By Tamara Baluja, Associate Editor

The Guelph Mercury is ending in-house print production and mailroom operations after more than 145 years.

By Tamara Baluja, Associate Editor

The Guelph Mercury is ending in-house print production and mailroom operations after more than 145 years.

The newspaper’s last day of production in Guelph is Feb. 7, publisher Paul McCuaig said in a article published on the Mercury’s website. The newspaper will centralize its print production at the Hamilton Spectator, a newspaper also owned by its parent company, Torstar Corp., and lay off 36 staff members. 

Maintaining the Mercury’s 37-year-old press proved too costly, McCuaig said. "This is in no way a reflection on the high quality of the work and the dedication shown by the people in our operation. We thank them for it," McCuaig said. "It's simply a cost decision. With aging equipment and surplus press availability in nearby plants, it's the best decision for the continued success of our business."

He added that a small number of positions will be retained and the company would attempt to redistribute staff at other Torstar printing facilities.

The decision to centralize print production follows on the heels of the Waterloo Region Record­—for which McCuaig is also the publisher—moving its editorial page production to the Hamilton Spectator. Fourteen copy editors lost their jobs in the centralization. Some of the copy editing and production for the Guelph Mercury, which was also done by Record staff, will be done at the Spectator. 

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