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The Watrous Manitou Advisor

The Watrous Manitou

Kim Made Co.

Lions Pride

The Lanigan Advisor

Your reliable news source since 1933

The current staff at The Watrous Manitou and our sister paper the Lanigan Advisor consists of publishers Daniel and Kim Bushman, ad manager Karlee Bedard, customer service and typesetter Tammy Le Blanc. The Watrous Manitou and the Lanigan Advisor are weekly newspapers published 48 times per year. The papers are distributed every Monday except for two weeks in the summer and two weeks during winter. They can be found online through an online subscription at www.twmadvisornews.com.

TWM and the Advisor is open Tuesday through Friday:
Tues to Thur: 9 am to noon and 1pm to 5 pm
Fri: 9 am to 1 pm

You can reach us at 306-946-3343; twmadvisornews@gmail.com or fax 306-946-2026

Advertising

TWM and the Lanigan Advisor offers a variety of advertising options either in print or online:

  • Display/Classified/Blanket Advertising
  • Business Directory Advertising
  • Online Banner Advertising with direct link to your webpage
  • Announcements/Congratulatory/Births/Birthday/Grad/Engagement
  • Shower/Wedding/Anniversary/New employee/Retirement
  • Card of thanks 
  • Memoriams/Obituaries 

To request a quote or receive additional information regarding advertising, email twmadvisorsales@gmail.com or phone our office at 306-946-3343.

Services

Commercial Printwork

We provide quotes on a wide variety of printwork and commercial documents: 
business cards, invoices, letterhead, envelopes and more.
Typesetting is $40/hr, billed in 15 min. increments

Other Services

  • Laminating/Faxing/Scanning/Emailing
  • Stamps: rubber and self inking
  • FAC photos
  • Photocopying: black and white and colour copies
  • Select retail supplies: office supplies, stationery, coloured paper, card stock, notebooks, envelopes, photo paper, framed pictures, canvas prints

*TWM and the Advisor publishes 48 issues per year with our online version available Friday afternoons and our print edition out Mondays*

How we got here

Early beginnings

1905

The Watrous Manitou has resided for all but a trio of its years at 309 Main Street, Watrous. In 1933, the Manitou Printing office was established by J.A. McGowan, founder and publisher. McGowan was only 18 when, in July 1905, he relocated from Grand Valley, Ont. to Strasbourg, Sask. He worked in newspaper offices in Strasbourg, Govan and Lanigan before moving to Nokomis in 1910 where he purchased the Nokomis Times, which he operated from 1911 to 1919. In 1912, James married Mildred Bailey. Two children, daughter Marion and son Gordon, completed the family circle.

The start of The Watrous Manitou

1931

In 1931, the McGowan family relocated to Watrous when James became the editor of the Watrous Signal, published by Edmund Garrett. In late 1932, James began making plans to start another newspaper, the Watrous Manitou. The first issue of the Manitou was published Feb. 9, 1933. Through McGowan’s 41 years as publisher of the Watrous Manitou, he was a member of the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association (SWNA) and Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association. He served a term as SWNA president. Mildred McGowan, as well as taking part in the production of the paper for many years, was also active with the UCW and Watrous Ladies Curling Club. James McGowan passed away in 1974. Mildred continued as the publisher until 1977 when her son and daughter-in-law Gordon and Roberta purchased the business.

Second generation takes over

1976

Gordon McGowan enjoyed employment in various fields until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and spent four years in stations out east. In 1944 he and Roberta Brown were married. The couple resided in Ottawa until the summer of 1945. ​ Following his stint in the Air Force, Gordon and Roberta, daughter Noreen and son Donald moved to Watrous where Gordon became involved in the family newspaper and commercial printing business. In 1976, Roberta joined the Watrous Manitou staff to operate newly-acquired photo typesetting equipment. July 26 of that same year, a fire destroyed both Swift’s Furniture and Electric and the adjacent newspaper office while the bakery sustained heavy damage. The silver lining was there was enough time for members of the fire brigade and energetic citizens to save the recently-purchased equipment and all the current office records. Instead of enjoying two weeks of holidays, the staff set up shop at the curling rink for several months and then moved to the basement of the Shop-Rite store at 215 Main Street.

New building – same location

1978

In 1978, construction of a new office commenced and the first issue from that building was distributed in January 1979. The end of an era came to a close when Gordon and Roberta McGowan retired Aug. 31, 1985. After 52 years in Watrous, the McGowan family name was no longer associated with the Watrous Manitou newspaper.

New owners – same location – new methods

1985

Frank and Florence Wilson assumed ownership of the local newspaper Sept. 1, 1985. The couple moved to Watrous in 1980 when Frank, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was transferred from Yorkton. After 23 years of service, he retired from the national police force Aug. 5 and donned a new hat as publisher effective three weeks later. An early change implemented by the Wilsons included the adoption of the Canadian Newspaper Units that changed the page layout from six columns to five. In 1986 at the SWNA convention, Frank found a little computer demonstration that would significantly change the production process. Desktop publishing would heavily impact the Watrous Manitou and the delivering of news to the community at large. The photo-typesetting equipment was replaced in its entirety by Apple computers networked with a laser printer. Text and graphics produced on computers were printed and ‘pasted up’ on makeup sheets. Commercial art was received on compact discs and could be enlarged, reduced or cropped to fit within a layout, as depicted on the screen. Photographs, logos and artwork were scanned and saved for future use. No longer was reduction and enlargement of photos done on the photocopier. In 1993, the talk of electronic newspapers was in its infancy. Fifteen years later, another era under a new set of owners was launched.

Change in ownership

2003

In 2002, the Wilsons determined it was time to leave the publishing business behind and Feb. 1, 2003, Robin and Nicole Lay became only the fourth owners in the Watrous Manitou’s 70-year history. Nicole, born and raised in Watrous and previously a teacher in both Milden Central School and LCBI High School in Outlook, also had experience in the roles of reporter, photographer, assistant editor and editor at the Outlook newspaper. Robin was new to the business but brought much in the way of business experience due to his years of managing parts and service for both agricultural and automotive dealerships. He was also returning ‘home’, in the sense that he had lived in Young until high school graduation, and then in Watrous for several more years until moving to Saskatoon when he and Nicole were married in 1991. In that initial year, while learning the newspaper business from the inside out, small changes were made along the way. Designated sections such as sports, entertainment and editorial pages were established, and a new masthead was adopted.

Changing with the times

2004

In 2004, the Lays added a full-time reporter/photographer to the staff. Changes to the production process began to take place. The sending of pasted-up pages to the press in Melville became a thing of the past, as pages were sent electronically via SWNA’s hot-line. A new digital camera was purchased in the fall of 2004, improving the quality of photos. Long-time Watrous Manitou employee Theresa Beavers retired after 41 years of witnessing changes in the business. Theresa first operated the paper folder and later the press. When Gordon and Roberta took over the paper, Theresa began doing more of the bookwork, costing out advertising for invoices and addressing the papers using the Elliott addresser. When computers moved into the office, Theresa found herself at the keyboard of a Mac computer inputting and maintaining the mailing list as well as mastering the PC bookkeeping computer. These jobs became Robin’s responsibility following Theresa’s retirement. The first issue of 2005 marked another change for the paper. It was the last paper to have a black and white front page. Colour front pages were the exception instead of the rule until that time. Robin and Nicole decided the time had come for weekly colour front pages, which are now a staple. To better serve their customers, the addition of payment by debit or credit cards was added in April.

Computerization off the office

2006

In January 2006, the rest of the front was computerized. Invoices, receipts, subscription renewals and store front sales of stationery were now entered into the computer, relegating the old cash register to the obsolete pile. Renovations to the office began in March. Two new offices were added and a defined storefront was established. Publication continued throughout the three-month construction period. The paper must go out. That summer after 31 years at the Watrous Manitou, veteran employee Herb Gatzke retired. Herb who hailed from Nokomis was introduced to the printing business by his brother Bob, who was a typesetter at the Nokomis Times. When Bob left in 1966, Herb filled the position. He learned the intricacies of the Linotype operation through a hands-on apprenticeship. He worked at the Times for nine years and in 1975 began his career at the Watrous Manitou. With the purchase of the compugraphic photo-typesetting machine, Herb had to relearn typesetting. In 1986, he once again adapted his skills to the newly-purchased Mac computers and desktop publishing. With the retirement came a shift of responsibilities for the current staff and the addition of a full-time front counter person who also picked up advertising and billing responsibilities.

A new service…

2008

Fifteen years after former owner Frank Wilson commented there was talk of “electronic newspapers that readers can call up on their home computer screen,” the vision came to fruition. The new Watrous Manitou website allowed readers access to the paper bright and early Monday morning. Readers enjoyed their first cup of coffee while catching up on all the news and activities from Watrous and surrounding area. The online newspaper also allowed TWM to service not only out-of-country readers and snowbirds but even local and provincial subscribers in a timely, reliable and cost-effective manner.

And a new look

2010

In the fall of 2010, after several changes of ownership at the press in Melville/Yorkton, a decision was made to move TWM’s printing to Wainwright, Alta. A large part of that reasoning was due to the high-quality colour printing taking place at StarPress, due to their use of ultraviolet inks and light to produce consistent, vibrant colour. The Watrous Manitou never looked better.

TWM, a family business

2014

After owning TWM for 11 years, Robin and Nicole Lay approached reporter Daniel Bushman and his wife Kim to see if they would be interested in purchasing the business. Continuing a long-standing tradition of a husband and wife partnership, the Bushmans bought the newspaper Feb. 1, 2014 to become the fifth owners in the paper’s history. Then almost two years later, on Dec. 1, 2015, the Watrous Manitou added a ‘sister’ to the family as Daniel and Kim purchased the Lanigan Advisor from owner Linda Mallett. Like the Watrous newspaper, the Lanigan Advisor is a weekly newspaper with a focus on local content.

Making changes

2016

Since purchasing TWM in 2014 and building upon the successes of previous publishers, the weekly newspaper has continued to serve the area with an emphasis on local. Daniel has remained in the role of reporter/photographer while adding editor and publisher hats. With prior experience at a few different jobs, Kim is involved with invoicing, customer service and takes care of the books. Along with the publishers, Tammy LeBlanc has taken on typesetting and customer service duties while Karlee Bedard is responsible for the creative and advertising aspects of operations.

Digital footprints

2018

Launching a website (www.twmadvisornews.com), the newspaper continues to have a presence in the digital world, offering an online paper. With 48 issues per year, the hard copy of the paper is out each Monday while it appears a bit earlier online, arriving Fridays. It also contains unique features like TWM Around the World, where readers are invited to take a photo with the newspaper during their travels around the world and submit them to be published. Weekly recipes, comics and puzzles, a photo of the week section, TWM Faces in the Community, and a flashback of the past have also appeared in the publication over recent years. Continuing to be printed at StarPress out of Wainwright, Alta., the Watrous Manitou’s office location remains the same at 309 Main Street. While the hours have changed a bit and a few faces have come and gone, the focus has always been the same: providing a local paper that the community can be proud of. As part of the desire to provide excellent articles, photos and an overall great product, TWM has been recognized with a number of achievements through SWNA’s Better Newspapers Competition Annual Awards. Since 2004, the weekly paper has been named a top three finalist 65 times, including winning a total of 10 first place awards.

Keeping up with the times

2020

With an award-winning paper and a website offering an online edition, the Bushmans have also added Facebook, Instagram and twitter accounts to have an even further reach. With help from the couple’s staff, operations have also grown to offer a variety of services like business cards, menus, brochures, calendars, tickets, laminating, photocopying, faxing and photo printing, amongst others. Prior to the covid pandemic, TWM also began bringing in books written by local authors and continues to sell them. A number of Daniel’s photos are also available for purchase and an annual local calendar was created two years ago with a portion being donated to the local food bank. More recently, in an effort to expand the newspaper’s services, in early 2023, Kim launched Kim Made Co., selling personalized items like keychains, cups, shirts, bookmarks and other accessories.

Commemorating 90 years

2023

Despite navigating through some tough times during the pandemic and wanting to see the paper remain viable, as Daniel and Kim marked nine years as publishers in 2023, the Watrous Manitou celebrated its 90th year. With a rich history of reporting the news and keeping people informed, the Watrous Manitou will marked serving the community and surrounding area with a few different initiatives during this year. Some of those things included giveaways, sales, promotions and contests.

TWM launches new logo

2023

As part of reaching the milestone of 90 years, a new logo has been created. The second such change since the Bushmans took over, the new logo pays homage to the past as the same font used by the McGowan family has reappeared. The year of when the Watrous Manitou started is also noted. An image of wheat has been added to the logo signifying the importance of the prairies and local area resources related to agriculture and mining. Above the word Manitou, waves of water appear, paying tribute to the importance of the unique nearby lake, tourism and the history of the Resort Village of Manitou Beach. Tying the two communities and area together for the past 90 years, the Watrous Manitou has withstood the tests of time and through that extends its appreciation to its staff, readers, customers, and advertisers who have been a tremendous support over the years. Without you, and without that support there would be no paper.

Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Competition Annual Awards

  • First Place – Best Tourism Story or Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • First Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • First Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (TWM) 
  • First Place – Best Sports Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM) 
  • First Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Saskatchewan Arts or Cultural Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Colour Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Feature Photo, Daniel Bushman (Advisor)
  • General Excellence Awards:
    • Second Place – Best Front Page Class B – Circulation 800 to 1,199 (TWM)
    • Second Place – Best Editorial Page Class A – Circulation Under 800 (Advisor)
    • Third Place – Best Overall Paper Class B – Circulation 800 to 1,199 (TWM)

  • Julie Schau Memorial Award presented to Daniel Bushman
  • First Place – Best Saskatchewan Arts or Cultural Series, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Series of Advertisements, Karlee J. Bedard (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Saskatchewan Arts or Cultural Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage Series, Daniel Bushman (Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Colour Photo, Daniel Bushman (Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Sports Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Saskatchewan Recreational Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)

  • First Place – Best Agriculture Coverage, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • First Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • First Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • First Place – Best Saskatchewan Recreational Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Recreational Story, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Saskatchewan Arts or Cultural Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Sports Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Salute to Veterans, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Series of Advertisements, Alexandra Dengler (TWM)

  • First Place – Best Sports Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Sports Story, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Colour Photo, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Series of Advertisements, Alexandra Dengler (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best News Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best News Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Black and White Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Sports Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)

  • Second Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Health/Healthcare single story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Saskatchewan Arts or Cultural Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Tourism Story or Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Habitat Conservation Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • ​Third Place – Best People Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)

  • First Place – Best Educational Coverage K-12, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • First Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Photographer of the Year, Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Best Editorial Page Class B (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Black and White Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Hard News Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best News Story of the Year, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Educational Coverage Post Secondary Education, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)

  • First Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Tourism Story, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Black and White Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Front Page Class A (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best News Story of the Year, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Saskatchewan Recreational Story or Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Health/Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Colour Photo, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)

  • First Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best News Story of the Year, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Tourism Story or Series of Stories, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Series of Advertisements, Alexandra Goodrich (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Business Writing, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)

  • First Place – Best News Story of the Year, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • First Place – Best Overall Agriculture story/series, Daniel Bushman (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Second Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Second Place – Best Feature Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Overall Agriculture story/series, Daniel Bushman (TWM)

  • Second Place – Best Tourism Story/Series, Daniel Bushman (TWM)
  • Third Place – Best Wildlife Photo, Daniel Bushman, (Lanigan Advisor)
  • Third Place – Best Black and White Photo, Daniel Bushman (TWM)

  • First Place – Best Sask Arts or Cultural Story, Daniel Bushman

  • Third Place – Best Ag coverage, Daniel Bushman
  • ​Third Place – Photographer of the Year, Daniel Bushman

Based on 2012 newspapers:

  • First Place – Best Post-Secondary Education Story, Daniel Bushman
  • First Place – Best Black and White Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Columnist of the Year, Nicole Lay
  • Second Place – Best Tourism Story/Series, Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Best Wildlife Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Best Editorial, Nicole Lay
  • Third Place – Best Advertisement, Robin Lay
  • Third Place – Best Colour Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman

Based on 2011 newspapers:

  • First Place – Best Overall Newspaper, Class B
  • First Place – Best Colour Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Best Feature Story, Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place – Best Wildlife Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Third Place – Best Editorial Page, Class B
  • Third Place – Best Photo Essay, taken by Daniel Bushman and Nicole Lay
  • Third Place – Columnist of the Year, Nicole Lay

Based on 2010 newspapers:

  • Second Place: Best Health/Healthcare Coverage, Daniel Bushman
  • Second Place: Best Black and White Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman

Based on 2009 newspapers:

  • Second Place: Photographer of the Year, Daniel Bushman
  • Third Place: Best Hard News Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Third Place: Best Black and White Photo, taken by Daniel Bushman
  • Third Place: Best Overall Coverage of K-12 Education, Daniel Bushman

Based on 2007 newspapers:

  • Second Place: Service to the Community Award
  • Third Place: Best Overall Newspaper, circulation under 2,000
  • Third Place: Best Front Page, circulation under 2,000
  • Third Place: Best Feature Story, written by Rhonda Cooper
  • Third Place: Best Sports Story, written by Rhonda Cooper
  • Third Place: Best Hard News Photo, taken by Rhonda Cooper

Based on 2006 newspapers:

  • Third Place: Best Overall Newspaper, circulation under 2,000
  • Third Place: Best Front Page, circulation under 2,000
  • Third Place: Best Sports Story, written by Rhonda Cooper

Based on 2005 newspapers:

  • First Place: Best Recreation Story, written by Rhonda Cooper
  • Second Place: Best Agricultural Story, written by Nicole Lay
  • Third Place: Editorial Excellence, written by Nicole Lay

Based on 2004 newspapers:

  • Second Place: Best Feature Story, written by Nicole Lay
  • Third Place: Best Post-Secondary Education Story, written by Rhonda Cooper

Based on 2003 newspapers:

  • Second Place: Best Sports Story, written by Nicole Lay
  • Second Place: Best Saskatchewan Cultural Story, written by Nicole Lay