On a warm Wednesday evening people kept filing into the Langenburg Community Centre to the point more tables were hastily set out to accommodate the growing crowd.
You might expect it was a political rally, or a mid-week play production, the sort of thing that would have Bill Johnston on site with his trusty camera around his neck, and his note pad in-hand.
After all Johnston has been covering events in Langenburg, and in Churchbridge, Bredenbury and Saltcoats for four decades, filling the pages of The Four-Town Journal the newspaper he founded all those years ago.
And indeed Johnston, easily recognized by his shock of white hair, was there.
But on this night he was not covering the story, because he was the story.
The people were gathering to say thank you to Johnston who has announced the long-time community newspaper will print its last edition at the end of July, and with it he will retire.
“We are very sad to lose our paper,” said Jan Layh, one of the organizers of the evening. “... We’re just despairing. We don’t know what we’re going to do.”
While admitting the closing of The Four Town Journal will be a loss, Layh said she also knew that the communities needed to say thank you to Johnston for his long service. So she took the lead, gathered some volunteers from the four towns, and within weeks had the evening planned.
When Layh called Bill to make sure he was available he modestly said no.
“I just said ‘we have to honour your great service,” she said, adding Bill finally agreed.
Walter Farquharson was one of the committee members from Saltcoats. He said the evening was something people in the four towns needed.
“It’s an opportunity to say we’re sorry that The Four-Town Journal is coming to a close,” he said, adding it was also a chance “to celebrate the exceptionally good service Bill and Lynda, (Bill’s wife), have given the entire area.”
Farquharson said in many ways Johnston’s efforts have actually brought the four communities together, something reflected in the gathering with people from all four gathered to say thank you.
As for the loss of the local newspaper, Farquharson said it’s not clear what happens next.
“I think we’re all trying to figure that out,” he said. “It’s a big hole that’s going to be left.”
What followed was thank-you's from nearly every sector of small town life.
“You can’t put a price on what you’ve contributed to our towns,” said Don Fogg speaking for the town, village and rural municipal councils. “What you have done as you have brought four communities together, to be proud of one thing, The Four-Town Journal.”
Rob Fiola spoke for sport organizations reciting a long list of sports covered by Johnston through the years.
“Your professionalism and dedication was truly remarkable,” he said of Johnston’s efforts.
Justice Donald Layh went as far as to read a ‘letter-to-the-editor’ relating to the loss of the local paper.
“I have a grievance: we are losing our cherished newspaper. For 38 years, Bill and Lynda Johnston have been the never-failing eyes and ears of several communities, not only Langenburg, Churchbridge, Bredenbury and Saltcoats, but also Spy Hill, MacNutt, Marchwell and other satellite communities. The Johnston’s have habitualized us to a Wednesday fix that routinely appears in our mailboxes,” he read.
“What are we going to do when we go to the post office in August and there is no paper? Four communities will suffer withdrawal. How will we function without The Four-Town Journal? Living without the paper will be like living without coffee and the radio in the morning. I don’t think it can be done!”
Layh then changed tact in the letter.
“On the other hand, we have much to celebrate. How many other rural communities in this province – in this country – have had a brilliant newspaper editor like Bill Johnston? I have read many other local newspapers and none compare to the quality of Bill’s writing, the depth of his editorials, the painstaking coverage of local events. No dance recital, no bonspiel, no hockey tournament has escaped his attention,” he read.
“On cold winter nights while I have sat before the fireplace enjoying a good book and a (small) glass of scotch, Bill is taking photos at curling bonspiels, hockey tournaments or dance recitals.
“On warm summer weekends when I am basking at the lake with family, enjoying leisure time, Bill is sweating and swatting mosquitoes at the ball diamond, recording the names of the kids who have won the baseball tournament or at the golf course photographing the winners of the golf tournament. He has endured the usual rains at June Daze, the heat of Laugh and Linger, the dust at the pony races in Spy Hill. At every community engagement, whether for tots or teens, at tournaments or town meetings, at concerts or cross country meets, you can find a shock of white hair – Bill – milling about with his camera and notepad in hand. What joy he has brought to so many families as he has patiently photographed children and grandchildren and has recorded their names and achievements.”
In the end Layh said it was simply time to say thank you.
“So, I have set aside my grievance and have reconciled myself to simply being grateful for the 38 years of community reporting that we have come to expect, but which we have done nothing to deserve,” he said. “This gratefulness is more comforting than mourning what we have now lost. Bill and Lynda have provided a vital service to our communities for nearly four decades. They have drawn communities together in a way that had never been done before. They have celebrated and recorded our achievements – both great and small. They have marked and mourned our losses.
“We were never deserving of this great service. Rather, we have been remarkably fortunate to have been able to enjoy what few communities have had: a fine, sensible and sensitive newspaper editor who has helped shape a community.
“Bill and Lynda, I am sure I speak on behalf of all your readers. Thank for the great service you have provided to us. May you enjoy winter nights at home, summer weekends with your family and many years of rewarding retirement.”
And then it was Johnston’s turn at the microphone.
“This is overwhelming ... This has just been incredibly fun,” he said.
Johnston said the newspaper he founded has been a “roller coaster ride” but with “the end in sight” there is “relief and satisfaction.”
Johnston thanked his wife first.
“She’s been my right hand all these years,” he said, before moving on to thank his daughters, staff he said worked with them not for them, advertisers, and subscribers, many who have become friends.
As for the paper, up to its 1817th edition, Johnston said he simply produced a product reflective of the communities it served. He said, community newspapers “are mirrors reflecting back what that community is all about.”
In the case of The Four-Town Journal Johnston said most often it has been filled with good news, which he said “reflects what our communities are all about ... people doing good things.” He added he had “the privilege of being able to chronicle those things.”
