Favourite local publication

NJF

1. The Uniter
2. The Manitoban
3. Stylus

The Uniter was founded in 1824 by John Uniter, a wealthy Selkirk industrialist who coined the phrase “People before profit.” The publication was one page and was used to inform people about the upcoming general strike (which didn’t occur for almost a century). It had a circulation of 20 and was printed on the back of old rags found in Uniter’s garage.

Around 1920, the paper shifted its focus to publishing transcripts from town meetings in Transcona (after Bill Transcona won it in a backgammon game from John Uniter). In 1958, Transcona’s daughter Abigail began distributing copies to her friends, who used the blank backsides to write notes, which would be passed in class. This practice followed the girls into post-secondary education.

When the University of Winnipeg was established in 1967, Abigail Transcona enrolled, turning The Uniter into a student newsletter. It had a circulation of 300 and generally covered such events as sock hops and chilli cook-offs. Eventually, the UWinnipeg decided to acknowledge The Uniter as its official student newspaper (since The Daily University of Winnipegger failed to take off). 

Then a bunch of other stuff happened and a website was made and Ethan Cabel worked here and we got Twitter and yeah.

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 69, Number 15 of The Uniter (January 7, 2015)

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