About US

The Wheat City Journal hit the streets with its inaugural issue on April 25, 2002. Its first publisher was Bruce Penton, a Brandonite who spent the first 12 years of his newspaper career with The Brandon Sun before moving to New Westminster, B.C. in 1979. Two years later, he and his family moved to Moosomin, Sask., where he served as editor and publisher of the award-winning World-Spectator for 21 years. He and his wife Barb also owned another community newspaper, the Esterhazy Miner-Journal, from 1997 to 2002. In 2004, the Wheat City Journal was purchased by Glacier Ventures International Corp.

In July of 2007, Brent Fitzpatrick joined the Wheat City Journal team as the new Editor. Fitzpatrick was no stranger to the Brandon media, having worked as the anchor of CKX News @ 6 for six years. For the previous 20 months Brent served as the managing editor of the Virden Empire-Advance. In February 2009, Fitzpatrick took a promotion within the Glacier family and in August of 2009, Penton was appointed editor, having left the daily Medicine Hat News, where he had been Associate Editor.

In November 2009, The Wheat City Journal became The Westman Journal, changing its name, circulation and content to recognize and reflect the integral part rural areas surrounding Brandon play in the area's social and economic fabric. The publication continued to be circulated to all homes and businesses in Brandon but also added locations in Killarney, Boissevain, Wawanesa, Ninette, Minto , Carberry, Glenboro, Douglas, CFB Shilo, Spruce Woods, Rapid City, Oak River, Hamiota, Rivers, Kenton, Oak Lake, Virden, Elkhorn, Cromer, Sinclair, Reston, Pipestone, Melita, Deloraine, Hartney, Elgin, Souris, Alexander, Rural Brandon, Kemnay, Forrest, Chater, Neepawa, Gladstone, Arden, McCreary, Plumas, Brookdale and Minnedosa.

In September 2009, Todd Hamilton was named publisher of the Westman Journal. Hamilton was born and raised in Brandon and after more than two decades in community and daily newspapers returned home to western Manitoba. Prior to joining Glacier Media, Hamilton was the publisher and editor of successful weekly and daily newspapers in British Columbia. Most recently, Hamilton was named the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's best local editorial writer (2007, 2008) and was the silver medallist in 2009. He was either the recipient or team leader of an unprecedented three-time Ma Murray Award for community service in B.C. and twice the national recipient for CCNA's Most Outstanding Community Service Award. In 2009, CCNA Hamilton was the runner-up for the George Cadogan Award for the nation's top community newspaper columnist.

During the launch of the Westman Journal, Rick Thomson, who spent 18 years as an account executive at CKX, joined the paper as sales manager. Thomson, who was born in Hamiota, currently serves on the Chairman of the Brandon Crimestoppers Board of Directors and a director on the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. Thomson also served as the Brandon United Way Chairperson and was also a member of the United Way Cabinet. He is also a past chairperson of Westman's First Choice business organization and president of the Montana's Golf League.

Who we are and where to find us

The Westman Journal is a free circulation community newspaper than distributes more than 20,000 copies to Brandon and Western Manitoba each Wednesday. In addition to home delivery in Brandon and mail delivery to businesses, the Journal is also distributed to high visibility locations across Western Manitoba. It is also available for pickup at most hotels in the city, the Keystone Centre, Brandon University, Assiniboine Community College and a number of other retail outlets.

Advertising Information

An advertisement running in the Westman Journal carries a powerful punch. Because the newspaper is distributed to approximately 18,000 homes and businesses in Brandon and thousands more throughout Western Manitoba and because readers report it is such a readable product, each issue usually stays in the home for the full week, maximizing its potential exposure to readers. From Classified Advertising to Display advertising of all sizes, advertising in the Westman Journal has proven to be a valuable marketing tool for Westman businesses and people.

Please contact one of our sales representatives at (204)725-0209, if you are interested in advertising or have any questions.