Dear readers The Burnaby NOW is proud to have been an integral part of this community for more than 30 years. Our first newspaper rolled off the presses on November 21, 1983 and was delivered everywhere from doorsteps on Capitol Hill to newspaper boxes on the South Slope. It was a different time and, in many ways, a different world. There were no cellphones, no Pokemon, no electric cars, no Metrotown, no SkyTrain. Bill Bennett was Premier of B.C. and Pierre Elliot Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada. In Burnaby, Bill Lewarne, had just been re-elected mayor. Much has changed since then, and the media landscape is no exception, particularly in the last decade or so. Throughout it all the Burnaby NOW has been a constant - a hub that not only informs the community but keeps it connected as well. Whether you are a longtime resident of this city or a newcomer, we’re here for you – to let you know what your friends and neighbours are doing, to keep you informed of developments and changes in the city, to follow the local sports and arts scenes, to provide a voice and a place for businesses to introduce themselves to their customers. It is a position of great responsibility and also one that is a great honour and a privilege. The motto on our front page - Local news, local matters - is more than a slogan to us at the Burnaby NOW; it is a heartfelt mission. The relationship this newspaper has with the people of Burnaby goes far deeper than serving as a simple news source. We share your successes, your struggles, your stories, and your input has helped to make us a better newspaper and a better community partner. Times are changing and the business model that has sustained this newspaper for many years must also adapt to ensure the Burnaby NOW is a sustainable enterprise which will continue to serve our readers and advertisers into the future. To that end we are introducing a new voluntary subscription program. A voluntary payment of $5 per month or $50 for the year, will allow us to maintain door to door delivery, which is an increasingly expensive undertaking and a major cost for any newspaper. Let me be clear that participation in our subscription program is strictly voluntary: all Burnaby households will continue to receive the Burnaby NOW at their doorsteps Subscribers will be recognized for their support every month with deals at local merchants, prize draws and more. The first month offers discounts at Valley Bakery, Home Hardware, Carter GM, and Whitespot. Coupons with a combined value of over $50 will be emailed to subscribers each month. In addition, the first 500 subscribers will be entered into a draw to win a $250 Visa gift card. We hope you see the value the Burnaby NOW provides to both the community and to your everyday lives, and that you will take us up on this offer. We believe receiving the paper is worth the cost of a latte or loaf of bread, and we hope you do as well. With the support of our community, we will be able to reinvest in our print product and continue to bring you even more of what you value about your local newspaper – the stories and faces of our community and its citizens, delivered to your doorstep twice a week. To subscribe, please visit subscription.burnabynow.com (no www) or call our office at 604-444-3451. We look forward to your support and to continue serving the people of Burnaby well into the future.
Sincerely:
Alvin Brouwer Alvin Brouwer Publisher Burnaby NOW