Fonds 0148 - Focus Publishing Ltd. fonds

In 1972, Meridian Printing from Lloydminster started an independent community weekly newspaper in Grande Prairie. They named it "The Booster" and Brian Keebaugh, from Meridian Printing, was the first publisher. The paper was distributed free of charge on Wednesdays to every home in Grande Prairie and through the Post Office to 27 other communities in the south Peace every Thursday morning. It consisted of local news, photographs, coming events, and display and classified advertising. For a short time in 1975 the paper was printed by Keeprint, operated by Charlie Kee. In January 1976, the Booster was taken over by a local Grande Prairie company, Focus Publishing Ltd., owned by Brian Wilson and Bob McFarlane. In Novemer 1976, they added an arts and entertainment guide called Focus. On June 3, 1981 the name of the paper changed to Grande Prairie this Week, and in September 1983 it went to the half-size format. Meanwhile, the Focus arts & entertainment was discontinued in March 1982 and replaced with an addition to the regular paper called This Week Leisure. South Peace Farm Week was a separate paper devoted to "serving the agricultural community of the south Peace." It was started in February 1983 under publisher George Lanctot and editor Christina Grant. Later Brian Wilson became publisher for South Peace Farm Week as well. Focus Publishing Ltd. ceased to publish in the summer of 1988.