The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, North America’s oldest newspaper, is celebrating its 259th anniversary this year. The paper, which traces its roots back to 1764, has witnessed and reported on many significant events in the history of Quebec City, Canada and the world.
A bilingual newspaper for a diverse city
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph was founded by William Brown, a Scottish printer who arrived in Quebec City in 1763. He started publishing The Quebec Gazette/La Gazette de Québec on June 21, 1764, with the aim of providing news and information to the diverse population of the city, which included French, English, Scottish, Irish and American settlers.
The paper was bilingual until 1842, when it became exclusively English due to the emergence of several French newspapers in the city. The paper was also obliged to suspend publication briefly during the 1765 Stamp Act crisis and the siege of the city by American troops in 1775-1776.
A family business for generations
The paper remained in the Brown family until 1850, when it was sold to Robert Middleton, a long-time employee who had left to found The Morning Chronicle in 1847. Middleton returned to The Quebec Gazette after the death of John Neilson Jr., the last of the Brown-Neilson family who had managed the paper since 1789.
Middleton died in 1874 and his son-in-law J.J. Foote acquired The Quebec Gazette and merged it with The Morning Chronicle. Foote also bought The Daily Telegraph, a rival paper founded by James Carrel in 1875, and merged it with The Chronicle-Telegraph in 1925. The paper was renamed The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph in 1934.
A witness to history and a voice for the community
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph has covered many important events in the history of Quebec City, such as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the construction of the Citadel and the Château Frontenac, the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1959, the October Crisis of 1970, the Quebec referendums of 1980 and 1995, and the tragic shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City in 2017.
The paper has also been a voice for the English-speaking community of Quebec City, advocating for their rights and interests, as well as promoting their culture and heritage. The paper has featured many notable writers and contributors over the years, such as poet Phillis Wheatley, journalist Arthur Buies, novelist Mordecai Richler and historian Jean-Marie Lebel.
A legacy of innovation and adaptation
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph has survived many challenges and changes over its long history. It has adapted to new technologies and media platforms, such as radio, television and the internet. It has also faced competition from other newspapers and sources of information, as well as financial difficulties and declining readership.
The paper has been owned by several different companies and individuals over the years, such as Thomson Newspapers, Hollinger Inc., Pierre Little and Stacie Stanton. In 2018, it was acquired by Presses de l’Université Laval (PUL), a non-profit academic publisher affiliated with Laval University.
The paper continues to publish online at www.qctonline.com, where it offers news, features, opinions and community announcements. It also publishes a print edition four times a year. The paper is currently edited by Shirley Nadeau, who has been with the paper since 1995.
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph is a proud part of the history and identity of Quebec City. It is also a testament to the resilience and creativity of journalism. As it celebrates its 259th anniversary this year, it looks forward to continuing its mission of informing and serving its readers for many more years to come.
