Sherbrooke, March 19, 2024. Just published―the Townships Sun’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition, a full 52 pages of stories and images reflecting on the life and times of this “small yet mighty magazine.”
Those are the words of Marie Moliner, its 50th Anniversary Coordinator and Assistant Editor, who led the team organizing a celebration of the edition’s launch at Uplands Cultural & Heritage Centre on March 19th. A full 50 Townships Sun volunteers, partners, contributors, and donors attended and received a complimentary copy of the special edition.
The Townships Sun was first published on February 8, 1974, during a period of great social and political change in the Eastern Townships. Its parent organization was the Eastern Townships Social Action Group (ETSAG), formed to support the English-speaking communities in the region, preceding Townshippers’ Association.
The Anniversary Edition recounts the Sun’s story over the past five decades through a variety of articles, photos, and graphics by many of the same people involved over the years: Russell Pocock, Susan Mastine, Libbey Griffith, Bernard Epps, and Charles Bury, Gladys Beattie, Barbara Verity, Scott Stevenson, David “Skip” Wright, and many others.
Begun as a tabloid, the Sun was transformed into its current magazine format in 2007. An editorial team of Nancy Beattie, Charles Bury, Brenda Hartwell, and others led it then. More recent editors were Rod Leggett, Gordon Lambie, and Barbara Heath, editor for six years until she passed away in 2021, when Rachel Garber took on the role.
“This retrospective edition was built on the foundation of our archives project last year. I discovered all kinds of riches during my review of all 50 years of the magazine,” said Garber. “Earlier themes concerning living as an English speaker in the Townships as the French language predominates, gave way to concerns about the environment, and health and social issues. But also the natural beauty of the Townships, and, as described in Angela Leuck’s article, culture―arts and literature―have always remained important.“
“The history of our little community magazine is intertwined with the tumultuous story of English-speaking people in the Townships over the past 50 years,” she reflected. “I think it will be a good read for many years to come!”
Back issues of the Townships Sun are available online by googling “BAnQ Townships Sun.”
“The 50th Anniversary Edition is twice the size of the Sun’s usual issues, and cost about twice as much,” commented Garber.
“It could not have been created without the support of our 50th Anniversary Partners―Blanchard Litho, Global Excel, English Language Arts Network, Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network, and Townshippers’ Association―and more than 60 individual donors. We are very grateful!”
Moliner, noted that “plans for the next 50 years of the Townships Sun are forging ahead. And we are benefiting from several new partners and initiatives. These collaborations are helping us strengthen our subscriber base and reach new audiences.”
“The proposal prepared for the Townships Sun by Bishop’s University Business students has been especially helpful,” said Publisher Dave Wright. “As has the second edition of the Townships Young Voices Awards.”
TYVoices 2024 is set to recognize the 75 participants who submitted creative works of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art, and photography for 15 prizes. The awards are planned for April 28 at an afternoon gala at the Lac-Brome Community Centre in Knowlton.
For more information, consult TownshipsSun.ca.
