Black Press, run by Victoria publisher David Black and owned in part by
Torstar, has expanded its newspaper empire in B.C. with the purchase of
11 publications from Glacier Media, Straight.com reports.

Black Press has bought Trail Daily Times, the Creston Valley Advance, the Fernie Free Press, the Grand Forks Gazette, the Nelson Daily News, the Weekender, the Prince Rupert Daily News, the Quesnel Advisor, the Cariboo Advisor, the 100 Mile House Advisor, and the Coast Mountain Advisor.

Black’s company already owns more than 80 titles in B.C., Straight.com reports:

“Black Press already owns papers in some of these markets, including the 100 Mile Free Press, the Quesnel Cariboo Observer, the Trail-Rossland News, and the Nelson Star. . . As part of the transaction, Black also bought the Red Deer Express from Great West Newspapers, of which Glacier Media is a partner.

“Black already owns the Red Deer Advocate, so this gives his company a more dominant market share over the publishing market in the central Alberta city.”

Straight.com adds:

“Meanwhile, Vancouver-based Glacier Media hasn’t retreated from B.C. It still owns Business in Vancouver Media Group, the Whistler Question, the Squamish Chief, the Prince George Citizen, and several other publications.

The deal also gave Great West Newspaper Group control over Black Press publications in Canmore, Alberta.”