ownership. Helen and John Freeman bought the paper in the 1940s and guided it for about three decades. The current proprietors, Transcontinental Media, bought the paper from Cogeco in late 1996.
The look of the paper has also changed several times. While the paper was re-launched as a modern, easier-to-read tabloid version in fall 2005, this was actually a return to its roots. The paper had been a tabloid through its first 20 or so years. The name of <@RI>The Chronicle<@$P> has also evolved; it was the still the 'News and Chronicle' in the early 1980s. Before that it was the 'Lakeshore News,' and even the 'Lakeshore Press.'
Throughout all those years, <@RI>The Chronicle<@$P> has been producing award-winning content. Nationally, it has won four coveted Canadian Community Newspapers Association Best Overall Newspaper awards (1967, 1995, 1998 and 1999). It has also dominated at the annual Quebec Community Newspapers Association awards, picking up the Best Overall Newspaper award this past May. The paper has won the latter award a dozen times since 1993 — and it has garnered numerous writing, photography and other category awards such as best special section, sports pages, feature page and editorial page over the same period.
As for the future, the paper is continuously upgrading its website
www.westislandchronicle.com), adding online-only content that is meant to compliment the printed edition, such as Sportlight and Rick Moffat's Hit the Post column.
This week's Moving In issue hopes to inform residents, both new and old, about the many aspects of West Island life, services, organizations and businesses which make up our chosen community. Please let us know what you think about the paper or offer any story suggestions. Your feedback is welcomed. You can e-mail your comments to editor@transcontinental.ca.