High Country Business Services Ltd. published the first High Country News on January 1990, covering 1,300 households in Bragg Creek, Redwood Meadows and Priddis. It was initially printed on 11 x 17 bond paper which was manually folded, collated and stapled; a year later, we switched to newsprint on a web press, which has been far quicker and cheaper to produce.
It was quickly recognized that neighbouring areas also needed a publication for community news… and so the expansion began. In 1991 – Springbank; in 1992 – Millarville; in 1993 – Black Diamond & Turner Valley. Rural Routes 8 & 9 came on board in 1994 & 1997, then Longview was included in 2003. Over 10,000 households now receive the High Country News – FREE!
The concept of the High Country News is to provide a no-charge outlet for the community groups to promote their organizations and announce any fundraising events; to give an opportunity for aspiring writers to be published; to provide informational articles by local business people; to offer non-commercial and commercial classifieds sections; and to afford businesses a reasonably priced avenue for promotion.
In 1993, Horst Hackforth of Sawmill Studio began providing artwork for the front page, which continues to this day to give the paper a unique look. Please click on ‘Front Page Gallery’ to view Horst’s artistry.
In 1994, a local Priddis resident, Paul Hemingson, began submitting his musings, entitled Western Ways. Although he has now moved north of Calgary to his retirement property, Paul continues to provide a monthly column for this paper. Paul has self-published his collections of articles, in volumes called Western Ways, I, II & III, and Notes from the North Quarter.
27 Balsam Avenue, Bragg Creek, AB, Canada