Last night at 11:00pm, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) locals in Quebec City and Kitchener began 24-hour strikes. Strike activity that began yesterday in 13 different locations across the country – including Thunder Bay, Hearst, Brantford and St. Thomas, Ontario – has now ended.

Both Canada Post and CUPW have been unable to come to an agreement on a number of issues regarding the company pensions, short-term disability plans and other benefits, wages, staffing and mail service changes.

Legendary Canadian journalist’s legacy inspires new generation to tell impactful stories about literacy.

ABC Life Literacy Canada is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2011 Peter Gzowksi Life Literacy Fellowship are now being accepted.

During a press conference held in Ottawa this morning, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) president Denis Lemelin announced the next strike location would take place in Hamilton, Ontario. There, workers plan to walk off the job at 11:45pm tonight.

Approximately 150 people joined the picket lines in Winnipeg last night for the first of many rotating strikes CUPW has promised will take place across the country as the union continues to negotiate its contract with Canada Post.

An exciting new source of community news and shopping information has arrived in London!

Metroland Media Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, is pleased to announce the launch of London Community News.

London Community News is a free community newspaper that will be delivered every Thursday to 126,000 homes. The first edition hits the streets on Thursday, June 23, 2011.

OCNA is now accepting registrations for members who wish to participate in our annual Community Newspaper Review program. All newspapers must be registered before Friday, June 17, 2011 to participate.

Please note: The Community Newspaper Review is not a professional critique program, nor does it cost thousands of dollars to participate (it’s free actually). It is, however, a program that draws on the skills and experience of reputable community newspapers – your colleagues. Make use of their critiques!

On Monday, May 30 David Wenger, former OCNA President and publisher of the Mount Forest Confederate, passed away at the age of 65.

Wenger began his career in the community newspaper industry working for his father Barry (former OCNA President,1958) at Wenger Bros Publishing for many years before buying the group of weekly papers located in Wingham, Listowel and Mount Forest. He later sold the papers in the 1980s, and they are now owned by Metroland.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has made a final offer to Canada Post in the hopes of negotiating a settlement.

CUPW has also given the notice, required by the Canada Labour Code, of its intent to strike if there is no settlement flowing from its final offer. The union will be in a legal position to strike on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at 11:59pm EDT. In the event of a strike all operations at Canada Post will cease, with the exception of the delivery of pension and social assistance cheques.

Seventeen staff of the Joplin Globe lost their homes while others have received damage in the devastating tornado that ripped through their Missouri city last Sunday. Despite the damage, dozens of staff members, including those whose homes were damaged, came to work the same day in order to remake the Monday morning edition of the paper to feature photos and articles about the tornado.

The Missouri Press Foundation has since received more than $16,000 in donations to assist those employees and their families.

Newspapers Canada has retained Borrell Associates to conduct a benchmarking survey that will establish certain metrics for Canadian newspapers in 2010. These will be used to compare our industry with US newspapers, and through periodic updating it will also identify any trending.

The Ontario Press Council (OPC) is asking member newspapers to publish a filler ad in their papers as the Council seeks to educate the public about its role in the news industry. Public contact with the Press Council facilitates the resolution of complaints and misunderstandings without the need for a hearing or legal action. It is for this reason the Council seeks your help to reach readers.