The mayors of Niverville and Ritchot are applauding this week's launch of NivervilleOnline.
On Thursday, it was announced that Golden West and The Citizen have formed a unique partnership with the end goal of delivering the best possible news reporting, broadcasting, and advertising options to the residents and businesses of Niverville, Ritchot, and the surrounding communities. That partnership saw the launch of NivervilleOnline. The Citizen's print edition will remain in place.
"Golden West has been part of my life since 1976, when we moved to Steinbach from Saskatchewan," recalls Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck. "And now that this little Niverville that was like 1,500 people back in that day, that they now are being given representation, and acknowledgement, it's truly honouring and I'm grateful."
Dyck says he appreciates that Niverville now has a place within the Golden West family.
"We have always been well covered, I have nothing but good things to say," adds Dyck. "Thank you to the President and the board and all those who have covered us and will continue to cover us. Also, a huge thank you to our Niverville Citizen, just to see the coverage we've received there and how they've grown to the point where this partnership can be."
Good for residents, good for Town Council, good for the region
Dyck says this partnership is a good thing for Niverville, including Town Council and its residents. He says he believes it will mean greater coverage and exposure for not only the community, but the entire southeast.
"What we've said is what's good for the region is good for Niverville, and what's good for Niverville is good for the region," he adds.
Dyck says to now be on the Golden West platform means the community should be better informed of what is going on in the region.
"It's just nice to see that whatever is going on in our region, will just be that much more available to be read," says Dyck.
As mentioned, The Citizen's print edition will continue. Dyck says for someone like himself, who still enjoys reading a physical paper, it will be nice to continue having that option.
"The fact that the Niverville Citizen has been able, in a digital era, to still have the print medium being something that people still desire to have, I think says a lot," he notes. "It's great that there are options for people, depending on who you are."
Ritchot Mayor thrilled for website dedicated to his municipality
"I think it is going to bring a very valuable asset to not just the municipality but the whole area around the Niverville region," says Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen. "So I'm looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to seeing what they are going to bring in value to the NivervilleOnline portion that they brought to SteinbachOnline."
In making the announcement Thursday, Golden West specifically said that this new website will also cater to the RM of Ritchot in addition to the town of Niverville. Ewen says to know that a website is dedicated to their municipality means there is now one more way for Ritchot to communicate with ratepayers.
"So for this to happen in Ritchot, for us to be able to share information, stories, things that are locally going on that are important to Ritchot, is very, very good for us," he adds.
Ewen says Golden West, and SteinbachOnline specifically, have always taken the time to participate in what is going on in Ritchot. He notes people from outside the municipality comment on the fine work of Ritchot Council, because of what they read on SteinbachOnline.
"So that says that SteinbachOnline or Golden West has taken the time to participate in what Ritchot is doing, even though they are further away," he says. "Now I think it's one step closer."
Ewen says Golden West can feel like it is a part of Ritchot by sharing stories from the region.
"I don't ever want to take anything away from what they have done in the past, but I think what they are going to be doing in the future is going to be even stronger, so I really appreciate the concept they're going with," he adds.
In addition to being Mayor, Ewen is also a small business owner. Ewen owns PERK Mobile Coffee Bar. As a business owner, Ewen says he has really started to rely on LocalJobShop through SteinbachOnline.
"I've hired the last nine people in my business from that, and that was through SteinbachOnline," he adds. "Instead of people coming from just Winnipeg and applying, we are getting local people applying through that, and now there's going to be an opportunity to put that onto NivervilleOnline."
Ewen calls it a "huge win."
As for the partnership between Golden West and The Citizen, Ewen says it is nice to see different media outlets come together.
"For two media sources to team up and offer and deliver a service that's exactly what is needed right now in our municipality and our region is kudos to you guys," he adds. "I'm really impressed, and I think it's going to be a huge win for everybody."
Golden West has a rich history of community service
Meanwhile, established in 1957, Golden West's roots run deep. The company broke into the radio market with CFAM, based out of Altona. Their primary purpose was to provide timely agriculture reports to listeners in the rural southeast.
Before long, the company branched into Steinbach with CHSM radio. By 1974, they turned westward, opening outlets in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
SteinbachOnline officially launched in 2000 and has since become a prime source of daily information for Steinbach and the rest of the southeast.
Between radio and their website, they keep locals informed of everything they need to know, right down to road condition reports, sports scores, and charity event coverage.
"We're community service radio," says Golden West President Brett Adnum. "We're focused entirely on the community, providing local information that is unique and matches the DNA of that community and not so much about what major markets are talking about."
Despite almost 70 years of growth and expansion, the Golden West philosophy remains the same as it has always been: to prioritize under-served rural communities through a hyperlocal focus.
With files from Adi Loewen
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