There has been considerable speculation and numerous rumors circulating about The Citizen in recent weeks, particularly due to the temporary pause in its publication for two weeks. I want to reassure everyone that despite the pause, the Citizen is not shutting down. Instead, it has merely relocated and can now be found just a few doors down at 117 Commercial Place.
It’s been a wild two weeks as the few of us were originally left with all the moving work. Fortunately, a mighty crew was banned together by The Thompson Seniors Resource Counsel bringing willing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A line of trucks and SUV’s filed out smiling faces ready to lend a hand and move out stacks of paperwork boxes. Miller the Movers also pitched in as they moved over all the tables, printers and big equipment like it was an easy task.
The previous location holds a significant place in the history of the Thompson Citizen, having served as its residence since 1962. The rich and storied history of this location makes one ponder what tales and secrets its walls may hold. However, with the move to a new location comes the promise of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose.
The Thompson Citizen has stood as the quintessential provider of local news. Its legacy dates back to 1960 when it first emerged as a venerable weekly newspaper. The publication made its auspicious debut in the fall of that year and swiftly became an indispensable pillar of the community.
Hailing from Dauphin, Manitoba, The Thompson Citizen originally found its humble abode in the confines of the basement of the Strand Theatre Building, underneath what is now the City Centre Mall front entrance.
As a cherished family-owned enterprise, both the Nickel Belt News and Thompson Citizen embarked upon their journey in the burgeoning town of Thompson. This vibrant settlement had been earmarked as a Local Government District, dedicated to catering to the burgeoning Inco mine complex.
Times have certainly changed since the birth days of the Citizen as the main printing machine was an old Solna offset press, which printed two sheets of tabloid news at a time. The sheets were then turned over and printed on the other side. Our equipment was an IBM electric typewriter and a mall photo device which set one character at a time to make 1p larger advertisements.
Offset presses were very new in those days and the staff had absolutely no knowledge of the process. It was soon learned by trial and error. Lots of errors and lots of midnight oil.
In the ever-evolving landscape of technological advancements, it's remarkable to observe the enduring touch of work still done by hand where as each and every flyer is inserted into every paper, encompassing upwards of 4,000 papers every single Friday like clockwork.
Thompson has been a beacon of journalistic integrity, fearlessly delving into the spectrum of news, from heartwarming tales of community triumphs to the more somber narratives that reflect the complexities of the human experience.
The interest and constant activities that arise in the the local community has drawn individuals from across the Province and even occasionally Internationally. Whether it’s the exhilarating buzz of Nickel Days attracting an impressive 16,000 individuals or the outpouring of support through numerous fundraisers that provides us with much anticipated facilities such as the coming Aquatic Center.
What truly sets this publication apart is the unwavering commitment of its small but mighty team of three. Our staff commits our dedication as a labor of love, seamlessly collaborating to ensure we don't miss a beat when it comes to capturing the latest stories. We are all proud Thompsonites here with a story to tell.
