Front page of final edition of Okanagan Advertiser (Image credit: Okanagan Advertiser)

By Pete McIntyre

120 years of history

Local newspaper ends publication

May 2, 2023 | 5:00 AM

Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Enderby no longer have a weekly newspaper.

The Okanagan Advertiser published its final edition last week after 120 years of service, another victim of the digital age.

Publisher Will Hansma said it’s been an integral part of the community which makes the decision to shut down even more difficult.

Hansma, who owed the paper since 2009 taking over from long-time owner Jack Jamieson, also said it will leave a void in the community.

“We’ve been very honoured to serve the community inthe capacity that we have since we purchased the paper, back in 2009,” Hansma said in a front page article. “The newspaper has always been very well supported by the community, and we appreciate that support over the years that we’ve done this

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The headline in the final paper on April 27 called it the “end of an era.”

Final edtion of Okanagan Advertiser April 27, 2023. (Courtesy of Okanagan Advertiser)

The Advertiser published every Thursday and covered councils and other happenings in Armstrong, Enderby, Spallumcheen and surrounding area

While Hansma, a former mayor of Spallumcheen, was the publisher, his wife, Wilma Hansma, was the editor, and they will continue to run a print business at the site.

The article in the final edition said “The Advertiser started in 1902 and had a handful of different owners until 1948 when Jack Jamieson’s family took it over, with the future journalist eventually becoming synonymous with the paper.”

The free paper, which used to be known as the Armstrong Advertiser, is getting a lot of love on social media.

“One of the first charms I noticed about Armstrong was the Advertiser. I loved how in tune they were with the goings on in the community,” one person said on Facebook’s Armstrong Community Information Group.

“Sad day for democracy as the Okanagan Advertiser acted as a gatekeeper to the City of Enderby, Armstrong & Township of Spallumcheen Councils,” said another person.

“It is very unfortunate and I will miss the Advertiser,” commented another fan of the paper. “Not sure how the we will get some of the news we always got with the Advertiser, I think of the city or township notices of permits and bylaw changes. I wonder how we will get those announcements, maybe there is another media for that not sure where yet.”