An Eighty Year Old Story

By Volodymyr Kish

Some 80 years ago, a new Ukrainian newspaper Noviy Shliakh (The New Pathway) first saw the light of day in Edmonton, and ever since, it has been a leading voice of the Ukrainian Canadian community. 

It was not the first Ukrainian newspaper published in Canada – that honour goes to a paper called Kanadiyskiy Farmer that first began publishing in 1903.  Over the next few decades, dozens of Ukrainian newspapers sprang up only to depart the scene, some after only a few years of existence, others after a few decades.  Noviy Shliakh is one of the few that has persevered for the better part of the last century. 

Newspapers were the first manifestation of what is now called “mass media”.  Prior to the invention of the printing press, there were early forms of handwritten newsletters circulated within the religious and merchant communities, but these had a very limited circulation and were typically very specialized in terms of their content.  Early in the 15^th century, Johannes Gutenberg of Germany invented the first printing press and the world has never been the same since.  Aside from printing books, this new technology began being used for the publication in large numbers of pamphlets and broadsides, though regular newspapers in the format that we recognize today did not appear until the early 17^th century.  The distinction of being the first regularly published newspaper, at least in the English world, usually goes to The Weekly Newes first published in England in 1622.

In North America, the first known newspaper is acknowledged to be a paper titled Publick Occurrences first published in Boston in 1690. Interestingly enough, the authorities at the time considered it subversive and it was immediately suppressed, its publisher arrested, and all copies were destroyed. 

In Canada, the honour of being the first newspaper goes to the Halifax Gazette, first printed in 1752.  In 1867, it became the official publication for proclamations and legal notices of the Nova Scotia government and its name was changed to the Nova Scotia Royal Gazette.  It continues to publish to the current day, and at 258 years is the oldest continuous publication in Canada.

The first Ukrainian language newspaper in North America was the Ameryka, published by the Reverend Ivan Volansky in Pennsylvania in 1886.  Sadly, it only lasted four years.  In 1893, a paper by the name of Svoboda was established by the UNA (Ukrainian National Association), a newly formed fraternal organization that came together through the efforts of four activist Galician priests in New Jersey.  As we all know, the paper continues to be published to the present day.

Ever since the earliest days of Ukrainian immigration to the New World, Ukrainian newspapers have played a crucial role in mobilizing Ukrainian society in both Canada and the U.S.  They have not only led the ideological struggle against the communist oppression of the Ukrainian homeland, but have also given the Ukrainian communities here a strong sense of self-identity and awareness of what can be accomplished through political, cultural and social activism.  Arguably, if it wasn’t for the influence of a strong Ukrainian press working in conjunction with strong Ukrainian organizations, Ukrainians in North America would have been assimilated a long time ago.

As we move forward in this new millennium, the future of Ukrainian newspapers in North America and Canada specifically, is problematic.  In our country, we are down to just a handful of Ukrainian newspapers still actively publishing.  Fortunately, Noviy Shliakh is still holding its own in challenging times.  In terms of language and content, it must find the right balance between language, different generations of readers, immigrant and native-born audiences, and perhaps most difficult, how to transition from paper-based to digital, internet-based media.

Fortunately, the paper continues to attract new blood and new ideas to its Board of Directors and its staff.  It also continues to enjoy strong organizational support from its original founders in the UNF (Ukrainian National Federation).  Lastly, it is finding new readers and new subscribers from amongst the vast numbers of Canadians of Ukrainian origin.  This 80^th anniversary celebration is but another milestone in what will continue to be an evolving story that will stretch long into the future.

 PHOTOS