News & Notes
Forging Forward
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the first issue of the Townships Sun, here are a few of the themes we plan to explore:
- The culture of schools; innovative learning opportunities
- Townships tales, legends, witches
- Architecture, buildings
- Townships businesses: past, present, future
- Volunteerism; volunteers of all ages
- Waterways in the Townships
- Farming
- Churches in the Townships, past, present, future
- Disasters in our history
- Children/Home children; their future
- Townships Wildlife
- Mining in the Townships
- Health
- Truth & reconciliation
- And more!
Store Locations
Buy single issues ($2.50 each) at:
- Cookshire: Cookshire IGA
- Georgeville: Studio Georgeville
- Knowlton: Brome Lake Books
- Lennoxville: Black Cat Books, Clarke et fils, Pharmacie Jean Coutu, Familiprix
- Mansonville: Magasin Jewett’s (Vale Perkins)
- North Hatley: J.B. LeBaron
- Richmond: Papeterie 2000
- Sawyerville: Dépanneur C.P.L Lachance
- Stanstead: Rotary Club Book Store (Beebe)
Young Voices – Writing/Art/Photos for Magazines
The aim? Engage English-speaking youth in the Eastern Townships who are interested in writing, photography, and art, and encourage them to participate in their community magazine, the Townships Sun.
- Offer free workshops that help participants develop their creative voice and eye.
- Create a guide about the ins and outs of writing, art-making or photography for magazines, and clarifies the role of the Townships Sun as a community/creative magazine.
- Give awards for writers, artists and photographers under 30 who want their work to be published in magazines such as the Townships Sun.
This project is supported by the Townshippers’ Research & Cultural Foundation, Townshippers’ Association, the Boundary Rotary Club, and Write Here, Write Now! of Bishop’s Lifelong Learning Academy.
Archives Project
This initiative will…
- Preserve the Townships Sun archives and make them available to historians and other researchers.
- Safeguard print copies from February 8, 1974, to the present in acid-free storage boxes.
- Digitize past issues as OCR searchable PDFs and make them available online through the BAnQ.
- Deposit past print copies at the Eastern Townships Research Centre, available for local researchers.
To see the very first issue of the Townships Sun, February 7, 1974, click here to download (PDF)
This project is supported by the Bélanger-Gardner Foundation.
Mission
The Townships Sun is an English-language non-profit community magazine that explores the life and culture of the English-speaking communities in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Its mission is to promote Townships living while, through the publication of a magazine, encouraging the full participation of English-speaking community members in the life of Quebec society.
History
Initiated by the Eastern Townships Social Action Group, the Townships Sun was founded on July 1st, 1973. Its first issue was published on February 8, 1974, at a crucial moment in the history of the English-speaking Townships community.
“Our main interest was to help the English-speaking community adapt to what was going on in Quebec. That was the time of the ‘great exodus.’ A lot of English speakers were scared, a bit, of the nationalist movement, and a lot of people were leaving,” explained Russell Pocock, one of the ETSAG founding members.
Since its momentous beginnings, the Townships Sun has published between 9 and 12 issues per year, documenting the history and stories of English speakers in the Eastern Townships, and responding to their concerns and aspirations. Started as a newspaper, it has evolved into a creative community magazine.
A dedicated team of volunteers currently publish nine issues per year, with varied articles, stories, poetry, art, and photos on themes of interest to Townshippers, whether they live in the Eastern Townships or further afield.
Staff & Board of Directors
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Townships Sun Inc. (Soleil des Cantons inc.) is a non-profit volunteer organization that publishes the Townships Sun nine times a year. Member of: Quebec Community Newspapers Association (QCNA) and Canadian Advertising Rates & Data (CARD). Registered with La Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec. Publication Mail Agreement: #40016398. Printed on 100 per cent recycled paper made in Quebec, by Imprimerie Blanchard Litho Inc. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, and the Ville de Sherbrooke, in the form of project and operations grants.
The Eastern Townships are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki people.
Les Cantons de l’Est sont situés sur le territoire traditionnel et non cédé du peuple Abénaki.